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Tai Chi for Health, Relaxation and Martial Arts 

PUBLIC CLASSES • PERSONAL TRAINING • WORKSHOPS • Free Monthly Tai CHi In the Park • COMPETITION COACH & JUDGE • Individual and team DEMONSTRATIONS •

 

Tai Ji Circle is a north London school and charity dedicated to sharing and promoting Chen Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) and qi gong (chi kung) practice. Our weekly tai ji classes and monthly workshops for beginners to advanced levels are directed and taught by Liu Quanjun and assisted and managed by Christine Jones, both disciples of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang, the 19th generation lineage heir of the Chen family, who originated modern Tai Chi taught worldwide today.

We offer:
•  A comprehensive Chen Tai Ji (tai chi) training programme
• Traditional and Modern Chen Taijiquan hand forms
•  Chen style weapons forms
•  Ongoing classes for beginners to advanced levels
• Traditional training as in China
• Friendly place to train – everyone is welcome
• Weekly classes, monthly workshops and free ‘tai chi in the park’ sessions

Benefits of Chen Tai Ji training  with us:
• Improve health and fitness
• Increase stamina, coordination, balance and flexibility
• Decrease stress and increase relaxation
• Study with a genuine Chinese taijiquan master, Liu Quanjun, 20th generation disciple of Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang
• Individual posture correction from Master Liu
• Increase self confidence and improve your quality of life

We are also very fortunate to have regular guests from China, such as Master Chen Ziqiang, nephew of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang, and the son of Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing. Chen Ziqiang is a 20th generation direct descendant of the Chen Family Taijiquan, and is the Chief Coach of the Chenjiagou Taijiquan School in Henan Province, China. Master Ziqiang is a multiple national martial arts champion of China.

Master Chen Ziqiang in the centre with Liu Quanjun and Chris

Chen Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan is the Cantonese spelling) Tai Chi (Taijiquan of the Chen style) is practiced as a sequence of slow or dynamic movements or forms, that combine ‘soft’ and ‘hard’, with ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ actions. It is performed in a relaxed, balanced and natural way that adheres to the philosophical Daoist (Taoist) principles of Yin Yang, the Chinese theory of opposites. Chen style Taijiquan has bare hand and weapon routines suitable for beginners to advanced levels, push hands and martial applications and techniques. It can be practiced meditatively and slowly in a high stance, or faster in a lower stance for increasing stamina and power, (which makes it different from other tai chi styles) but also makes it suitable for different age groups to practice.

CHEN TAIJIQUAN TRAINING for all levels
CHEN-STYLE HAND & WEAPON FORMS
ONGOING BEGINNERS CLASSES
FREE TAI CHI IN THE PARK MEETUPS
MEDITATIVE DA BEI QI GONG
HARD QI GONG PRIVATE COURSES
CHINESE MASSAGE TREATMENTS

See TJC’s weekly class Timetable with details of classes and venues

See our Calendar 2019 for all workshops, free tai chi in the park, trips, bookings and special visits from tai chi masters…

Sign up for our 2019 Beginners Chen Taiji Courses

“In the beginning use the body to move the ‘energy’ – much later you can use the ‘energy’ to move the body!” Liu Quanjun

More on Chen Taiijiquan

 

Profile

Tai Ji Circle

Tai Ji Circle runs public London classes and workshops in Chen Taijiquan (tai chi chuan) hand and weapon forms, push hands and martial applications and Tai Ji Qi Gong (chi kung) though our Foundation syllabus. Chen Tai Ji can be practiced for general fitness, improvements to health and for internal martial arts training.

Tai Ji Circle was founded in 2004, by Christine Jones (Trustee, Manager and Instructor) under the guidance of Shifu (Master) Liu Quanjun who has been its full time Martial Arts and Executive Director and Senior Instructor since 2005. They are both disciples of 19th generation Chen Taijiquan lineage heir, Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang. In February 2012 we changed the company status to Tai Ji Circle Ltd as a not-for-profit, and on 25 March 2013 Tai Ji Circle was awarded charity status.

Tai Ji Circle is fortunate to have wonderful support from it’s trustees and student volunteers, see our team on the link below.

Our Aims
• To spread the benefits and promote the understanding, education and practice of the ancient Chinese systems of health preservation
• To provide a high standard of tuition in Tai Chi, (Chen Taijiquan), to enable students to reach their personal best, to achieve better health, strength and coordination, self-fulfillment and to be able to study at the highest level
• To offer free tai chi or qi gong classes to the chronically ill who are able to participate
• To help the local community by providing a wide range of classes for everyone at reasonable prices

Tai Ji Circle are members of:
The Chen Xiao Wang Worldwide Taijiquan Association,
The Chenjiagou Taijiquan Association,
The BCCMA, (the British Council for Chinese Martial Arts) and
The Tai Chi Union of Great Britain, and is
The London Branch of the Chenjiagou Taijiquan School

A group photo after a workshop with Chen Xiaowang
Chen Xiaowang with Liu Quanjun, and TJC students in Chenjiagou, China

Tai Ji Circle embodies authentic and traditional principles of Chinese internal martial arts and Chinese medicine. Through a wide range of weekly Chen Taijiquan (Tai Chi) classes and workshops, students of all ages and levels of fitness can benefit from the expert teaching of Shifu Liu at affordable prices. Tai Ji Circle hopes to promote a healthy way of life for their students, who come from the local community, around London and from all over the world. Everyone welcome!

Tai Chi is both an internal martial art and a form of meditation through flowing circular movements that help strengthen and balance the body and mind. The mental and spiritual focus required to perform it correctly, frees the energies of the body to flow naturally. Tai Chi Qi Gong practiced in Foundation classes is meditative and relaxing and is also suitable for those with health issues who cannot stand for long.

Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang

Tai Ji Circle Team

Tai Chi Beginners

New Foundation Tai Ji (tai chi) Courses 2019

Discover the roots of Tai chi with Tai Ji Circle and try the traditional form of Chen Taijiquan (tai chi) with renowned London Chen-style master Liu Quanjun and team. Learn how to relax and benefit health through our practical Foundation Courses, and discover the hidden power in this authentic internal martial art, and understand underlying theories and philosophies that underpin the Chen style.

1st Course Class Date:  13 January 2019 
Sundays 10:00-11:00/Thursdays 18:30-19:30

Each new Beginners’ Foundation Course offers eight classes taught by Shifu Liu with Chris and Darrell, and require you to attend two classes a week for four weeks on Sundays and Thursdays. This will help new students have time to assimilate the training. The course will begin with the fundamentals and progress each week building firm foundation techniques. If you are unable to attend twice a week you can use the 8-class pass to attend other Foundation classes within the term.

Whether you are new to Taijiquan or more experienced, practicing the foundation training is necessary to build strength, calmness, to gain full energy, which is essential for more advanced practice. Our courses are recommended for all students to gain a grasp of the essential requirements of the Chen style.

Everyone welcome, no previous experience is required.

If you have health issues please let us know and have permission from your doctor before joining our classes.

Those TJC members with with previous experience are welcome to join in the Foundation Course classes and use their regular class passes as before.

Our Chen Tai ji Foundation course includes:-
• Nei Gong, internal practice
• Jiben Gong, warm ups and silk reeling exercises
• Understanding tai ji movement principles and the role of the dantian (energy centre) and kua (groin),
• Training for health benefits, agility and better balance

Objectives of the Foundation Chen Taijiquan Course
• Release and learn to soften and relax tension, using your natural breath
• Learn the basic stances and hand positions of the Chen style
• Gain better alignment, balance and coordination
• Standing practice and posture correction for improved alignment and strength
• Understand Silk Reeling exercises, to gain control of balance and weight changing, and to circulate energy throughout the body
• Use of yin yang theory in Tai ji practice
• Understand some of the basic theories and philosophies underlying Chen Taijiquan
• Understand how the martial applications are within apparently simple movements even at the Foundation level.

To help your practice you will receive:-
• Notes with a brief history/principles of Chen style taijiquan with a glossary of terminology
• Detailed posture correction from Shifu Liu, Chris or Darrell
• Lesson Plan for self-practice at home

Sign up for our 2019 Foundation Chen Courses.

See Shifu Liu teaching in this clip from BBC’s Dr In The House Programme shown in 2017

Master Chen Ziqiang in London 2019

Chen Taijiquan Seminars

8-14 April 2019

ARCHWAY • CAMDEN • CHALK FARM

Catch this rare opportunity to train with Shifu Chen Ziqiang on his only visit to the UK in 2019, where he will conduct a series of exciting seminars with Shifu Liu Quanjun in: Chen Silk Reeling (Chen Foundation training), Dajia Yi Lu (Chen village beginners form), Taiji Ball, Double Swords and Tui Shou, Push Hands training.

The son of Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing, Master Chen Ziqiang is a 20th generation direct descendant of the Chen Family Taijiquan, the Chief Coach of the prestigious Chenjiagou Taijiquan School, a renowned teacher and tai ji champion in China and worldwide.

All taijiquan practitioners are very welcome to attend!

Itinerary for Chen Ziqiang’s London Seminars

8 April:  Foundation Silk Reeling   18:30 – 21:30 All levels
9 April:  Dajia Yi Lu Form    18:30 – 21:30 All levels

Islington Chinese Association, 21 Hatchard Road, London N19 4NG
Archway Underground (High Barnet branch of the Northern Line), Upper Holloway overground
11 April: Taiji Ball Form     18:30 – 21:30 All levels
St Paul’s Church Hall, Camden Square, London, NW1 9XG
Camden Town Underground, 253 or 29 Bus to Torriano Avene stop (from Camden tube)
12 April: Double Swords Form   15:00 – 20:30 (break 18:00-18:30)
13 April: Double Swords Form   10:00 – 17:00 (lunch 12:30-13:30)
14 April: Push Hands & Applications   10:00 – 17:30 (lunch 12:00-14:00)
(note: unavoidable 2 hour break on Sunday)     All levels
Sports Hall, Haverstock School
24 Haverstock Hill, Chalk Farm, London NW3 2BQ
Chalk Farm Underground (Edgware branch of the Northern Line)

Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time to enroll.

If you would like to attend the seminars, please download the pdf Chen Ziqiang 2019 Booking and Release Form link, fill in all your details and return to Tai Ji Circle as requested. Thank you.

Chen Ziqiang 2019 Booking and Release Form pdf document. Please retain pages 1-2 for your information, and return pages 3-4 to Tai Ji Circle.

If you have any queries please get in touch by email.
Email Us

Booking the seminars

We have two online payment options available; reduced Early Bird fees payable until  17 March, after that online payment will only be available until 5 April. After these dates cash payment only.

Please select payment options for your seminar choices with their dates from the drop down menu* below, add them to the cart for payment by credit card or Paypal, thank you. There are no additional fees payable.

EARLY BIRD SEMINAR FEES

Master Chen: Early Bird



* Please note: On the first button press of “add to cart” a new window opens with Paypal ready for checkout, return to the selection to make further purchases and then return to cart for a final single payment.

Booking Deposit (for cash fees)

Paying by Cash at the Seminars
Please reserve your place by purchasing a non-refundable deposit ticket, either online or in class. Please use the Payment Booking Form (Chen Ziqiang 2019 Booking and Release Form pdf) to email or post us, indicating which seminars are you attending. Email Us

Non-refundable Cash Fee Deposit


All seminars with Master Chen include vigorous warm-up exercises to prepare the body for training. Silk Reeling and Dajia Yi Lu and Chen Ball and Push Hands are all suitable for students with less experience. For the Double Swords some weapons experience is useful.

SEMINAR DETAILS

Foundation Silk Reeling and Standing Practice
Silk Reeling exercises (Chansi Gong) the essential foundation practice to improve posture and movement in longer routines They are aimed at regulating the whole body into a relaxed, comfortable and natural state, through rhythmical relaxation of all the parts of the body.

 

Dajia Yi Lu 
Dajia First Routine is a simplified routine based on a combination of several traditional Chen routines. The form is mostly practiced to cultivate and replenish qi, so as to improve physical constitution and to promote health. This routine uses mind to direct qi and qi to shape the form, resulting in form and breathing in harmony. It is easy to learn, and suitable for all ages to practice. This is also known as Chen-style Taiji Health Routine.

 

Chen-style Tai Ji Ball Form
Aim to keep the ball moving all the time, the way the ball moves reflects your body movement. Use silk reeling/Chansi Gong techniques when practicing the routine. When accustomed to the routine you can use a weighted ball with weight up to one kilo.
Please bring your own taiji ball if possible.

 

Chen Double Swords
A powerful weapon form containing many techniques. Each attack and defence should be executed with speed and force.
• As the Double Swords will be new to Tai Ji Circle students, Shifu Liu will be starting a Double Swords class in the future, to continue our training and improvements of the form.
If you require us to supply double swords, either to buy or borrow, please email to inform us as soon as possible.

 

Tui Shou, Push Hands and Martial Applications
The practice of Tui Shou (Push hands) is the application of different forms with a partner under different conditions. The aim is to understand the other person’s internal qi (energy), how it moves, their balance and coordination, constantly restructuring your own balance and coordination accordingly. It is a preparation for martial applications and techniques by improving reactions to attack.

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