Taijiquan - the martial art - self development,  sport, self defence.

Taijiquan or Tai Chi Chuan the difference is simply in the method of transliteration, is not  the same as Karate, performed slowly. Taijiquan, is  a form of Nei Jia Quan (a martial art from the 'internal school') as such it requires a completely different approach to typical systems such as kickboxing or MMA. 


As a martial art Taijiquan, contains the  striking, locking, throwing and wrestling  techniques of an advanced martial system.   it works at all ranges, although not every teacher can show you how.
Taijiquan uses spontaneity and creativeness to adapt trained technique to respond in a relaxed and natural way to restore balance.

The five aspects of Wu Dang Tai Chi Chuan Training:
  • Tao Chuan (Hand Forms)
  • Tui Shou (Pushing Hands)
  • San Shou (Self Defence)
  • Weapons (form and application of Sabre, Straight sword, and Spear)
  • Nei Gung (Internal Strength) 24 exercises, 12 Yin 12 Yang

In this system it is customary to train pushing hands and self defense alongside form from the early or indeed first classes. As Tai Chi Chuan was developed primarily as a means of self defense, and it is the techniques of self defense that informed and inspired the development of the other methods of training this seems only appropriate. I teach predominantly from a martial perspective because it is precise; a student can understand raising an arm and turning the body to defend the chest, more easily than “raise the spirit and extend the Chi”.  The martial practices also demonstrate the inescapable changes of Yin and Yang in terms of dynamic forces, momentum, and even psychological attitudes and how they are reflected physically through posture and response. Read More