Summer workshop fast approaching

The 12th Annual T'ai Chi Centre Week-long Workshop will soon be taking place from 22nd July. Get in touch if you need any help with directions, accommodation, syllabus, suitability or other issues. See you there!

The T'ai Chi Centre 10th Annual Week-long Intensive

The T'ai Chi Centre 10th Annual Week-long Intensive

Saturday 25th July - Friday 31st July 2015

You are invited to join us at a new venue, a couple of miles upstream from where we were last year, for our 10th Anniversary workshop. Students who have never attended an intensive will need to come from the start rather than drop-in later. If you are an 'old-hand', and can't get all the time off, come whenever is possible. The sessions really build in depth and intensity over the week, and we look forward to sharing some more great T'ai Chi, as we have at the previous 9 events. Mark Raudva will be teaching all week at this unique riverside venue: Leander Sea Scout Hut, 92 Lower Ham Road. Kingston upon Thames, KT2 5BB. Indoor 'camping' and showers are available at the venue for a small donation towards the Sea Scouts.

There will be time and space for T'ai Chi weapons practice too. Outdoor sessions may be held 50 metres away at Canbury Gardens, weather permitting. The Boater's Arms is a great pub with good food and a large outdoor area just 50 metres away and Kingston train station is a short walk, as are food shops, a market, bakeries and cafes. Buses pass nearby including the 65 from Richmond to Kingston; I will post full travel and accommodation details here early in April.

Fees will be £40 per day, or £20 per half-day session, concessions (£24 / £12), instalments and further concessions are available if that helps you come along. We bring food to share each day, tea is provided. Sessions run 2-5pm and 6.30-9.30pm. Extra optional stepping partner work session 7-10pm Friday 24th.

Call me on 07732 659104 or email caroline[at]greatrivertaichi[dot]co[dot]uk re accommodation, enquiries, or to book.

The T'ai chi Centre 9th Annual weeklong Workshop 2014

2014 weeklong details are now on the blog, just click here or on the banner to the right of these posts...

Last night we began the 7th Annual Intensive at Hampton after a great Talu and stepping partnerwork session on Friday night, for warm ups. There's already a great atmosphere and I am so happy to be spending time in a room with lovely people intent on the same good work that I want to explore. Well done to the beginners who came along and threw themselves into the day. We also send love to Will, Kate and Simon, who weren't able to travel to the event after all this year. Am back at home for a few hours, tending the garden, picking food to bring, and generally taking care of stuff. See you at 2pm.

Last thing yesterday, Fair Lady Weaves at the Shuttle push hands, lifting up the other's heavy arm...

Connecting Hands

Sword Stepping Partner Drill No1

weather for weeklong

I am hoping for at least one day without rain, so we can work outdoors at the intensive in Hampton. For those of you who like to weather watch, here's a link to Accuweather for Hampton, 25 day forecast. So far it looks like we may get rain all week again... anyone know any weather magic?

Loan of a whiteboard

Does anyone have a whiteboard (the ones you can wipe off when you use the correct marker pens) to loan Mark for the duration of the weeklong workshop? If so, please let me know, thanks.

Trains to London for July workshop

Twelve weeks to go so train tickets to London for the workshop in July are now available. These sites may be useful:
Caledonian Sleeper
East Coast trains
The Trainline
Return trains will be available in the next week to 10 days.

Hampton Court from the bridge over the Thames beside Hampton rail station, last weekend.

The T'ai Chi Centre 7th Annual Weeklong Intensive

If you haven't already, let me know if you'll be coming along, even if just for the first day of the workshop. No-one needs to book or pay in advance, as there are already 24 students who have confirmed that they are attending. It's just really nice to see who we'll be playing with this July...

To ring the changes, this year we will divide the food rota into two groups like this: folks whose age on the first day of the workshop is an even number will be group A and odd numbers will be group B. Anyone who has a birthday during the week had better get in touch, as that will be a fine excuse for cake. On the Saturday we will all bring a little something to share at the meal break. Group A can bring some food on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday; group B on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Last year it all worked out just fine with no further planning and an entire lack of lists, so we'll attempt the same this year. Teas and coffees will be provided, occasionally I ask folks who drive in to bring some milk or some tea towels, as the week goes on. If anyone needs somewhere to stay in London get in touch. Also, if you live in the East of the city, and wish to come in with folks who stay in the South West, I can help find you a place to stay. Public transport and the roads (outside rush hour) should be OK, as children will still be at school, and the Olympics are two weeks later. However, TfL will have all the up to date news.

If I can be any help at all in making it possible for you to come along, please get in touch.

Have a lovely Easter, caro.

Stay at the palace

Fish Court

Janet Rickard has arranged accommodation a short walk from the venue at Hampton Court Palace during the weeklong workshop, as there is an appartment for rent that sleeps 6. There are two spaces left at £300 per person per week. Get in touch if you want details. The wonderful rooms are in the ancient lodgings of Henry VIII's 'Officer of the Pastry', in the Tudor wing down a walkway called 'Fish Court'. Henry had someone constantly on hand to make pastry goods. Thus we can now safely say we know who ate all the pies.

2012 Aberdeenshire Workshop Dates

Changes to Aberdeenshire dates: These are from Friday evenings to Sunday evenings, except the October workshop. Weekends are 5 separate themed sessions, currently: Weapons, Short Form, Partner work, Long Form, Dance [including other advanced partner work and One Posture], unless otherwise stated. Each session costs £15 except weapons, which costs £20. Concessions are available by arrangement with Caro. 121s are almost always available with Caro, but are booked-up at least a month in advance, these cost £25 per hour.

Mar 16-18 Mark
None in April
May 25-27 Caro
Jun 22-24 Caro TBC
Sep 28-30 Caro TBC
Oct 26-29 Mark (3 day workshop, then 3 days of 121s) TBC
Nov 31-Dec 2 Caro TBC

Weeklong Intensive 2012

I have just re-reconfirmed (!) the dates with Kevin regarding the use of his Hampton studio for our summer workshop this July. Glad I did... as a misunderstanding about the exact dates had crept in. I am happy to say that we can go ahead as planned, all the dates, prices and details are listed via the link to the right of this blog and if you need any help with any arrangements, just get in touch, for instance if you need somewhere to stay, or can offer a bed. I will be printing flyers shortly, and will bring them to class as soon as I can.

2012 Summer Workshop details

All the details for next year's 7th Annual T'ai Chi Centre Week-long Intensive to be held at Hampton near London are here.

T'ai Chi Centre Week Long Intensive 2012

Folks are having to book time off already so here are the dates for next year's T'ai Chi Centre Week Long Intensive. It will be held in Hampton again from 14th-20th July 2012, 2-5pm and 6.30-9.30pm daily, bring food to share during the break. There will be Talu and stepping partnerwork on Friday 13th from 7-10pm as usual. Prices and more details to follow.

Workshop time again

If anyone needs any assistance with attending this month's 3 day workshop in Aberdeenshire, do get in touch. Over 20 of us are attending so far, and it will be a good opportunity to be in the heart of the countryside, and to see stars at night rather than cadmium light haze, as well as to share our T'ai Chi and Mark's great teaching. Here's a few more pics from the summer workshop.

Mark and Duncan at the start of The Dance

mid-week

posture testing

beginning staff partner work

the leap in the sabre form

One Posture

the stealthy boatyard cat

2012 Weeklong workshop

The 2012 weeklong workshop is now confirmed for 14-20th July at Constables Boatyard in Hampton. There will also be the traditional Ta Lu session on Friday 13th.

If anyone is interested in sharing an apartment in Hampton Court Palace for the week, please let (Aberdeenshire) Janet or me know.

Thursday's participants.

Push hands.

Connecting hands.

Week long ahoy

This'll be my last blog post for a while as in a mo I will be off to the river and to the workshop, talu tomorrow night, and then the week long starting at 2pm Saturday. There were last minute things to sort out today that took all my time, so I didn't make it to the last class of term, which is a shame. I hope everyone who can't come to the workshop has a great summer. As for the rest of you... see you in Hampton.

Last minute arrangements

I have been very busy this week with last minute arrangements for the workshop. If you need to get hold of me please call or text. I hope to be at the venue from 5pm on Friday to get it ready. On Saturday morning I will be there to greet folks from 12 noon onwards, I hope.

Tonight is the last Hackney class of term 6-8pm in the Church Room next door on Powerscroft Road.

Tripod

If any of the London students has a tripod suitable for an SLR camera they could lend us for the weeklong, please let me know. It would mean Paolo and Davina don't have to lug one down on the train. Thanks.

More workshop details

If the yellow flyer was a bit too small of type face for you, (sorry Hamid!), all the same details are on this blog  here.

Talu/ Wabu / Dance session is at Hampton, Friday 7pm, the day before the workshop begins. There had been some folks unsure about this.

There are loos, kettles, coffee maker, toaster, microwave between 2 and 6 hob plates, a mini oven, a fridge and mugs. I will bring paper plates and cutlery, or you can bring your own little plate/ knife / fork set if you like, as I don't know what's there yet.