Tai Chi Classes Basic Questions
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No, we have taught Tai Chi for over 35 years and have found that the best way for people to learn is in a mixed group where there are beginner, intermediate, and advanced students.
It means that you can join a class at any time and there will always be a number of people that you can look at to see what is going on, rather than having to focus on just the instructor who may or may not be standing where you can see everything they are doing. It also makes partner work a LOT easier as more experienced people will help less experienced ones.
However if YOU would prefer to get an introduction to Tai Chi before joining a group class, come along and have a private lesson at our premises in Rushden.
Yes, there are lots of things that we teach that are not in the curriculum shown on this website. There would be no point in trying to list everything - for example, what on Earth are ‘Tea-cup exercises’? The best thing is to come along and try out a session and see if you find it useful and enjoyable.
No, there's virtually none. At the end of every session we form a circle and everybody salutes everybody else (Chinese style one hand open over a closed fist). This emphasises that your fellow students are just as important to your learning as are the instructors; and the instructors consider that you, the students are just as important as we are.
In some Tai Chi schools it is traditional or even necessary (because of the school's rules) to call the instructor 'Sifu' or 'Master' or some such... In our Academy, Lee is called 'Lee' and I am called 'Robert'. We simply do not see any need for pomposity or titles.
Generally, I do not grade students as 'back in the day' it simply wasn't done. Historically, with small groups of people, everyone knew where they were in the class hierarchy.
However if a student wants to be graded, then for many years we have had in place a protocol that allows us to do so. If you think that positive feedback on your progress via gradings would benefit you and allow you to progress faster, or you prefer the more structured manner that a grading syllabus gives you, then please look at our Grading page.
No, as a general rule we do not. However Private Sessions (in-person or online) and Family sessions do include in the price, an in-built discount.
A Private Session can be for one or two people for the single fee, and the Family Session can include up to five people (two adults and three children).
If you have any questions about any aspect of Tai Chi you can contact us by phone, however, we block calls from unlisted numbers, so if your phone does not identify itself then please contact us via email. Of course, if you include your phone number, we will call you.
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