Tai Chi Caledonia:Programme

Eight Pieces Brocade - Marianne Plouvier

Baduanjin (created by General Yue Fei) is one of the most common forms of qigong. The name of the form generally refers to how the eight individual movements of the form characterise and impart a silken quality to the body and its energy. Baduanjin is primarily designated as a form of medical qigong, meant to improve health. However, it is also often used by martial artists as a supplementary exercise.

Recommended for those with some experience or a willingness to work hard.

Circles in Bagua - Ed Hines

As well as the circles that we walk in Bagua, there are many other circles that you can find in forms and applications. If you understand the similarity between these different circles, and learn to connect them fluidly then they are not only a pleasure to explore but also a rich source of applications that you can adapt to any situation

Jianfa The art of the Chinese Sword - Henk Janssen.

Warm-up exercises with and without the sword, sword techniques to sparring. I will teach parts of the swordform, as taught by Cheng Man-Ch’ing; solo and partner exercises with accent on the jianfa of the Michuan system as taught by Scott M. Rodell. I will also include tui shou and san shou exercises for a better understanding of the use of the sword in Taijiquan.

Experience preferred.

Peng, Lu, Ji and An

Mario Napoli - A clear understanding of the four powers of peng, lu, ji and an is an integral part of tai chi training. We will work to instil and develop these essential principles through form work and push hands in both structured and free-style scenarios. This will help you to realise a greater sense of ground connection thereby increasing your stability and ability to respond to external pressure in a more effective manner.

Recommended for those with some experience or a willingness to work hard.

Calligraphy - The Four Treasures - Wang Ning

Following the huge popularity and repeated requests we are pleased to invite Wang Ning once more to give his unique approach to learning the Chinese art of calligraphy. with the four treasures: Zhi (paper), Mo (Ink Sticks), Bi (Brushes) & Yan (Ink Stones). Through practical work you can experience this meditative art. (All materials need to be pre-ordered at a cost of £25)

From Principles to Function - Fernando Chedel

In this workshop we will examine some basic principles of tai chi chuan such as peng-jin, lu-jin and ‘letting go’. Building on this, we will explore how these principles develop into tuishou and applications, thus giving techniques their special ‘tai chi flavour’. Attention will also be given to the use of special tai chi stepping methods in these techniques.

Suitable for both relative beginners and the more experienced.

Dragon Stirs the Water Cane Form - Nathan Menaged

Nathan developed this form from his 30+ years of experience in martial arts. Based on the principles of five dimensional yielding--yielding in three dimensions, time, and mind. You can learn how to “yield and return” as a continuing cycle. At the core of this form is a concept that “an attack (return) can come from a yield but a yield can never come from an attack.” The form is also a two-person fighting (yielding) set.

Suitable for all levels.

Tai Chi – Mindfulness & Awareness - Judith van Drooge

We will be working with the essential basic principles of Tai Chi to develop a sense of mindfulness and awareness which will serve as practical tools to be effectively applied in daily life. Through repetition and changing focus you will develop a deeper sense of relaxation through discovery of your own inner strength, coupled with external softness. This work will help you to stay relaxed, feel stronger and better able to deal with potential conflicts.

Suitable for all levels.