16 step sword video

This is me doing 16 step sword form. Many thanks to Anne Crichton for the video.

Yang style 8 step video

Especially for Kay, here is a repost of my colleague Angela Howarth doing the 8 step form in the Festival Gardens in Liverpool.

Navel gazing and chirping birdies

Just spent a wonderful weekend in Telford doing the 88 step form with the Deyin Taijiquan Institute. As always I've come away feeling I've learned a lot about tai chi and there is still always a lot more to learn.

One thing I came away with was a reminder about how central the waist is. As Master Tary Yip said, "Nothing moves until you see the waist." Of course this doesn't mean bending your head down to stare at your belly button. It's in the mind that you see the waist. The waist moves and everything else follows. We've talked about this a lot in relation to White Crane Spreads Its Wings, but it is true in every move.

I also learned that the bird in lǎnquèwěi, grasping the bird's tail, is què (pronounced "chir"), which I think is a lovely bit of onomatopoeia.

Pictures from Monday class and updates on other classes

Here are the pictures from Monday's class - looking good everyone!

We have decided to wind down the Tuesday morning seated class for the Christmas season. This will hopefully start up again in January so I look forward to seeing you all again then.

I will be putting on another taster class for Age UK Wigan Borough Bright Days. This will be a 3 week course at Hallgate House in Wigan on Monday mornings starting next Monday 30 November at 10.30am. This is a normal standing class rather than a seated one.

As before the class is free (I believe) but you do have to be age 55+ and you need to register in advance. To do so contact Debra Shufflebottom on 01942 615883 or Debra.Shufflebottom@ageukwiganborough.org.uk.

For tomorrow's Wednesday classes don't forget to bring payment for the next block of four weeks to be sure of having a place as class size is limited. That takes us right up to Wednesday 23 December and Christmas.

 I will be taking a week's break from all classes at Christmas and will start again Monday 4 January.

That's all for now. As I said in class yesterday, if anyone wants anything from Tai Chi Link without having to pay postage, let me know and I will get it over the weekend.

News about Wednesday classes

After the success of the taster sessions in September both morning and evening classes in the Tesco Leigh Extra Community Space are doing well. So well, in fact, that I am going to have to limit numbers. It will no longer be possible to join the class as a new member by just turning up on the day. There are still places available in the evening so if you would like to take part, then get in touch with me. And if you would like to join the morning class, let me know and I will put you on a waiting list.

From next Wednesday instead of paying per session, you will book a block of four sessions - £14 for four sessions. This will help me to keep the overall numbers from exceeding capacity.

Canoeing

Ok, so this is not really about tai chi, except in that tai chi is in everything.

In April I will be taking part in the Great Glen Canoe Trail to raise money for Sound Sense a charity that provides music education and entertainment to those in need. Please give generously. :)

Free tai chi taster sessions

On Wednesday 30 September I will be giving two free tai chi taster sessions in the Community Space in Tesco Extra Leigh, one at 10-11am and one at 7-8pm. Come along and try it out!

I said I would repost some videos on the forms we are doing, so here they are. Above is Wu Amin doing the 16 step Yang tai chi sword form. Here is Angela Howarth doing the 8 step Yang tai chi form. And below is Master Tary Yip doing the 24 step Yang tai chi form. Enjoy!

Catching up

I'm still catching up with everything after coming back from my holiday, but took time out yesterday to enjoy the official opening of the Chinese Arts and Culture Centre in Telford - a good time was had by all.

I also finally got round to uploading some holiday pics. Here they are: enjoy!

New classes

I have been very busy since getting back from my holiday (I will post a link to pictures soon - I promise!).

I will be starting not one but two new classes in Leigh very soon. They are both open to the public although for the Age UK one you need to be aged 55+ and register in advance.

The first class is open to everyone. It will be on Wednesday evenings 7pm to 8pm at the Tesco Leigh Extra Community Space, Tesco Leigh Extra, Leigh WN7 4BA. There will be a FREE taster class on Wednesday 1 July, so if you are wondering whether tai chi is for you, come along and find out. Classes proper will start on Wednesday 8 July and will be £3.50 each.

The second class is hosted by Wigan Borough Age UK Bright Days and will be on Tuesday mornings, 10.30am to 11.30am at Brookdale Court in Leigh. It is open to everyone aged 55+ and is FREE but you do need to register in advance. For details and to register contact Debra Shufflebottom on 01942 615883 or Debra.Shufflebottom@ageukwiganborough.org.uk.

Details of all classes are here.

Back from qigong training

I'm back from a fabulous four days of qigong training. Here is a picture of our team: Steve, Angela, me, Christine and Sam. And below is a picture of me, Angela and Steve with Professor Lai.

Bank holiday Monday

Hi. Just a quick reminder that there is no class this Monday. Have a lovely bank holiday weekend and I'll see you in June!

No class this Wednesday

Hi everyone. Just to let you know there will be no class in the Tesco Leigh Community Space this Wednesday. We will be back again on Wednesday 27 May.

Sorry for the delay. I look forward to seeing you on the 27th.

More pics from World Tai Chi Day

 Practising the "tai chi walk" in the dry under the Chinese pagoda. Pictures courtesy of Phil.

Sheltering from the rain

It didn't rain all morning though, as you can see from the pictures on the NWNW World Tai Chi Day Facebook page. We got to do lots of lovely tai chi and qigong out in the open, and also under the shelter of the Chinese pagoda. It was a great day out in spite of the weather.

If you missed the event, there will be another chance to do tai chi outdoors on Saturday 9 May in Wepre Park in Deeside. More details closer to the time.

WTCQD nearly here

It's less than a week to World Tai Chi and Qigong Day.

Join the celebrations in the Festival Gardens in Liverpool. The event starts at 10am. There will be tai chi through the morning followed by a picnic lunch (don't forgot to bring your picnic lunch) and demonstrations in the afternoon.

It should be a great day out. I hope to see you there.

Classes over Easter

Just a reminder that there will be no class in Leigh today or next Wednesday. We start again on Wednesday 15 April.

As it is a long break there will be a catch-up class in the Tesco Leigh Community Space on Easter Saturday, 4 April at 10am.

You are also welcome to go to the Monday evening class in Ashton-in-Makerfield instead, which will continue as usual, even on Easter Monday.

Have a lovely Easter weekend!

Upcoming events

There is lots of good stuff happening over the next two or three months.

Saturday 4 April
Tai chi applications and push hands workshop with Angela Howarth in Liverpool.
http://angelataichi.co.uk/events

Sunday 19 April
An in-depth one-day workshop on the 24 step form with Master Faye Li Yip in Oldham.
http://www.deyin-taiji.com/seminars/eventdetail/7783/-/24-step-improver-seminar

Saturday 25 April
World Tai Chi Day. Join the celebrations in the Festival Gardens in Liverpool.

Saturday 9 May
Follow on to World Tai Chi Day in Wepre Park in North Wales.

Saturday 30 May
Tai chi applications and push hands workshop with Angela Howarth in Crosby.
http://angelataichi.co.uk/events

Saturday/Sunday 27/28 June

Deyin Annual Summer Camp in Telford. This year includes official opening of the new Chinese Arts and Culture Centre and a lecture by Professor Li Deyin on the internal characters of tai chi.

http://www.deyin-taiji.com/seminars/eventdetail/7785/-/deyin-annual-summer-camp-2015

New class in Norris Green, Liverpool

If you live in the Norris Green area of Liverpool and fancy learning tai chi I have a new beginners' class starting at the Ellergreen Community Centre on Ellergreen Road.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Gōng xǐ fā cái!

The Year of the Goat starts today. I will be joining in the celebrations with my school, the Deyin Taijiquan Institute, on Saturday. You are all welcome to join me. Details are here.

And on Sunday there are celebrations in the Chinatowns of Manchester and Liverpool with dragon and lion dances and fireworks.

Vote for us!

As you know, World Tai Chi Day is in April and we will be joining with other tai chi students and instructors to do tai chi in the Festival Gardens in Liverpool.

We've applied for funding from the Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund to promote the event. Every week they give £300 to the entry with the most votes that week, so please click here to go to the Galaxy Hot Chocolate page to vote for us.

Videos

I said I would see if I could find a YouTube video of the 16 step sword form, so here it is. And here it is from the back view.

And here is my friend and colleague Angela Howarth doing the 8 step hand form in the Festival Gardens in Liverpool.

New daytime beginner's class in Leigh

There will be a new six-week beginner's class on tai chi and qigong at the Tesco Leigh Extra Community Space in Leigh. It starts Wednesday 11 February and is a morning class, from 10am to midday with a tea break in the middle.

It is at the reduced price of £21 for the six weeks. Numbers are strictly limited so booking is essential.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2015 brings you peace and love and lots of tai chi.

Don't forget to bring your swords for tonight's class as we will be starting to look at the 16 step sword form.