Tai Chi for Health, Relaxation and Martial Arts
This website is the legacy and reference site for activities of Tai Ji Circle which opened in 2004 and ceased trading in December 2022. As a charity it ran from 2013 and finally closed in August 2023.
Shifu Liu Quanjun’s current London classes and workshops are online and in venue. Classes are now being run via Shifu Liu’s new business website Taiji Circle Lucky Dragon, all bookings should be made from there. Sign up to the new mailing list on that website for information or contact him by email. Thank you.
Until closure, Tai Ji Circle was a north London school and charity dedicated to sharing and promoting Chen Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) and qi gong (chi kung) practice. The weekly tai ji classes and monthly workshops for beginners to advanced levels were directed and taught by Shifu Liu Quanjun and the charity was managed by Christine Jones with expert help from the trustees and colleagues. Shifu Liu and Chris are disciples of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang, the 19th generation lineage heir of the Chen family Taijiquan, that is the origin of many modern Tai Chi styles taught around the world today. We provided:-
• A comprehensive Chen Tai Ji (tai chi) training programme
• Traditional and Modern Chen Taijiquan hand forms
• Chen style Push Hands and Martial Applications
• Chen style weapons forms
• Ongoing classes for beginners Foundation classes to advanced levels
• Traditional training as in China
• Friendly place to train – everyone is welcome
• Weekly classes, monthly workshops and some free sessions
Shifu Liu continues to impart his experience and skill through regular classes and workshops see Taiji Circle Lucky Dragon.
Benefits of Chen Tai Ji training:
• Improve health and fitness
• Increase stamina, coordination, balance and flexibility
• Decrease stress and increase relaxation
• Study with a genuine Chinese taijiquan master, Liu Quanjun, 20th generation disciple of Chen lineage head, Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang
• Individual posture correction from Master Liu
• Increase self confidence and improve your quality of life
During lockdowns in 2020 we kept in touch with our taiji family of students to maintain social interaction and to keep training with Shifu Liu live on Zoom even if at home before returning to our venues.
Prior to Covid-19 in 2020 we were very fortunate to have many annual visits from China of Master Chen Ziqiang, the son of Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing and nephew of Standard Bearer Chen Xiaowang. Master Chen Ziqiang is a 20th generation direct descendant of the Chen Taijiquan Family. He is the Chief Coach of the prestigious Chenjiagou Taijiquan Academy and a renowned tai ji teacher and martial arts champion. Both he and his students have achieved overwhelming victories in numerous competitions both in China and worldwide. Master Chen Ziqiang’s Tai Ji is impeccable and he is ranked as one of the true great masters within the Taijiquan community. It was an honour to be able to welcome him back for London workshops in 2023.
Chen Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan is the Cantonese spelling) Tai Chi (Taijiquan of the Chen style) is practiced as a sequence of slow or dynamic movements and forms, that combine ‘soft’ and ‘hard’, with ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ actions. It is performed in a relaxed, balanced and natural way that adheres to the philosophical Daoist (Taoist) principles of Yin Yang, the Chinese theory of opposites. Chen style Taijiquan has bare hand and weapon routines suitable for beginners foundation practice to advanced levels, push hands and martial applications and techniques. It can be practiced meditatively and slowly in a high stance, or faster in a lower stance for increasing stamina and power, (which makes it different from other tai chi styles) but also makes it suitable for different age groups to practice.
CHEN TAIJIQUAN and QI GONG TRAINING available with Shifu Liu for all levels.
During Covid-19 we asked everyone to follow the government and NHS guidelines, and as a charity we had a regularly updated Risk Assessment for In Venue classes.