Learning Tai Chi

Learning

Beginners classes are held in the city center with a beautiful private area outside on the River Corrib for training on sunny days. We have bigger venues for when the Masters visit and students come from all over Ireland to attend. Our goal is to provide a friendly atmosphere with a serious attitude to learning and helping students achieve their health and fitness goals. Over the past 15 years we have taught thousands of people Tai Chi and had a very positive influence on students becoming more healthy and aware of themselves.

18 Step Progression

Often it can be confusing for both beginners and even long term students to evaluate their skill and path ahead due to the many methods, forms and styles of Taijiquan currently practiced by both bonafide teachers and charlatans who will have you believe you can knock people over without touching them or attain enlightenment through qigong secret methods.

Taijiquan is not magic. It is a very subtle, refined and complex internal martial art that requires guidance from a qualified teacher, hard practice over a long time and intelligence and some natural ability on the part of the student to understand how to train to get results.

The phenomenon of qi energy moving through the body should not be focused on or visualized when doing the form but rather the correct posture and co-ordination trained so the acupuncture channels become unblocked, ones body and intent become connected and one can use Taiji both as a healing art to rejuvenate mind and body and as a complete martial art system for fitness and self defence. Long term practitioners of Taiji who are serious about getting real Gong Fu also know how important martial art ethics, Chinese culture and Yin / yang philosophy are in the overall understanding of Taiji theory and training. The Taoist concept of “ziran” or naturalness, not forcing ones progress, is advised as a starting point of calming the mind through breathing in the present moment and feeling deeply your body as you put one foot in front of the other to start the journey and enjoy the view and friends you meet along the way.

The following 18 stages described below are a pedagogical indicator for teachers who have real professional Taiji schools and are teaching long term in one place so students can train there weekly with their Laoshi ( teacher) or Shifu ( Master)

It is not mandatory but offered as guidance to other teachers and to help students see the path ahead and hopefully stimulate some conversation about where one is in ones training.

Beginners

Stage 1) 10 week intro course of Silk reeling, qigong ( no level yet, no t-shirt)

Green t-shirt

Stage 2) Beginners Level 1 Silk reeling moving steps

Stage 3) Beginners Level 2. Shi san shi 13 step form

White t-shirt

Stage 4) Beginners Level 3. Shi ba shi 18 step form

Improvers

Navy t-shirt

Stage 5) Improvers Level 1. Lao Jia Yi Lu ( Xue jia zi stage)

Maroon t-shirt

Stage 6) Improvers Level 2. 5 types of Push hands and sword technique ( Lian Jia zi stage) Lao Jia yi lu revision

Stage 7) Improvers Level 3. Sword form

Purple t-shirt

Sabre technique and form and Lao jia yi lu (nei jia zi stage)

Intermediate

Stage 8) int. Level 1. Cannon Fist

Yellow t-shirt

Stage 9) int.Level 2 cai, lie , zhou , kao applications and Xin jia yi lu

Stage 10) int. Level 3. Guan Dao and Lao Jia yi lu refinement ( Shun jia zi stage)

Advanced

Black t-shirt

Stage 11) advanced Level 1 Competition form and basic push hands applications

Stage 12) advanced Level 2 Double sabres ( Pan jia zi stage of Lao Jia yi lu)

Cotton Yi-Fu

Stage 13) advanced Level 3 Xin Jia Er Lu (Pao Chui) and competitive push hands

Master Level

Silk Yi -Fu

14) Master Level 1. Spear

15) Master Level 2 Double Stick and Long Pole ( Chai jia zi stage of Lao Jia yi lu)

Yi-Fu of one’s own choice

16) Master Level 3 Complete revision and supplementary training aspects

One needs to have passed to the (Yong jia zi stage) of Lao Jia yi lu before moving to the next stage when one no longer is corrected by ones Shifu but can still recieve advice on Tai Chi theory and leadership.

17) Senior Master

18) Grandmaster

Depending on one’s amount and intensity of practice along with one’s natural abilities each stage will vary in length. The point at which one becomes a disciple or is recognised as a Shifu varies widely. Usually to become a disciple to a Master, one needs at least 10 years practice and have sufficient skill and good character to be accepted.

Private Tai Chi classes with Senior Irish Coach Shifu Niall O Floinn are available now .

These are excellent for people who have already reached a certain level of skill but wish to learn more intensely in a shorter period of time than weekly classes would allow.

Also they are great for beginners or indeed any level where the student has work hours that don’t suit public class times or perhaps they have to travel long distances from other parts of Ireland and therefore prefer to do a private class less often.

You can think of a private class as being equivalent to about 8 or 9 public classes with the amount of hands on correction you will receive. The cost of a private class is €100.

If you wish to share the class with another student or more than one other the costs are as follows:

For 2 people, a private class of 1 hour is €80 each or for 2 hours €150 each.

First class is €90 each for 2 people. For 3 people, a class of 1 hour costs €70 each and 2 hours costs €125 each. First class is €80 each if there are 3 people.

For 4 people, a class of 1 hour costs €60 each and 2 hours costs €105 each. €70 euro each for first class if there are 4 people.