The Tai Chi Union for Great Britain

permalink Scottish Parliament's proposed ban on the sale of weapons

Union Secretary tells us:
I recently received an email from Eva Koskuba who, from one of her students in Scotland, had received details concerning the Scottish Parliament’s proposed ban on the sale of weapons. Being a long-time resident of Glasgow and being aware of a long-standing tradition of the mis-use of weapons I found myself in the position of understanding the Scottish Government’s concern and being concerned as a tai chi practitioner and someone who was in a position of promoting all aspects of the art of tai chi chuan including weapon practice. Because of this I decided to approach the situation in an open, non-confrontational manner, seeking the advice of the Scottish Government for the continuance of the practice of TCC weapons. My correspondence to the Scottish Executive is in italic and their reply to me is in dark green.

I encourage members, particularly those in Scotland, to write to the Scottish Executive adopting a similarly gentle but firm tone, requesting clarification on our position. The more voices that are heard perhaps the more positive the outcome.

Ronnie Robinson
Secretary TCUGB

 

permalink New VCD

TCUGB instructor Joanna Zorya's latest VCD is now available from Plum. This one looks at Santishi, Piquan and Zuanquan from Xingyiquan. It is an hour in length and focuses on martial applications and application sequences, showing how to respond and adapt to subsequent attacks. I plan to produce a sequel to this some time next year, examining Bengquan, Paoquan and Hengquan. For more details plus a full page review go to: VCD Xing Yi 5 Element Kung Fu

 

permalink european internal arts journal

The 1st issue of this stimulating 156 page publication is now available. Produced by Ronnie Robinson (UK) & Helmut Oberlack (Germany) in includes in-depth interviews, articles and reviews aimed primarily at the serious practitioner.

The bi-lingual (English and French) journal contains an exclusive interview with Dan Docherty together with articles on competition, health forum, French taiji history and qigong. To order a single copy send 8 GBP to Internal Arts Journal, 1 Littlemill Drive, Glasgow G53 7GF or order 2 year (4 issues) subscription for 30 GBP.

 

permalink Tai Chi 'can treat heart failure'

BBC News
... The British Heart Foundation said the study was "excellent news" and Tai Chi could be adopted into treatment programmes in the UK in the future. ...

 

permalink Training in Chenjiagou, Henan, China

From Union Instructor Davidine Sim
Chen Taiji GB led the first British group to train intensively in Chenjiagou, the birthplace of taiji, last year (2003).

This year will see the group return  to the village in November.  The training will last for three weeks, and the group will be staying at the Chenjiagou Taiji School, under the tutelage of Chen Xiaoxing, its principal.  This year the group has gone international, with participants from Israel, Malaysia, Portugal and Italty, as well as British.  If last year was anything to go by, the training will be rigorous, and immensely illuminating and satisfying. 

Treading the same grounds as all those who have practised taiji there before us - Chen Wangting, Chen Changxing, Yang Luchan, Chen Xiaowang - gives one a sense of history as well as continuity.

 

permalink Bionsen Tai Chi Promotion

Bionsen Tai Chi Promotion
Bionsen and the Tai Chi Union are cooperating in a 2 Tai Chi sessions for the price of 1.

 

permalink Ist World Traditional Wushu Festival

Union member Terence Barnes from Northern Ireland is competing in the Ist World Traditional Wushu Festival in Zhengzhou in China, 15th - 21st October and is then travelling to Qingdao to take part in the International Wushu Championship the following week.
In June this year Terence was awarded a 3rd Duan Wei Grade by the Chinese Wushu Association at the first ever Duan Wei Grading examination to take place outside the Peoples Republic of China.

Good luck to Terence

 

permalink 16th British Open Tai Chi Championships

from Dan Docherty
The oldest Tai Chi tournament in Europe continues to draw competitors from far and wide. William Nelson brought a very capable team over from France where they don't seem to get enough action while Ian Cameron brought a few students down from Edinburgh who did well in what I understand was their first tournament.

 

permalink Autumn Moon Festival

A report from The British Chen Style Tai Chi College
Sunday 26th September saw Manchester's Albert Square transformed by the Chinese to celebrate the Autumn Moon Festival. Chinese lanterns hung from the trees and the fragrance of Chinese cooking filled the air, from the stalls providing noodles, fried rice and spring rolls.

 

permalink True Stories of Qigong Healing

TCUGB Instructor Paul Crompton tells us: 'readers may be interested to know that a book on the Qigong style taught there will be available later this year - 2004 - and its title is : TRUE STORIES OF QIGONG HEALING.

 

permalink Autumn 2004 Newsletter

Download the Autumn Newsletter in pdf format.

 

permalink New Sections

We have just added two new sections to the website:
Meet the teacher
and
Letters to Tai Chi chuan
both are popular sections of the union magazine.
They only have a few entries at the moment but we will be adding more soon.

 

permalink Union Instructor Video CDs

TCUGB Instructor Joanna Zorya is going to have two Tai Chi video CDs distributed by Plum Publications.
Joanna tells us:
VCD 1 shows and explains a great number of combat techniques for the first seven Forms (or “Postures”) of the Zheng Manqing Taiji style. The film is in two parts. Part One shows the Form sequence and then breaks it down into individual techniques and sequences. Part Two shows the major application sequences again in slow motion.

VCD 2 demonstrates a great number of combat techniques for the next eight Forms (or postures) of the Zheng Manqing Taiji style. The film is in three parts. Part One shows the Form sequence. Part Two shows the individual techniques and how to apply them in combat. Part Three shows the major application sequences again in slow motion.

 

permalink Teacher in Pakistan Sought

is looking for a Tai chi teacher in Pakistan. If you know of any teachers there let him know. Please post a comment here to and/or send me an email.

 

permalink Falling Rain Qigong

TCUGB Instructor Paul Crompton let us know he is teaching a workshop/seminar on Falling Rain Qigong in aid of the Kagyu Samye Dzong centre in London. All proceeds will go to the centre.
They have to move to new premises and finding and paying for this in London is a tough task.
Paul says please tell your friends.

 

permalink Dragon boat Race -Salford Quays

A report from The British Chen Style Tai Chi College
Sunday 18th July saw a busy day at the Salford Quays area as it was the annual charity Dragon Boat Race.

This is a big fund raiser for the Manchester Fire service and also a chance for multi cultural activities to take place.

Chinese Children entertained the crowds with traditional folk dancing and there were traditional chinese songs performed by the Xinhua parents group. The Buddah's Light Children's Lion Dance was well received as was the British Chen Style Tai Chi College performance.

 

permalink 1st World Wushu Festival

Union Instructor Shiou-Huey Chuang Chief Instructor of Wu's Tai Chi Chuan Academy is compeating in the 1st World Wushu Festival in Zhengzhou, China, 15-21 October 2004.
We will keep you posted of his progress.

 

permalink Tai Chi Caledonia

Over the past 9 years the UK's biggest multi-style camp has grown and developed in the heart of Scotland. Organised by Bob Lowey & Ronnie Robinson the 9th event took place in June and attracted more TCUGB members than ever before, which, in no small way, was due to the shared seminar by two of the TCUGB's founding members, namely Ian Cameron and Dan Docherty. With many first time attendees extolling the virtues of the week-long camp it is going from strength to strength. The 10th anniversary event in 2005 is already looking promising. http://www.taichicaledonia.com

 

permalink Associate Membership - New Deal!

In recognizing the need to nurture new students and to extend the education of the TCUGB via the magazine and newsletters the Executive Committee agreed at their last meeting to offer a new deal to Associate Members.

As from now the annual fee will be £15 and for this Associate Members receive a TCUGB T-Shirt, metal lapel badge, membership card, two TCUGB newsletters and two magazines per year!
Details and Application forms

 

permalink Events Listings

Members can now send events for the events section of the site via this form
The old method of email me at jhj@dircon.co.uk will still work too.

 

permalink Welcome to the New News

I have changed our rather static news page to a weblog, which hopefully should mean that more news gets posted more often.
The old news can be found here
However to post news I need to get it from the members so please send it to me.
Events listings will not be listed here unless they are of major importance, but event reports and all other sorts of news are very welcome.