Good fun was had by all at the Taiji Circle Lucky Dragon Christmas party, Shifu Liu taught Jiu Jiu Qi Gong (Return of Primordial Energy), Da Bei Qi Gong, meditative and quiet, followed by lessons in Chinese Dumpling making (thanks to our Chinese student and Shifu’s wife for bringing ingredients) after which we ate them! After food and relaxation students performed some of the Chen routines and we all joined in to practice Laojia Yi Lu, the classic foundation Chen family routine.
A great way to finish our taiji year, such a busy time with a fantastic trip to China in August and excellent classes and workshops with Shifu Liu. The new timetable and plans for the new year workshops will be available on the website soon.
Shifu Liu Quanjun continues to teach and share his knowledge of Chen Taiji, Qi Gong for healing and martial arts, and his skills as a TCM practitioner to broaden the knowledge of his students helping us maintain our health and wellbeing. See the recent gallery of pictures
Catch a unique two days of Qi Gong and Taijiquan on Easter Sunday and Monday, learn or revise practice, with posture and movement correction, Shifu Liu’s meditative, energy enhancing Da Bei practice or join us for Chen Taiji training for all levels and beginners on Sunday to more advanced Chen Taiji sessions on Monday.
VENUE: Islington Chinese Association, 21 Hatchard Rd, London N19 4NG
Join Shifu Liu Quanjun with Tai Ji Circle for a very special 2-day Easter workshop. In the two mornings Shifu will teach Da Bei Qi Gong. In the afternoons, classic Chen taijiquan (tai chi chuan) both are a means to maintain health and well-being through authentic Chinese traditional training.
Saturday Chen taiji and Da Bei Qi Gong are suitable for everyone, and Sunday afternoon for those with Chen taiji experience
Bring lunch/refreshments, local cafes in the Holloway Rd may be open over Easter.
• Tai Ji Circle will be closed for regular classes from 17-22 April. Classes and workshops resume from 23 April
Starting weekly new London Classes every Tuesday in venue from 15 March 2022
Time 19:30-20:30 Venue: Islington Chinese Association, 21 Hatchard Road, London N19 4 NG
Shifu Liu in a posture from Xinjia Yi Lu
Tai Ji Circle’s Xinjia Yi Lu (New Frame 1) Form new classes with 6th Duan Shifu Liu are a rare opportunity to study the brilliant Chen New Frame routine, developed from Laojia Yi Lu (the oldest Chen hand long form) by Chen Fake early in 20th Century, he is Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang’s famous grandfather. The routine contains skilful circular movements rooted in silk reeling theories and energetic fajin practice.
These classes are suitable for those who have studied and are familiar with Chen Taijiquan’s Laojia Yi Lu (Old Frame 1) or Laojia Er Lu routines. Shifu will teach it step by step and this is the best opportunity to learn the form slowly from the very beginning!
Starting weekly London Classes every Tuesday in venue from 15 March 2022
Time 19:30-20:30 Venue: Islington Chinese Association, 21 Hatchard Road, London N19 4 NG
Shifu Liu in a posture from Xinjia Yi Lu
Tai Ji Circle’s Xinjia Yi Lu (New Frame 1) Form new classes with 6th Duan Shifu Liu are a rare opportunity to study the brilliant Chen New Frame routine, developed from Laojia Yi Lu (the oldest Chen hand long form) by Chen Fake early in 20th Century, he is Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang’s famous grandfather. The routine contains skilful circular movements rooted in silk reeling theories and energetic fajin practice.
These classes are suitable for those who have studied and are familiar with Chen Taijiquan’s Laojia Yi Lu (Old Frame 1) or Laojia Er Lu routines. Shifu will teach it step by step and this is the best opportunity to learn the form slowly from the very beginning!
Shifu Liu and the TJC trustees felt that we should reiterate our rulings to maintain safe physical classes in our venues while there is such a prevalence of Covid Omicron all around us, this is to safe guard each other and Shifu Liu or Chris who cannot really wear a mask when teaching.
• Tai Ji Circle students attending classes in venue must book and pay for these classes in advance before joining the class. Students who join a class and fail to do this will be asked to leave.
This is normal practice for all gym classes, yoga schools and fitness centres. If you haven’t booked you won’t be allowed to do the class. The Tai Ji Circle booking system works really well and is easy to use, it’s no more difficult than creating and using a social media account. If it’s really a struggle, ask a friend to help you.
• All students must wear masks at all times when participating in our in-venue classes/workshops.
• If you have a medical exemption to wearing a mask, please wear the badge to class so that everyone knows you have a legitimate medical reason for not wearing a mask, you will not be allowed to join the class without a badge if not wearing a mask.
None of us want to wear masks but we want to protect ourselves and others so we should all wear masks in class and if you don’t like it you can join the online classes from home.
• If you have been in contact with anyone who develops Covid-19 a few days afterwards, please avoid coming to class for 5 days and then do not attend class without checking with a negative lateral flow test beforehand.
We thank our students for attending the AGM at St Paul’s Church hall, and lovely to see so many faces back from before the Covid-19 outbreak.
A few points for the AGM • Everyone (except Shifu Liu) should wear masks in class unless exempt – please wear exemption badge • No increase to class or membership fees 2022 • Classes and workshops advance payments continue using Bookwhen and are working well • No cash payments or casual drop-ins without advanced booking in 2022 • In-Venue and Online Zoom hybrid classes and workshops to continue • Will have regular monthly workshops in Chen taiji weapons interspersed with the Chen hand forms
Shifu Liu Quanjun on student progress in 2021
Due to our Zoom [online classes last and this year during lockdowns] there have been a lot of students who practiced everyday and that has helped their coordination and progress. Due to this Shifu wants them to progress [to teach them] weapons as they have increased their Nei Gong (inner strength) to reach a higher level of practice. The benefits are the same as foundation, good balance, co-ordination and strength. Taiji practice will keep circulation moving and keep us younger.
Many diseases like cancer are linked to the slowing of the body and you can become sick more easily. Many diseases are linked to cold and wet qi, that is why Shifu Liu recommends not eating and drinking cold foods and drinks. When you practice well and stay warm and your qi is full, your wet qi will sweat out and you will be more healthy and resilient. Most important thing is to store hot young qi in our dantian. If your fingers feel cold you have already begun to leak yang qi. One way we can measure or understand qi in the body is observing hands. If soft, full and warm qi is good. These beliefs come from thousands of years of experience of Chinese people observing and trying to preserve one’s life.
After today, today is gone so we should use this day the best we can. Diseases are attracted to negative emotions. If happy all the time the best thing to repel sickness and disease. There are no disease that cannot be cured, if there’s no cure the cure has yet to be found. Your intentions can change your situation. A lot of power in intent and thought, positive or negative.
… You can develop good feelings through tai ji and qi gong. It helps people remove their bad feelings and bad intent and replace with good feelings and love for others. Part of our practice is to study our own bodies. Once you understand your own body you can help others to understand theirs. Worry about your own self and peace [of mind] before worrying about others and influencing others. Use these theories in your life, your practice and everywhere. Shifu Liu Quanjun
Shifu Liu takes us through Chen Foundation training before teaching Sifang Quan the 4 direction fist form.
Now that government guidelines have changed we are teaching live on Zoom and In Venue Tai Chi Classes and workshops with Shifu Liu. In venue we ask students to wear masks and continue social distancing to ensure that everyone in class stays safe and avoids catching Covid-19. In the photo you can see that Shifu Liu is wearing Chinese medicine herbs around his neck as an alternative to wearing a mask.
We are sorry but we do not now accept drop-in students nor do we accept cash at classes and workshops. All bookings and class payments are to be made in advance online through our Bookwhen site or through Eventbrite for our workshops.
We thank all our students and friends for your cooperation and support through these difficult times of transition.
What a year 2020 has been, a year of adaptation with the Covid-19 outbreak and Brexit to come. From March to July TJC ran our classes on Zoom and we give thanks that many students stood loyally by to support us during this time. We set up a Vimeo Channel to help our students practice, Shifu Liu taught Mon-Fri online early morning taiji/qi gong classes as well as classes on Sundays and evenings, with Online Saturday workshops and Free monthly taiji classes online.
When we could return to venue we set up online booking, wrote a risk assessment, limited our numbers, took all safety precautions whilst continuing online for those further away or shielding. It’s been amazing to welcome people from a wider circle around the globe joining us online.
Trustees and students give thanks to Shifu Liu Quanjun for his wonderful energy, sharing his skill and adapting to teaching online so brilliantly.
Despite the huge sadness and loss surrounding the global pandemic this has been a time to give thanks for the wisdom of the Chen Taijiquan practice from our Master Chen Xiaowang, to be able to share it with others and to help each of us to find patience and calm, deepen our breathing, stay healthy and be thankful to be alive.
Tai Ji Circle is now closed for the holidays. Classes will reopen online/in venue (if possible) on Sunday 10 January 2021.
