The traditional forms of Tai Chi are excellent for improving your health, fitness, immunity and cultivate a calm and tranquil state of mind.
The Tai Chi system i teach is a traditional practice, which has been handed down through several generations of diligent practitioners since it’s creation by Taoists in the mountains of ancient China.
The practice of Tai Chi has never been more relevant for humans of today, who are faced with unprecedented levels of uncertainty and stress, in addition to becoming increasingly removed from lifestyles our biological systems were designed for.
Tai Chi practice is fundamentally about re aligning yourself with the natural, healthful processes of nature and to allow these generative and restorative features to occur within you.
Practice of Tai Chi significantly reduces stress levels and anxiety, by focusing on states of mind, attitudes and beliefs as well as a variety of different physical and attentional practices which are designed to get you to shift the activity of your nerves into parasympathetic mode. This is the calm, restful state where we feel at ease, positive and good. In this state the body is primed to regenerate injured tissues and cells, promote feelings of wellbeing, optimise and balance hormones and allow the mind to be in a positive mode, where it can plan better and make higher quality decisions. You are essentially taking yourself out of ‘defence’ mode and into ‘active positive living mode.
The genius of tai chi is that it does this through methods of practice that are truly whole and unified.
You develop profound feelings of wellbeing after practice, including partner work, via increases in all the D.O.S.E feel good chemistry, dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins – literally all the ways a human being can feel happiest.
Practice of traditional Tai Chi methods can have transformative effects on your health. It strengthens attentional focus, awareness, the functioning of the nervous system, moves lymphatic fluid, enhances respiration and lung function, improves overall immunity and strengthens the condition of the internal organs. Not to mention enhance cardiovascular functioning and oxygenation of cells around the body. Muscular and connective tissue strength is developed and conditioned, posture improves and your ability to use your body athletically is improved. Systemic Inflammation is also reduced.
By training properly in Tai Chi Chuan you are improving the functioning of your entire organism including all the physical and mental aspects. This leads to no only feelings of positivity and optimism but also promotes confidence.
Your appearance improves through a variety of mechanisms including weight management, better body control and posture, improved skin condition via the mechanism of lengthening of telomeres, which is linked to improved collagen condition.
Tai Chi practice is something everyone can and probably should do. It’s infused with profound humanist/naturalist wisdom from the ancient Taoists, which is an ideal antidote to the current techno focussed, disconnected lifestyles many people endure today. All ages can practice, and fitness levels are not important. Everyone will quickly improve all facets once they begin their practice.
The practice i teach is generally known as the ‘Wudang’ style – and is a complete system of Tai Chi – which also includes a separate (though integrated) martial arts/self defence training syllabus.
I’ve been training in Tai Chi since childhood for more than 30 years. I learned from 1980 South East Asian martial arts full contact champion, Dan Docherty. He in turn learned from the legendary Cheng Tin Hung.
I’ve competed around the world in Tai Chi and am the British and European heavyweight pushing hands champion. I was also the first Tai Chi fighter to use my Tai Chi skills in professional MMA and have trained many national and international full contact fighters who use Tai Chi to defeat other fighters.
The Tai chi system I teach is a full-stack martial art containing internal and external training to develop the practitioner on all levels. It is also an incredible all around health development tool, forging a fit, strong and powerful physique and a calm, positive and tranquil mind.
If you are new to Tai Chi learn the traditional long form, quickly and easily with my beginner level video.
On the left you can see me perform the complete traditional Tai Chi sequence, known as the long form.
My beginner level video teaches you this form in a step by step, easy to follow way. The method used is the classical ‘square’ method so you get all the benefits of Tai Chi training in a simple format.