Challenge

Martial arts are quite demanding to learn; requiring the student to significantly increase their strength, agility, endurance and speed.
The challenges are both physical and mental.
A casual approach will not work.
Body, mind and emotions need to be conditioned and honed through sustained, regular practice.
The training must involve a wide range of challenging martial concerns; increasing in difficulty as the student becomes more adept. 
To possess combat skills, you must train combat skills.

What is tai chi chuan?

Tai chi chuan/taijiquan is a style of kung fu once practiced by the Manchu Emperor's elite palace guards.There are 5 traditional styles of tai chi chuan: Chen, Yang, Wu, Hao and Sun. 
The art is quietly challenging; requiring patience, hard work, commitment, mindfulness and composure.
Students work towards the cultivation of a high degree of physical skill and can reasonably expect to practice the art for most of their lives. 

Does tai chi chuan combat take place in slow motion?

To quote the Tai Chi Classics: "If the opponent's movement is quick, then quickly respond; if his movement is slow, then follow slowly."
Some of the training methods (i.e. form) are slow; this is to develop strength, accuracy, balance and control.
New skills are often slowed down for safety until the student gains familiarity.

As the student becomes adept, the kung fu speeds up considerably.
Combat is usually fast.

Why don't people know that tai chi can be a martial art?

The combat methods and principles behind tai chi chuan have been a well-kept secret in China for hundreds of years.
Very few members of the general public understand how to use tai chi chuan as a martial art.Classes offering the complete tai chi chuan martial syllabus are rare in the UK. 

Can combat be healthy?

Every martial artist in the world seeks to defeat their opponent in combat.
But at what price?Blocking, struggling, forcing, striking a balanced opponent... these are also harmful to your own body.
In defeating your opponent you may also harm yourself.

Tai chi chuan is different.
All movements are performed in a manner that ensures the greatest effect for the least amount of effort.
The internal martial arts aim to incapacitate the opponent without sustaining any injury to yourself.
Additionally; emotional composure is maintained at all times.
There is no aggression or macho, cocky behaviour in tai chi chuan.
This is good for your health and wellbeing.

Can I study baguazhang?

Baguazhang is physically and mentally challenging, with a complex form, unique training methods and counter-intuitive tactics.
A high degree of balance and coordination is necessary.

There is no beginners or intermediate level in baguazhang.
A student gains the foundation skills through the study of tai chi chuan: sensitivity, footwork, timing, biomechanical awareness, whole-body movement, jing, root...
Baguazhang employs a considerable amount of shuai jiao and chin na applications, so a thorough grounding in these skills is a must.
A potential baguazhang student must show considerable aptitude with tai chi chuan if they want to study a second art.

Yang style has something of the feeling of 'killer energy' about it; it is more martial in appearance.
A spectator can see the applications of the movements when they watch the form.
(Master Xu Shu Song)

What are the martial skills (kung fu)?

In combat, tai chi chuan uses evasion, stickiness and sensitivity rather than brute force.
The muscles remain relaxed at all times and the body moves as one whole unit (neigong).

There are many tai chi chuan martial skills in the syllabus, including:

1. Shuai jiao (take downs)
2. Chin na (seizing)
3. Jing (internal power)
4. San sau (fixed sets)
5. San da (freeform combat)
6. Form application
7. Weapons
8. Self defence

Even though many of these skills are common to different styles of kung fu, a tai chi chuan student must perform them in a tai chi chuan way.
The application of tai chi chuan always follow the guidelines presented in the Tai Chi Classics.

What are the benefits of learning tai chi chuan?

Tai chi chuan is not just about combat.
Daily practice offers a wide range of benefits that will affect your everyday life:

• Get fit
• Stay calm
• Feel balanced
• Increased stamina and endurance
• Stress-relief
• Gain functional combat skills that rely upon intelligence rather than brutality
• Off-set the effects of aging (e.g. sarcopenia)
• The release of deeply-held muscular tension   
• Boost energy
• A way to use millennia old Chinese wisdom in everyday life  
• Meditation
• An unusual form of strength
• Emotional composure in the face of confrontation and crisis
• Philosophical study involving some of the most influential books ever written 
• Cultivate confidence and resourcefulness

A-Z of tai chi

Notes, lessons and reflections.
This is a small sample of Sifu Waller's teaching and insights:

http://www.newcastletaichi.co.uk/A-Z.htm

What does Sifu Waller teach?

• Baguazhang
• Chin na
• Meditation
• Neigong
• Qigong
• Shuai jiao
• Tai chi chuan
• Taoism
• Weaponry
• Zen

Is tai chi easy to practice?

Qigong & tai chi for health movements are not physically strenuous and will not strain or tax the body.
However, easy or difficult are relative to the individual.
It depends on memory, coordination, patience and how committed you are.
Also, there is the question of how fit you are to begin with.

Tai chi chuan (martial art) is much harder to learn and requires a greater commitment to practice.
You cannot reasonably hope to master tai chi chuan overnight.
The art is very in-depth, with many levels of skill and achievement.
There is always more to uncover...

Why are your classes more expensive than the guy down the street?

Print off these pages:

1. The essence of the art
2. Chang treatise
3. Wang treatise
4. Wu treatise

Take the sheets to another class and ask the instructor to explain and illustrate/demonstrate each facet to you.
This will answer your question.

It is not about anger, it is about peace.
It is not about power, it is about grace.
It is not about knowing your enemy, it is all about knowing yourself.
(Bulletproof Monk)

Is tai chi easy to learn?

Everyone is different.
Some people pick things up quickly whilst others require more time.

A good tai chi school will have a tried and tested syllabus in place.
By systematically learning one skill at a time, the student gradually accrues information, gains physical awareness and increases the range and scope of their understanding.
But this does not happen overnight.
There is a considerable amount of information to learn. It must be revised, refined, honed and practiced thoroughly.

Who can study tai chi?

Qigong & tai chi for health can be practiced by pretty much anyone.
Fitness and age are not important.

Tai chi chuan (martial art) is not suitable for everyone.
If you fancy discovering the martial skills (kung fu) you need to be realistic in terms of expectations. 
We reserve the right to decline tuition:
• if we feel that a student is physically unable to study tai chi chuan safely• if an individual demonstrates the wrong attitude for tai chi chuan study 

Is tai chi just form?

Form is just 1 area of practice in tai chi.

8 areas of knowledge and ability provide a balanced comprehension of the art:

1. Qigong (energy/breath work)
2. Form
3. Pushing hands
4. Meditation
5. Theory & philosophy
6. Martial skill (kung fu)
7. Neigong (whole-body strength)
8. Instructing (optional)

A tai chi student should work towards competence in each of these areas and also uncover the essence of the art.

Isn't tai chi slow and boring?

Some tai chi exercises are slow, whilst others are not.
Tai chi chuan (martial art) training starts slowly and then speeds up as the student becomes more skilled.

A good class will always have a comprehensive syllabus in place; ensuring on-going development and access to new material.
The training challenges your mind with unexpected insights, skills and possibilities.
No two lessons are the same.

Is tai chi a martial art?

Originally yes; it was developed as a system of kung fu and was employed by the Chinese military.

The true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will be useful at any time, and to teach them in such a way that they will be useful in all things.

(Miyamoto Musashi)

In modern times tai chi is typically taught for exercise.Martial classes offering a complete range of skills are very rare in the UK.

We offer our students the option of practicing tai chi as a martial art.