Join us in 2022 for Live Zoom and In Venue Tai Chi Classes with Shifu Liu (in venue with safe social distancing, masks are not mandatory). All classes must be booked and paid for in advance, there are no drop-ins allowed, nor do we accept cash for classes and workshops.

It is easy to book your own classes and workshops in advance from our TJC Bookwhen classes page or on our TJC Bookwhen workshop page.

The TJC Book & Pay  page has the list of weekly Chen Taijiquan live Zoom and In Venue classes with Shifu Liu and Chris and how to book your class and pay. For security reasons it is best for a class participant to set up a free account on Zoom before entry to the online classes, to book and pay for training through Bookwhen then you can access all your classes and payment information.

We are keen to keep in touch with our taiji family of students to maintain social interaction between us and to be able to adapt and keep learning even while we are training in our homes live on Zoom or face to face in our venues.

We hope that you all stay safe and well during these very difficult times, and also keep on practicing at home for maintaining mental and physical health and well-being.

Tai Chi for Health, Relaxation and Martial Arts 

PUBLIC CLASSES • PERSONAL TRAINING • WORKSHOPS • FREE TAI CHI IN THE PARK • COMPETITION COACH & JUDGE • INDIVIDUAL & 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 Master Liu Quanjun and assisted and managed by Christine Jones. They are both disciples of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang, the 19th generation lineage heir of the Chen family Taijiquan, that was the origin of many modern Tai Chi styles taught around the world today.

We offer:
•  A comprehensive Chen Tai Ji (tai chi) training programme through our Foundation classes
• Traditional and Modern Chen Taijiquan hand forms
• Chen style Push Hands and Martial Applications
• 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 Chen lineage head, Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang
• Individual posture correction from Master Liu
• Increase self confidence and improve your quality of life

Prior to Covid-19 we were very fortunate to have many annual visits from China of Master Chen Ziqiang, the son of Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing and nephew of Standard Bearer Chen Xiaowang. Master Chen Ziqiang is a 20th generation direct descendant of the Chen Taijiquan Family. He is the Chief Coach of the prestigious Chenjiagou Taijiquan Academy and a renowned tai ji teacher and martial arts champion. Both he and his students have achieved overwhelming victories in numerous competitions both in China and worldwide. Master Chen Ziqiang’s Tai Ji is impeccable and he is ranked as one of the true great masters within the Taijiquan community.

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

Some of the Calendar 2022 workshops, trips, bookings and special visits from tai chi masters, are postponed until the pandemic eases… We are teaching taiji and qi gong workshops online and in venue, see the Events page.

We have a new Foundation In Venue and Online Beginners classes Beginners Chen Taiji Classes new students are welcome to book and attend.

We recommend that everyone follows the government and NHS guidelines, shield and safeguard if you need to, wash your hands when entering and leaving home/shopping/office etc and keep the 1-2 metres social distance. We are monitor the government guidelines and have a Risk Assessment for In Venue classes regularly updated.

“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

Foundation Tai Ji (tai chi) Classes 2022

TJC’s London classes and workshops are back online and in venue at St Paul’s Church Hall in Camden Square and the Islington Chinese Association. Masks may be worn in class as Covid-19 is still with us, but are not compulsory, please respect others choices and maintain a safe distance when training. Thank you.

TJC Taiji Class booking
TJC Taiji Workshop booking

• Shifu Liu Quanjun teaches two weekly Chen Foundation Taijiquan classes that beginners can attend and join at any time.
• TJC’s free Virtual Tai Chi Class with Shifu Liu is on the Last Saturday of the month, 11:30-12:30 BST. Please  Register with Zoom to attend. This is currently unavailable, check with our MeetUp group link for changes.
• One weekday Community Foundation Qi Gong classes with Chris 11:00-12:00 on Tuesdays (in venue St Paul’s Camden Square) is free online or by £5 donation fee.
• Membership is available for 1 year (Jan-Dec), 6 or 3 months, for a reduction in class and workshop fees. See the TJC Membership page.

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

FOUNDATION CHEN FOR NEW STUDENTS

Shifu Liu teaches the syllabus of standing practice and silk reeling exercises that are the basis for learning Chen taijiquan forms practice. Classes with him are twice a week at our venues in St Paul’s Church Hall/Camden and Islington Chinese Association/Archway. We understand that it is not always possible to attend twice a week and you can spread out your learning to suit your own timetable. Learning Chen Taiji takes time, persistence, perseverance and repetition of the movements to improve posture, balance and coordination, it’s not a quick fix! First with correction from Shifu Liu we learn Foundation training and then learn the movements of a routine. When a routine has been memorised we can begin to relax into Chen Taijiquan practice. Shifu Liu continues to help us improve through careful correction of posture of each part of a routine, and keeping up foundation training is the regular background practice for very level.

Since the pandemic (we do not accept drop-ins or cash) we have an online booking and payment system https://bookwhen.com/taijicircle so that you can control which class and when you want to attend, either online zoom or in the venue. You set up an account with your email (which is used as your ID) when you click on the class you wish to do and whether you want to pay for a single class or save money and get an 8 x class pass (choose either an in-venue or online pass). There is a shopping cart at the top of the screen, and you get taken through the booking and payment process. If you buy an online class you should be sent an email with the Zoom joining link, or confirmation email if you wish to attend in venue.

See the NEW Beginners Foundation 8 class pass for non-members to use in venue at reduced rates (click on Foundation class and then on the class pass option)

VENUES for Foundation Classes with Shifu Liu
Sundays from 10:00 – 11:00 at the Islington Chinese Association
21 Hatchard Road, London N19 4NG
Archway underground or Upper Holloway (Rail), walk or bus down Holloway Rd, to Marlborough Road.

Thursdays from 18:30 – 19:30 at St Paul’s Church Hall
Camden Square, London, NW1 9XG
Camden tube or Camden Road Overground Rail, buses 29 or 253 up Camden Road

If you need help with our Bookwhen class booking and payment system check here:

https://helpforbookers.helpsite.com

To qualify for concessionary fees (please supply proof at first class):-
• full-time student
• unemployment, housing or on incapacity benefit
• over 60 or under 18 years
• chronic health issues, ask Chris or Shifu Liu (email us) and check with your doctor that it is alright for you to practice
• children under 16 in adult Foundation classes are free with parent

Whether you are new to Taijiquan or more experienced, practicing the foundation training is essential to build strength, calmness, and to gain full energy which is necessary for more advanced practice. Our Foundation classes are recommended for all new 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.

Training for our Chen Tai ji Foundation 8 class Pass 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 Classes
• 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, if you sign up for 8 classes you will receive:-
• Notes with a brief history/principles of Chen style taijiquan with a glossary of terminology
• Detailed posture correction (in Venues only) from Shifu Liu, Chris (if permittable)
• Lesson Plan for self-practice at home and
• Send you Vimeo class links for reference and practice.

“Thank you so much for this amazing material and for organising everything in such a clear way. This course is by far the best one I have ever taken, and I’ve tried quite a few places!”
AN. 2020