12 December: TJC Assessments, AGM and Xmas demonstrations and party 2015

For the first time Tai Ji Circle held our Chen Taijiquan Assessments a little like a competition to award top students with free classes next year. As well as a teacher, Shifu Liu was a wushu/sanda and taijiquan competition judge in Henan and Xinjiang when he was in China, and has judged for the BCCMA, SENI and London Tai Chi Championships in the UK. During the workshop Shifu Liu explained the important requirements needed and the students performed two forms of their choice. Otherwise the Assessments were non competitive with feedback for how to practice and what to work on through the holidays and in the coming year. This was invaluable advice for everyone who enjoys their tai ji training from Foundation levels upwards. Next was our charity AGM, it was great to hear views and ideas from students. We ate Chinese dumplings, quiches, mince pies and hot mulled apple juice, loads of food from our students. Demonstrations followed and a hugs thanks to the generosity of those who came along to help and participate.

see more photos on our Facebook album page

11 November: Fun at the Carers Right Day Event for Barnet Carers Centre

Shifu Liu and Chris went along to Barnet Carers Event for an hour long class of Meditation and Qi Gong at the end of a day of talks and activities, a treat for those who spend their lives looking after others.

9 November: GM Chen Xiaowang in London

Shifu Liu with Chris and some TJC attend Master Chen’s London workshop, wonderful tuition in Laojia Er Lu, Chen Single Sword and over the weekend, Foundation with standing practice and silk reeling exercises

2-3 October: GM Chen Xiaowang’s Birthday Celebrations in China

Shifu Liu and Chris (with two of our students) attended the birthday celebrations of their Master Chen Xiaowang, and take part in an enormous display in the Chen Tai Ji Park, 600 disciples and students performed Laojia Yi Lu, the Chen long Form accompanied by rousing music. Master Chen is on stage, his sons and family members in front of the disciples and Chris was awed to be in the front row of disciples. After the performance we attend a banquet, with an exchange of gifts, much delicious food and many toasts exchanged with disciples from all over the world attending, a really joyous occasion.

see more photos on our Facebook page

11 September: Chen Tai Ji at the Saracens Rugby Club

Chris and Lai leading a mass tai ji practice for Age UK Barnet at the Saracen’s Rugby Club, we hope that many people will take up tai ji as a means to maintaining better health and strength!

29 August: free Tai Ji practice in Primrose Hill

We had a great Saturday afternoon, and lots of people came to join our the free Chen practice session… the rain held off as we went through Foundation training, standing, silk reeling, and the short form, and of course that all important posture adjustment from Shifu Liu.

8-9 August: Chen Taijiquan Summer School

Two quiet days over last weekend we worked with Shifu Liu on Laojia Yi Lu, the essential Chen form, working through the movements and concentrating on the last afternoon on the kicks, gaining more power, having fun with the rather life-like punch-bag man!

19 July 2015: Tai Ji Circle at the Camden New Town Festival

This has become our annual ritual, summer picnic in the garden and demo at St Paul’s as part of the Summer festival in the Square. It was a glorious day and we so appreciate our students support to come along to share their time, energy, delicious food and practice, wonderful!

18 July 2015: Qi Gong with Shifu Liu at the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding

Shifu Liu was invited to give a qi gong demonstration to round off a day of lectures for The Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding in London’s Knightsbridge. Demonstrating qi gong is not really as interesting as trying it out, so Shifu Liu soon had everyone joining in.

4 July 2015: Highbury Grove School Summer Festival

Tai Ji Circle were invited to perform Chen Taijiquan at Highbury Grove School Summer Festival. After a demonstration of Laojia Yi Lu, the Chen Old Frame, school students joined Shifu Liu on stage to try it out for themselves. Before the demonstration Shifu Liu and his daughter painted their names in Chinese calligraphy for some of the students.

19/20 June: Chen Ziqiang visits Tai Ji Circle

Huge thanks to Master Chen Ziqiang, we made him a card of thanks after he shared his expertise at two memorable workshops teaching Dajia Yi Lu routine, see our Facebook link for the gallery of images

17 June: Islington Refugee Week, international celebrations

This is Refugee Week 2015 in London, and the Islington Refugee Forum and Islington Refugee Community Organisation organised an event to celebrate. There were different performances from nationalities around the world. Shifu Liu was invited to performed tai chi and of course presented Chen style tai ji, and there was also African drumming and dancing, Latin American and Middle Eastern music and poetry and art competitions. After the introductions Islington MP Jeremy Corbyn gave a speech, and there were talks by experts and various networking opportunities as well as tasty food from different countries. For more information: http://islingtonrefugeeforum.org/

May: Chen Xiaowang in Reading

Shifu Liu practices the Long Pole Form taught by Chen Xiaowang recently at his Reading workshop. Master Chen taught the 13 part form in a one day seminar, the group split into two to give us enough space to practice the whole form.

 

16 May: FestivalAsia, Master Liu and TJC students perform

Students with Shifu Liu went down to FestivalAsia to give a Chen taiji performance and enjoy the many events going on around the Tobacco Docks.

Tai Ji Circle students started off the performance, followed by Shifu’s Liu’s lively Chen Sabre routine, the 19 Form from students and finishing with the dynamic Xinjia Yi Lu. Members of the audience came up on stage following Shifu Liu to practice foundation silk reeling exercises.

Tai Ji Circle really appreciate our students time and dedication in performing and helping throughout the day.

Images from the day are also on our TJC FestivalAsia Facebook page

2 May: Tai Ji Circle’s ‘free’ class in the park

On a busy Saturday afternoon in Camden we made our way to Primrose Hill, a haven of green, for our free class in the park. Eventbrite had ‘favourited’ as a thing to do for the bank holiday and we had a great turn-out of people despite the chill in the air. At least it didn’t rain!

3-4 April: Easter Retreat with Shifu Liu 2015

Our Easter retreat was a real treat. The Primrose Hill Community Centre a calm and peaceful venue while the rain splashed down outside, and the birds, ignored the downpour to sing their Spring songs. We had a day of meditation, qi gong and Chen Taijiquan practice, getting down to basics with posture and movement correction. We finished off with a relaxing foot massage (which can be painful!), Shifu Liu pointing out the relevant points to relieve headaches, boost kidney energy and increase well being.

25 March: ‘Falls Awareness Day’ with Age UK

Age UK in Barnet arranged a great day of talks and activities for their ‘Falls Awareness Day’ held at the Meritage centre in Hendon where Chris regularly teaches a tai chi exercise class. There was much useful information, from how taking medications from https://valdiazep.com can affect balance or dizziness, to the importance of having well-fitting shoes and healthy feet and nails, to working with a Falls Prevention Clinic and checking your home and environment for hazards.

Age UK in Barnet (and I’m sure elsewhere) run many classes from movement to music, ballroom dancing, men’s cookery, aqua aerobics and other social activities and of course tai chi which is known and proven to be the one form of exercise that can really make a difference. The day was supported by other organisations, such as Home Instead Senior Care in Barnet, Action on Hearing Loss, the Stroke Association and Barnet Council.

21 February: Chinese New Year 2015 Celebrations…in Telford

While Tai Ji Circle students were having fun in London over Chinese New Year, Shifu Liu Quanjun was in Telford at the opening of a new martial arts and qi gong centre run by Master Faye Yip. He performed the Chen Form Laojia Yi Lu, the classic Old Frame routine. (Chinese Arts & Culture Centre, E4, Stafford Park 15, Telford, TF3 3BB)

21 February: Chinese New Year of the Sheep/Goat Celebrations… in London