Thursday classes

Thursday class resumes this week at the studio near Hampton Court 6.30-10.15pm. Partnerwork, Long Form, Talu, Dance and much more are covered. All students who have completed Long Form are welcome to attend. Cost £15 (concs available).

tonight

See you this evening, if you are coming to the warm up stepping partner work session. There is a possibility of s thunder storm, and rain. But we need rain so much, that it is totally welcome. Pack a brolly, perhaps. I will be at the venue from 6pm, class starts at 7pm and goes on until 10pm. There will be tea provided. Have a peaceful day.

Classes this week and weekend

Thursday class resumes this week with Ta Lu and Sword study.

On Sunday there is a Sabre session 2-5pm usual time and place. All who have begun Sabre are welcome. 

Classes will continue as normal all term until the Summer Workshop. 

Stepping partnerwork

Thanks to all who came last night to warm up the venue. Well done to the new knockers... Also re relative positions of power - 'this truly is not easy'.

See you all later! 

Ta Lu class on Thursdays

Well done to all who came along last night, it was a good class. Senior Tuesday students who want to get their ledt side Ta Lu up to scratch and those who wish to start fresh are still welcome to join in any time this July.

Talu class

Thanks to Mark for an excellent class last night. Floods in London kept a few folks away but don't worry, you can catch up or join in any time his term. Picture below features a room full of knockers - people doing the ward-off exercise known as knocking...

I just woke up to news that UK is leaving EU. As you know I keep this blog largely free of politics. But if this means a second Scotland / UK referendum, and Scotland leaves, I will still come north with my passport and T'ai Chi, so long as cakes aren't comfiscated at the border. Also Hamid has just texted he's coming to live in Scotland and changing his name to Hamish. Large Persians in Monymusk have so far only been of the feline variety. 

Keep to Central Earth during the storm of opinion that will now engulf us all. Or throw away the telly and go walk in the green hills which were there before us all and will be there after we are merely dust and echoes. I send my love and best wishes to all past and present Great River and T'ai Chi Centre students where ever they are in UK and all over the world. 

Talu starts this week

...Thursday class 6.30-8.30pm, at the Streatham venue, see Mark's website for details. All students of The T'ai Chi Centre and Great River are welcome. Classes cost the same as usual, and only £5 if you already attend on Tuesdays.

New Talu class in London

You will be welcome at our new Talu and stepping partner work class. We will cover Ta Lu ('Big Roll-Back') which features the corner energies- split, pull-down, shoulder and elbow. These follow on from and complement the main square energies of T'ai Chi which form pushing hands (roll-back, ward-off, push and press). We will also learn Wabu (lively stepping) which eventually leads to moving-step double pushing hands, and combined with Talu then develops into 'Thirteen Postures T'ai Chi' - the Classical route to free pushing. We will learn exercises such as knocking, to develop ward-off and roundness, and study the many ways of stepping, and when each is appropriate. This all leads to a natural sense of when to move and when to stand our ground using softness. All T'ai Chi students of any school are welcome, with at least 2 year's experience. Please get in touch for eligibility. Classes will be taught by Master Mark Raudva.

Address: 136 Streatham High Road, entrance on Woodbourne Ave. Class costs £90 / £66 per 6 week block or £18 drop in fee. Class runs from 16th June 2016 for 6 weeks, then continues after the Summer break during normal term times from September 15th. Students are welcome to stay on after tea break for Long Form as appropriate.

Days and Times: Thursdays from 16th July 2016, 6.30-8.30pm

Ta Lu video

I filmed a few times round the solo form of the Ta Lu (simplified, right side) for a student this morning, using my iphone, and have emailed it along with a simple descriptive posture list for it to all instructors and Hackney students. If anyone else would like it for their own reference or private study, please get in touch.

Warmup for the Weeklong

A Talu / Wabu / Dance session will be held at Fetternear Hall from 7-10pm on Friday 24th July. All are welcome. Cost £15 / £10. Jasmine tea - and perhaps cake?! - will be provided.