New class in Lowton in September

The class in Captain's Lane will be back on Monday after my week off. I hope you've found some time to practise over the holiday!

I'll also be putting on a 10-week course at Lowton High School on Wednesday evenings at 8pm which starts on 17 September. It will be a course for beginners on the first half of the 16-step Yang style form and is £25 for the 10 weeks. There will be a follow-on course after Christmas on the second half of the form.

If you would like to do this course, enrolment is next Wednesday 3 September at Lowton High School, between 5pm and 7pm.

August Bank Holiday

Hi. This is just to remind you that there will be no class on Monday as it is the August Bank Holiday and I will be enjoying the festival in Sefton Park (weather permitting). I hope you all have as enjoyable a bank holiday as I plan to have, and I will see you the week after!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone!

Remember there will be a class on Easter Monday, but I will be away for two weeks after that and we will be back on Monday 12th May.

Enjoy the holiday and keep up the tai chi.

Workshops with Faye Li Yip

There will be a couple of opportunities coming up in early April to train with Faye Li Yip in the 24 step form. Faye is the great-niece of Li Tianji who originally created this popular form.

On Saturday 5th April she will be in Liverpool doing a one-day workshop for improvers, and on Sunday 6th April in Oldham there will be a rare chance to explore the ten tai chi essences and inner spirit in the context of the 24 step form.

These workshops are a few weeks away but it is best to book early to avoid disappointment.

You can contact Angela Howarth in Liverpool for the first workshop and Phil Garside on 07790 826841 for the second.

I hope you have all enjoyed the beginning of Chinese New Year - I certainly have! I have been down in Wolverhampton celebrating with my school, the Deyin Taijiquan Institute. We took part in some great workshops and went out for a meal - here is a picture of the lion dancing in the restaurant.

Gōng xǐ fā cái!

Kung hei fat choy!

Happy Chinese New Year!

We're now entering the year of the hardworking horse.

Yang style 24 step form

This is a repost of an old blog for Phil and Bernie. I was going to link directly to the YouTube video but I've been having trouble finding it. The video is of my teacher, Master Tary Yip, doing the 24 step form as it should be done.

I have two teachers, Master Faye Li Yip and Master Tary Yip, who are a married couple. Tai chi is traditionally taught by families in China, and all the major styles of tai chi are named after tai chi families. The head of my school is Faye's father, Professor Li Deyin, and I have often trained with both him and his wife, Master Fang Mishou. One day, if Faye and Tary's children decide to follow in the family footsteps, I may train with them too.