Welcome to Longwater Tai Chi

New from September 2018

Traditional Tai Chi with warmups

From September 12th 2018 we will be changing our Wednesday and Thursday evening classes into a exciting new format. Our main aim is to provide an easy path for new or drop-in students to progress into the more traditional Tai Chi / Internal Arts subjects usually taught in advanced classes, workshops and retreats, and previously only made available to beginners once a year.

New students will be able to start enjoying the traditional curriculum we teach, at any time. Existing intermediate students will be more empowered to access what they individually require with regard to curriculum material. We hope that this will encourage them, through sharing their skills with beginners and more targeted personal practice, to break through their ‘plateaus’ and so reach the next level. Find out more...

Research Trial: September – December 2018

We are pleased to be taking part in this research project within our classes in Ringwood and Fordingbridge. If you would like to participate in an MSc research project, overseen by Southampton University, then find out more at our following taster sessions.

Tuesday 11th September 2-3pm, course starts 18th September
Greyfriars Centre, Ringwood BH24 1DW

Thursday 13th September 2:30-3:30, course starts 20th September
Avonway Centre, Fordingbridge, SP6 1JF

Find out more... 

How to make connections

We are very excited to be offering, for the first time, a series of workshops from Nov 2018 teaching the elements of traditional Yang family connection work, which includes the study of the energies of Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan) and how they are applied in partner exercises.

An introductory workshop called “88 Sanshou” is planned for Sun 25th November 2018 in Downton Memorial Hall, at the special price of £45 for the day - see our diary or Facebook page for details. This is a great opportunity for beginners to start learning this high level Tai Chi material - future workshops will be progressive and harder for first timers to join. Please contact us if you have any questions.

About the workshops

Yang family Sanshou is also called the ʻAttack and Defendʼ or the ʻ88ʼ. Variations of this two person routine are most commonly derived from Chen Yanlinʼs 1943 manual: Taiji Boxing, Sabre, Sword, Pole, Sparring Compiled (Taiji Quan, Dao, Jian, Gun, Sanshou Hebian 陳炎林 太極拳刀劍桿散手). The routine is most popular in Taiwan where stylistic interpretations abound. In mainland China the sequence is probably best known in Shanghai, where Chen made his home. A variation of the form was also published by the China Wushu Committee, and features a short, matched set of solo movements executed simultaneously by each partner at the introduction and conclusion of the routine.

When energy comes to us we must receive it as a gift, only then can we effectively neutralise and transform. Otherwise we can easily just be blocking it, avoiding it. If you do not have connection, can you listen? There are many life lessons that can be gained here; becoming fully comfortable in any situation is not a skill to be under estimated.

‘Sticking and adhering’ is the basis of everything. The sparring in Taiji Boxing is completely different from other styles of martial arts: it is a matter of being sticky and connected, of letting go of your plans and just responding to the opponent, of both neutralizing and issuing being carried out with subtlety rather than obviousness, and of moving continuously without interruption.

- With thanks to the Brennan translations and our teacher Sam Masich for some of the descriptions used here.

Join us for Five Seasons Qigong

Learn how to integrate qigong practices into your normal busy life whilst staying in harmony with the seasons. Let the naturally changing energies of nature nourish and guide your mind, body and spirit. During each season of the year, we run one workshop to teach our deepest level material, which we have learned over 27 years of study and integration. We both teach at these sessions, enabling us to pass on material to you at multiple levels, adapted to suit everyone. Students of all abilities are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Spring Growth and Extension

June 2019 - Summer's Joyful Opening

September 2019 - Late Summer to Autumn Integration

January 2019 - Winter Storing

Please visit our curriculum or events page for more details.

What is Tai Chi?

Unlike aerobics and most forms of modern Western exercise, Tai Chi steadily teaches you how it is possible to achieve vibrant health and assist healing through correct body alignments and low-impact movements. It is based most importantly on moderation, known as the 70% Rule. The internal health aspects of Qigong (subtle energy 'Qi' work, pronounced chee gong) practised alone or within Tai Chi can help relieve physical, emotional and mental tension and stress and pave the way to self-healing, reducing your dependence on the overburdened health service. We believe that the way we teach Tai Chi is safe for people of all ages and levels of fitness.

Longwater Tai Chi holds regular classes and workshops in Wilton, Salisbury and Downton in Wiltshire, Fordingbridge in Hampshire and Verwood, St Ives and St Leonard's in Dorset. We also teach private lessons and small groups at our studio in Downton plus some specialist groups, corporate sessions and groups in new areas, by arrangement.

The different ways in which we teach our curriculum are designed to suit your interest and commitment, from taster sessions, weekly drop-in classes; weekend, day, half day or mini workshops, to regular short form, long form, qigong and meditation courses for those who want a more challenging or long-term commitment.

Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us for more information on 01725 514546.