Niall O Floinn was introduced to Tai-Chi through his shaolin kung fu teacher in 1994 when he was 17 years old.

In 1995 he met and studied initially Yang Style and then some Chen Style Taiji with Nick Gudge. In Sept 1997 Niall assisted in his Yang style class in Galway for 1 year which he then passed on to him and Doug Dudley,his other assistant. Nick introduced him to Malaysian born Yang Style Master John Ding in 1995 whom he spent 3 and a half years training with, and to Mike Sigman , Aarvo Tucker , Zhang Xue Xin , Chen Xiao Wang and Zhu Tian Cai."

Compilation video of class training

In 1998 he attended an "Internal Strength" seminar with Mike Sigman who used Grandmaster Feng Zhiqiang's "silk reeling" exercises as part of his teaching material to help Westerners understand the body mechanics of the internal martial arts such as Bagua,Xingyi,Aikido and Tai-Chi.
While attending many of Mikes seminars over a 4 year period ,Niall also studied with different teachers for varying lengths of time.These included Feng's top disciple Chen Master Zhang Xue Xin, Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang whom Niall hosted in Galway,Aarvo Tucker{Bagua teacher}Li Tai Liang{Xingyi master},among others.

Niall demonstrating Rooting.

In 2002 after much research and practice Niall decided to commit himself full-time to the practice ,teaching and promotion of Chen Style Tai-Chi.
That year while studying the Xin Jia yi lu and sword at a 10 day camp in Manchester,England with visiting Chen Grandmaster Zhu Tian Cai ,Niall attended a night class of Master Wang Hai Jun who had recently moved to Manchester from China.
Niall was so impressed by the skill and teaching methodology of Master Wang that he invited him to teach in Ireland with the help of David and Davidine Gaffney.

Niall leading a sword demonstration

In September of that same year Master Wang gave his first Irish seminar at Niall's Tai-Chi school in Galway.After 2 years the Galway Tai-Chi Academy began to host Master Wang on a regular basis.
In 2005 Niall began his teacher training programme for students who had already completed 3 years training and wished to become instructors. To ensure the highest standards of his instructors Niall guides the trainee teachers for 3 additional years every week where they assist in Niall's classes.
Also in 2005 Niall began teaching internationally and has taught in South America and Europe.

Presently Niall resides in Galway,Ireland where he runs a large Chen Tai-Chi Academy.