Tai Chi Chuan (or Taijiquan) is loved by and practiced by over 200 million people for health,meditation,fitness,relaxation and cultivation of “chi” to improve martial art skill{Gong fu}

The five traditional family styles of Tai-Chi tend to retain the original martial applicability of tai chi teaching methods.

The Galway Tai-Chi Academy trains students in Chen Style Tai Chi. The Chen family style is the oldest and parent form of the five main Tai Chi styles. Chen style is characterized by its lower stances, more whole body spiral movements (chan si jin) and release of power (fa jin).

Niall O'Floinn's teacher, Master Wang, leading Tai-Chi practice.

Chansigong [Silk Reeling exercises] is where the training of  correct Tai Chi movement begins. The name derives from the metaphorical principle of “reeling the silk from a silk worms cocoon”. In order to draw out the silk successfully the action must be smooth and consistent without jerking or changing direction so sharply as to lose the unity and connection in the body. Too fast, the silk breaks, too slow, it sticks to itself and becomes tangled. Hence, the silk reeling movements are continuous, cyclic patterns performed at constant speed with the “light touch” of drawing silk. The silk reeling exercises provide a method by which to control energy distribution and to train the pathways of trained power inside the body."Ni chan" is like the switching on of an electric current where power moves to the bodys extremities,i.e. the hand, and "shun chan" is like turning off the light and power is stored in the battery,or in this case ,the dantian ,the centre of the body.The spiral silk reeling movements of Tai Chi aid the flow of blood and chi to flow stronger and smoother through the jingluo [energy channels]Regardless of what Tai Chi style one practices ,an understanding of chansijin[silk reeling force] will bring ones level higher.

Once the technique is learned, classes then move into learning the forms, starting with the 18 Step and then the Lao Jia Yi Lu which is the foundation form that develops relaxation,co-ordination,silk twining force and builds up the chi in the body.

Later advanced training includes forms such as the cannon fist where one learns how to use the chi with the movement together and maintain the connection when one releases power in multiple directions with different parts of the body. It takes 10 years under guidance of a master to train the body to be able to use the true power of tai-chi for self-defence. This is why only few people have learned well enough to be said to have “good gong fu”. Most people practice for health, strength, flexibility, calmness, and concentration and development and balance of chi {internal energy} in ones body.