Syllabus

The syllabus contains a wide variety of solo and partner forms, drills and partner work leading to more freestyle interactions.

Classical Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan is an internal martial art - focussing on how incoming forces move through the body and can be borrowed and redirected. However, this training system is also ideal for those whose interest is improving health and resiliency both physically and mentally.

A large part of the training is to cultivate what we call Peng Jing - the complete internal connection that manifests as a soft effortless power in movement.

Tai Chi Form

The form is the basic set of slow movements that underpin all Tai Chi training. It teaches how to centre the body, how to have correct alignment and maintain connection in movement. We do not practice Tai Chi in order to relax, but must relax in order to do Tai Chi. The movements are practiced slowly with a focus on minimising movement to create stillness in motion.

Within the classical system there are three frames and three stances. The frames (Large, Medium, Small) refer to the size of the circular movements produced at the joints, and the stances (Crane, Tiger, Snake) refer to the hight of the stances. We practice and teach the Medium Frame Tiger Form. This middle ground contains elements of both large and small frame and strengthens the body without overtaxing it, reducing the chances of injury whilst focusing on creating a complete internal connection.

Internal Work

We teach a number of exercises designed to connect the body and the mind intent. My teacher uses the generic term Chi Gong (Energy Work) for this though many people will be more familiar with the term Nei Gong (Internal Work). These exercises are essential to understanding full body connection and how to use intent to hold the body at stillness. They strengthen the body and focus the mind whilst teaching how to relax under pressure.

Drills

Like any martial art there are numerous drills spanning open hand and weapons. These are simple repetitive movements that originate from or are variations of parts of the form. We embed these movements through repetition until they become second nature. Many of the drills lead to clear martial understanding, starting slowly then increasing in speed of execution whilst remaining true to principles.

Open hand drills are too numerous to list completely and include :-

Stepping / Weight Shifting
Peng Jing / Fa Jing
Punching and Boxing
Kicking and leg strengthening
Hand Speed / Interception

Push Hands

There are many different approaches to Tai Chi push hands. Different styles and teachers have different perspectives and inclinations. Push Hands is not fighting but a set of partner exercises which bridge the gap between solo work and martial art, but also teach how to connect, listen and follow the other’s movement.

Dynamic Power Push Hands

This is one of the most important practices - the purpose is to build and refine peng jing. The teacher and student are in contact but initially still with the teacher applying pressure to the student, and the student learning to maintain connection without resisting or pushing back but also without moving or collapsing. It is as much an exercise in focusing mind intent as it is demanding physically. Over time the tendons and ligaments become stronger, the body learns to relax to a greater degree under pressure and to work in harmony with the intent.

Push Hands - Routines

There are many routines that teach different aspects of moving in connection to another whilst maintaining the peng jing built in the power push hands.

Exercises include Single-Joint, Double Joint, Da Lu, Freestyle Push Hands

Two Person Sparring Set

This is an advanced form comprising of a 2 person pre-arranged sequence of fighting movements sometimes known as San Shou. It can be seen as two separate forms interleaving - as one side attacks the other yields and neutralises.

Students learn to listen to the attack, assess distance, respond with quick and precise foot movements, and to neutralise and counter attack.

Weapon Forms

Although weapons are no longer practiced for martial combat, each has something fundamental to teach that can be returned to the open hand forms and inspire your practice. There are drills and partner exercises associated with the forms which teach basic techniques and how to connect beyond the body, into and through the weapon.

Staff

The staff form is a short form complimented by solo and partner exercises. It is fundamental to learning how to generate and express power (fa-jing). The left and right sides of the body are naturally connected through the staff and learn to move as one unit.

Long Sword

The sword form is graceful, performed with slow and elegant movements extending the peng energy beyond the hands and through the sword.

Broadsword (Knife)

This form is performed at speed similar to the fast form. It has quick foot movements, including jumping and fast turns. The strikes include thrusts and chops with the sword combined with palm strikes and kicks. It teaches how to move quickly and economically with great focus.

Fast Form

This is an advanced open hand form with alternating fast and slow movements. There is an emphasis on the use of power throughout the form, and the expression of this through the fa-jing techniques in the fast sections. This is a different form - not just the form done faster - there are unique postures and a different focus and intent throughout.