AGM Traditions: Christmas 2018 and 2019

In the Tai Ji Circle years, December followed a familiar pattern: the charity's AGM, the presentation of the assessment awards, a session of teaching with Shifu Liu, student demonstrations and a shared feast with students, families and friends. This entry brings together the school's reports from Christmas 2018 and Christmas 2019.

Christmas 2018: a winter health workshop

Tai Ji Circle's winter health workshop with Shifu Liu was full of insight, ranging from advice on diet to using Qigong sounds to warm us up. We also had a visit from Torben Hersberg, an osteopath and colleague of Shifu Liu's from the Central London Osteopathy Clinic.

Torben Hersberg and Shifu Liu stand before a seated audience in a hall hung with bunting and acupuncture charts — Torben Hersberg and Shifu Liu at the winter workshop.

The AGM came before the assessment awards. While food was being prepared in the kitchen, we practised Chen Foundation training and watched performances of hand and weapon forms. Gary broke a concrete block. He made it look easy, but don't try this at home: he keeps up his training in Shifu Liu's powerful Ying (hard) Qigong.

Gary, in white silk, holds up the two halves of a broken concrete block while onlookers react beside a Christmas tree — Gary and the broken block.

Everyone was incredibly generous, bringing all sorts of delicious food to share. One of our students sang, accompanied by Shifu Liu on the harmonica, and they sang Chinese songs together. Shifu Liu's powerful voice soared out in a beautiful love song from his homeland, Xinjiang, dedicated to his wife. Michael told us stories, and we even learnt the first moves of salsa.

A student sings into a microphone at a table while Shifu Liu plays the harmonica beside her — A student sings, with Shifu Liu on the harmonica.

Congratulations went to the students who, despite their nerves, took part in the Tai Ji Circle Chen Assessments and won training prizes. Shifu Liu presented them at the AGM, and in class the following day for those who could not make the party.

2018 was a good training year. Shifu Liu was very happy with his students' progress, and the party was a full and wonderful way to finish it, with students, families and friends. Thanks went to everyone for their support and for helping to clear up.

Christmas 2019: Da Bei Qigong and live music

The 2019 Christmas celebrations began with the AGM, where students were updated on the school's news for 2020. New training awards were presented to the students who had studied hard through the year and held their nerve at the Chen Taiji Assessments with Shifu Liu the weekend before.

Shifu Liu then taught the Lively Step Da Bei Qigong, which had everyone on their feet to try it. Student Chen demonstrations followed: some forms in the round, weapons, the Taiji ball, and a splendid Double Sabres performance by Lai and Michael, circling around each other.

Two performers, one in red silk and one in white, circle each other with sabres on a parquet floor while an audience watches — The Double Sabres demonstration.

We were incredibly lucky that year to have live traditional Chinese music, played by Joanna Zhenghui Qiu. A gifted musician, she played at least four different traditional instruments and gave us a varied background of music, a perfect soundscape for Taiji practice.

Joanna Zhenghui Qiu, in a blue and white dress, plays the guzheng while guests watch from chairs behind her — Joanna Zhenghui Qiu on the guzheng.

Huge thanks went to everyone who helped with setting up and taking down, washing up and preparing tasty dishes to share, and, most important of all, to everyone who took the time to come along.

Students seated in rows for the 2018 AGM in a church hall decorated with red lanterns and bunting

Shifu Liu and a prize winner hold up her Tai Ji Circle assessment award certificate

Shifu Liu and a student smile with an assessment award certificate beneath bunting and a red lantern

Shifu Liu and a student hold her assessment award certificate in a sports hall hung with flags

Shifu Liu in yellow silk leads Silk Reeling at the 2018 party, with students following behind him

Four students kneel low with swords raised during a sword form demonstration beside a Christmas tree

Guests help themselves from a long table of shared dishes decorated with poinsettias

Guests sit in a circle of chairs listening to a storyteller reading at a small table

Students gather on chairs for the 2019 AGM in front of a large red Taiji banner

Shifu Liu stands beside a presenter reading from a sheet as the 2019 awards are announced to a seated audience in front of a pink Guanyin banner

Shifu Liu in cream silk leads guests through a Qigong movement in front of the red Taiji banner

Students in red and white silk perform a Chen form in the round while guests and a guzheng player look on

A group in white silk performs a Xinjia form with arms outstretched on the parquet floor

Two students, one in red and one in white, demonstrate Taiji ball training

Joanna Zhenghui Qiu plays a gourd flute while students in white and Shifu Liu stand listening

Guests sit in a circle of chairs for party games in front of the red Taiji banner

From the Taiji Circle archive.