Teacher Notes

From March 2020, we have been meeting online every two weeks using Zoom video conferencing.  He previously studied under the Chen Xiao Wang lineage and trained with a few Chen Tai Chi teachers on the East coast of America. This student practiced the long form, Laojia Yi Lu for many years, in fact longer than I have been training myself.  Before we started training together, I watched a video of his form to make sure I could offer him something valuable from my teachings. My focus these days tends to be on principles rather than collecting forms. I was pleased to see that I could help this student layer in principles to his form, to make his movements more authentic, which in turn makes his movements more martially viable, and increases the health and wellbeing benefits.

Through the journey, this student has improved his form, choreography, martial intent and principles alongside an improvement in his body conditioning, strength and flexibility. During our studies he also went through surgery, and we both continued to train regularly, adapting the movements to suit ebb and flow in his recovery.  Mixed in with the formal Chen style Tai Chi training, we have also trained qigong movements, breathing techniques, remedial exercises and lots of laughter.  This student practices more than I do, and puts everything into his practice. He is an absolute joy to teach and it is very heart warming to have a shared enthusiasm for the classical Chinese arts.

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