Beginning Tai Chi

Tai Chi Chuan is unlike other forms of exercise. It is not just a 'workout', mindlessly following instructions simply to burn up calories. It is not specifically developing or working a group or groups of muscles to add bulk or build up muscles. It is not trying to move gracefully just for the purpose of looking good. It is hard work that involves creating dialogues between body, mind and spirit. It requires (and trains) balance, coordination, relaxation, focus, development of kinaesthetic (movement) and intellectual memory, as well as persistence and perseverance. It is about achieving physical and mental harmony and a more relaxed outlook on life and much much more besides. It is a long journey of self development and increasing awareness.

Benefits of Taking up Tai Chi Chuan

However don't be daunted by what may now seem like a hard task, there are many benefits that come from practising Tai Chi Chuan, it is worth it in the end, just be aware that the benefits are not instantaneous. Although students new to the art do report noticeable changes as a result of taking up Tai Chi Chuan.

People who have attended our beginners' courses say that after only eight lessons say they have experienced such things as

• better, more restful sleep
• better breathing
• improved balance and focus
• general feeling of being more relaxed

It is difficult to be specific since everyone is different with a different sets of needs and problems, and the real and deeper benefits of practicing Tai Chi Chuan accumulate slowly and with regular practice. Much of the benefit comes from improved physical relaxation and posture, deeper more relaxed breathing, improved circulation, increased joint mobility as well developing awareness due to the mental and physical effort of learning the forms, and increased focus due to the meditative aspect of the art.

To enrich the experience there is the social aspect to learning Tai Chi Chuan as well. As a class member you will share with your fellow students the experience of learning skills and an exercise regimen that should enrich your daily life and form a common bond with other Tai Chi practitioners whatever style they practice.

Beginner Level emphasises perhaps the best known aspect of Tai Chi Chuan - The Form which is a sequence of 108 movements, made up of individual movement sets or forms. The forms are learned individually week by week and played sequentially in an invariant sequence to constitute the standard form or 108 movements of Wu's style Tai Chi Chuan. To see a video of our Form being performed visit the video gallery pages.

Beginners initially learn the form based on the concept of mechanical movement, with each individual form broken down into detailed postures by the class instructors. The instructors make sure that the students progress at the right speed and with the highest level of accuracy. The Beginners Level is complete once the student can practice the standard form unaided and unprompted to an acceptable standard.

In our Academy there are two stages for assessment,or grading. The first is after the student completes form 54, the second is after the completion of the entire 108 movements. Gradings are relatively informal and a way of ensuring uniformity and completeness in the teaching and a forum for the students to give feedback about the teaching.

The Academy teaches a full syllabus of Tai Chi Chuan at three different levels, beginner, intermediate and senior. We ensure all aspects of the art are provided so that students may use it for relaxation, meditation, fitness and self defence, all of which are taught in the classes.