January 2026 Beginners Tai Chi Course

I shall run a 4 week Beginners Tai Chi Course starting on the 9th January 2026, 8-9pm. If you are looking to try out a full system of Tai Chi then this is the course for you!

We will cover the first few moves of the Hand Form, some Pushing Hands drills and a bit of History and Theory but don’t worry, there is no exam at the end!

Cost £50.00. Maximum 6 places. Email, text or call me to book your place and/or ask any questions.

September Advanced Workshop & October Beginners Course

Usual Advanced Workshop in Horsham this Saturday, 7th September. You need to be familiar with the Short Form and at least two styles of Pushing Hands before attending but ask me if in doubt.

If you are thinking of trying Tai Chi, the Autumn Beginners Course will run for 4 weeks from Thursday 3rd October. 8-9pm. Cost £50.00.

It will cover the first few moves of the Short Hand Form, some Pushing Hands, a little theory and a brief history of Taijiquan (to give it it’s proper name).

There will not(!) be a test at the end but after completing the course you can join the regular drop in group to extend your knowledge and practise for just £10pw. Contact me, details on the Classes Page, to reserve one of just 6 places available.

Qi-gong & Tai-chi in Wish Park this Summer

We are continuing to meet and train in Wish Park on Tuesday evenings, and have only had to cancel a few, despite the dismal weather!

Beginners are always welcome so just come along and join in at 6.45pm,  to find out what these ancient arts are all about. We will be somewhere near the middle of Wish Park. Cost just £5.

Regular students will know I usually hold a summer BBQ and, this year, it will be on Saturday 10th August, from 4pm, at mine. Partners/children welcome but please let me know the numbers and any diet restrictions via WhatsApp. A contribution – dish or bottle (Not Pimms, I still have an unopened one from last year!) would be appreciated.

Here’s hoping last Friday wasn’t the only hot day of this summer.

Ozymandius Meet Up

For those of you with some experience, an event not to be missed:-

The Inaugral OZYMANDIUS TAI CHI CAMP!!!!

Venue: The College of Richard Collyer, Horsham RH12 2EJ

Date: Early Spring Bank Holiday Weekend 4th-6th May

Three whole days of Wudang or Practical Tai Chi Chuan. Obviously you don’t have to do all of them.

Sessions will be lead by a number of Dan’s best known students from this country and abroad.

Click on the King of Kings above for details.

I can’t wait!

Tai Chi in the Park restarts on Tuesday 16th April 2024l

At last the trees are bursting into leaf and the evenings are staying lighter longer so it’s time for Taiji & Qigong in the park to re-start for the summer, even if it is still a bit chilly.

So, next Tuesday, 16th April, we will be in Wish Park 6.45-7.45pm and every week thereafter until Septemberish. The class is open to all abilities including complete beginners. If you want to find out what these mysterious Eastern arts are all about just come along and join us, no booking required, cost just £5.

If you want to know a bit more first look at the  About & Classes pages or contact me via the email/phone number thereon.

I’m looking forward to meeting old friends and making some new ones. See you there, just remember to dress for the weather!

Advanced Workshop & Nei-gong Refresher in Horsham

I’m looking forward to the usual monthly Advanced Workshop in Horsham this Saturday, 4th November.

Usual format:

        • 2-3pm, Hand Forms
        • 3-4pm, Pushing Hands and applications
        • 4-5pm, Weapons forms and applications

Cost:

        • £7 per hour but just £20 for the whole afternoon

Location:

In case you don’t know, there is a Nei-gong session beforehand for Menren, ‘inside the door students’ of PTCC.

The Nei-gong exercises require a degree of  effort not everyone can commit to and are not taught in open class. There are 12 Yin and 12 Yang exercises some quite demanding, and some more meditative. Each set can be done in under an hour, at the basic level, but should be done daily initially. If you would like to find out more speak to me or Peter.

Qigong & T’ai Chi in the Park 2023

I was looking forward to continuing the outdoor sessions in the park this evening but have decided it is just too grim out there, even with a hat!

Looking forward to next week!

By the way I am also trying to change the date of the next Advanced Workshop in Hove. The first Saturday of May is the 6th which I’m told clashes with a certain national event so I am negotiating with the School to move to the following Saturday, 13th May. I will confirm here and on WhatsApp in due course.

Advanced Taijiquan Workshop in Hove

I’m looking forward to hosting the next, monthly, workshop on Saturday 4th March.

Usual venue – Hove Park School Sports Hall on the Neville Campus.

Usual time and format:- 2-3pm Hand Forms, 3-4pm Push Hands and Applications, 4-5pm Weapons including Applications (Wooden/plastic de rigueur for apps)

Contact me for details or visit:

https://www.horshamtcc.co.uk/where-to-learn/advanced-workshops

See you Saturday

More Evidence for Benefits of Tai Chi

I know Richard posted this on the WhatsApp group but anyone who practices or is thinking of practising Tai Chi should have a listen to this episode of Just One Thing by Dr. Michael Mosely. It looks briefly at the growing evidence for the health benefits of the martial art of Tai Chi admittedly without any actual reference to the martial side!

There is a “taster” video on the BBC  Make Your Move webpages. It is simplified but gives an indication of one element of Tai Chi, the hand form, though it is not a  style I recognise and shows no martial intent. Michael also mentions a video on the NHS website but I cannot find it. Please let me know if you can.

If you want to see what our hand form looks like I suggest you visit Peter Ballam’s website or come to the King Alfred Leisure Centre any Thursday evening from 8-9pm and see it for real.

The health benefits are also real and it is a practical and effective martial art but you don’t have to do any actual fighting unless you really want to.  ; )

Happy Chinese New Year of the Rabbit

Jade Rabbit pounding the Elixir of Life for the Moon Goddess Chang Er.

 

 

To celebrate the new year we will have a meal out on Friday 3rd February.  Details on WhatsApp Group.

2023 has started well with very good attendance on Thursdays at the King Alfred. However, disappointingly, only one new player so far this year, despite 3 indications of interest in a new beginners class. Never mind, we have a good little group learning the Short Form some of whom are close to the end of ‘Square Style’. I’m looking forward to rounding off their form in the coming months.

The monthly workshops for experienced practitioners re-started on Saturday 7th January and all, I think, found it really useful. I certainly did, in particular discovering I had changed an angle in the sword form! I am now struggling to correct this but it has inspired me to train harder. Next workshop is in Horsham on 4th February hosted by Peter Ballam – put it in your diary now! Lift available from Hove as usual.