Easter dates – we DONT do Bank Holidays – so classes will be cancelled on Thursday 17th and Monday 21st April
Our Tai Chi classes welcome all levels of ability and ages. We work with many people, with a diverse range of interests, health issues and disabilities, adapting our practice to promote maximum health and wellness impact for all who study with us. You are welcome to drop in and experience the calm, peaceful atmosphere that Tai Chi develops – but do expect to work! Many studies show how brilliant Tai Chi is for our health, but it is also practiced as a Martial Art, and is used to develop high levels of fitness and power!
Mark has been practicing Tai Chi since 1986, and has run his own classes full time in Bristol since 1990. Having dedicated his life to the learning and passing on of this complex and subtle Art, he has a wealth of experience and knowledge of many different issues that students face. Mark trains consistently with Karel Koskuba, one of the original disciples of Grandmaster Chen XiaoWang. He also travels each year to spend time in either China or Germany to train with Master Chen YingJun, as well as hosting him each November
Mark’s son, Kieran, has practiced most of his life, and specialises in teaching Tai Chi and QiGong for sport psychology and injury, as well as brain injury and neurodiversity issues
Mark’s wife since 2002, Mary took up Tai Chi and QiGong in 1992 to recover from Chronic Fatigue and trauma issues. She specialises in supporting those with long term health difficulties and neurodiversity
Our classes are based around the system taught to us directly by Master Chen YingJun, as taught to him from childhood by his father Grandmaster Chen XiaoWang – the 19th Generational head of the style. We have been hugely privileged to host Master YingJun for a week each autumn since 2002 (excluding Covid!). Master YingJun is incredibly dedicated to learning and teaching the art to the highest level, but is also kind and has a great sense of humour, offering the very highest level of teaching in a way accessible to all learners. Having been acknowledged by his father as his successor, he is now widely accepted to be the world leading practitioner and teacher of Chen Style.
Tai Chi Chuan was developed as a Martial Art around 500 years ago, and although it’s beginnings are disputed to some extent, it was certainly based on both Martial Arts and spiritual disciplines dating back thousands of years before that. It’s essence is to realign the posture, and teach the body to move in a relaxed, natural manner. As internal tensions are released, and we begin to use the muscles and skeleton together more efficiently, the natural energy of the body increases. The body can then heal itself, and internal power can begin to develop. When the movements are practiced correctly, they also form very powerful Embodied Mindfulness exercises – the benefits of which have now been widely accepted by the NHS, after many clinical trials have shown effectiveness in a wide variety of Mental and Physical Health areas.
As a club, we are immensely proud of our inclusivity and diversity, and we make every effort to ensure all comers feel welcome and enabled. We are experienced at dealing with ASD and neurodiversity issues; have people with a variety of physical and mental challenges; welcome people coming from all around the world; and happily accept members of the LGBTQ+ community into our club.
Tai Chi and Qigong offer powerful benefits for both sport psychology and injury recovery. Developed over hundreds of years as a fighting art, it has been designed to develop the use of full body power and enable joint strengthening and rapid healing. Athletes will also benefit from the enhanced focus, reduce stress, and improved mental resilience, leading to better performance under pressure. Additionally, the slow, controlled movements help prevent injuries by promoting flexibility, strength, and body awareness. When dealing with recovery, these practices accelerate healing by increasing circulation, reducing muscle tension, and restoring balance, aiding in a quicker and more effective return to sport.
Syllabus includes:
LaoJia Long Form, Canon Fist ( Pau Choi), XinJia, QiGong and Silk Reeling meditation, Broadsword, Sabre, Spear and GuangDao forms, Push-hands and Martial Applications.
