One of my first teachers told me something that I didn't really understand until I got a little older - that there's a human need to have contact with with other humans. It's a human bonding type of thing. Guys like to box around with each other, kids like to wrestle around - you don't get that with a lot of other activities. Even if you found something that was mentally challenging and physically challenging, would it involve another person, or contact with another person? Even if you played tennis there's not that physical contact. A lot of people, boys especially, like contact sports. It's a primal urge. Martial arts give you an outlet where you get that kind of contact without actually having to hurt anybody.

I've heard thousands of people say this over the years. They come to work out, they train hard and they spar and even if they've been banged up a little bit, when they leave they always say, "I feel better than I did when I came in." Whereas a person who didn't understand that would go, "You just got your ass kicked, what do mean you feel better?" You've gotten that contact and it's a good outlet. Martial arts always has that.

(Tim Cartmell)

Re-opening meal

 

Nervous system

Taijiquan refines your sense of touch considerably. You become acutely sensitive to pressure, warmth, vibration and texture. This helps to attune your nervous system.

It makes you less clumsy, more graceful and ultimately far more relaxed. Not only do your fingers become more alert and sensing, your feet do too. 

Waiting list

Newcastle Tai Chi is a highly-rated school with a limited number of places available. Unfortunately, we have a waiting list.

If you want your name adding to the list, please send us an e-mail and we will contact you when the next induction course is scheduled.

Uncomfortable

A person cannot very well learn combat if they are uncomfortable touching other people.

Even if you are learning tai chi for health, it is necessary to work with other people through partnered exercise. Working alone offers no feedback.

Only through working with another person can you really begin to feel what is happening. Without a partner you will never know if your connection is complete or your jing apparent.

The yin/yang symbol expresses partnership; the harmonious joining and intermingling of two apparent opposites. This principle lies at the root of all taijiquan practice.

 Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

  (Leo F. Buscaglia)

Fear

There is a modern phobia of physical contact. People quite often do not like to be touched. Yet, touch is one of our senses and if we ignore it, our world becomes far lonelier.

In taijiquan we consider touch to be very important; by working with somebody else we can help them to feel how their own body operates and help ourselves as well.

We encourage people to become accustomed to physical proximity from the start of their training, to relax, soften and be receptive to other people.

Touch

The sense of touch is actually quite complex. Within the sense category of touch we may include: pressure, pain, temperature, shape, softness, texture and vibration.

Taijiquan aims to improve our brain's capacity to interpret and respond to the data it receives.

Sitting

People tend to sit a lot these days. In the car, on the sofa, at a table. Whilst watching TV. When eating. Sitting for short periods of time is fine but lengthy sitting has an adverse effect on circulation.