122 Self-Defense courses

* Notes on the Wudang Taiji Sword Class Both the Monday 6.05pm class in Euston, and the Thursday 6.35pm class in Sevenoaks will be continuing the Wudang Taiji (Tai Chi) Sword. The set of movements falls into ‘Sections’ and we have only done sections 1 & 2 (out of 6). If you’d like to join, we will be mainly working on the 2nd & 3rd Section but will also constantly be revising Section 1. It’s therefore not too late to join. This uses the double-edged sword (‘jian’), and if you’d like to try the class out you are welcome to borrow a sword. We’ll be taking time in getting through the set of movements, and if you’ve never tried any weapon form before, this is a great one to try out to expand your repertoire. The Wudang Taiji Sword Form is a lively form with both slow and fast movements. This is a 13-week term.

In this class you will learn the Yang 10-Step Tai Chi Form. This is a 'standardised' routine, in other words it is performed in the same way throughout the world. We are also doing a set of Qigong exercises for the health of the internal organs. This is a 13-week term.

This is a 13-week term. * Notes on 2-Person Classes Both the Tuesday 8.05pm class in Euston, and the Saturday courses in Westminster will focus on:  Learning how to relax  The use of the movements in Tai Chi Form (applications)  Applying the movements so that you maintain your own integrity (centre of balance)  Finding & working from the centre/core/Dantian  Developing the sense of ‘feel’ when working with someone else  Connecting your centre to your hands  Turning a partner’s energy around so as to unbalance him/her  We will also work on a 2-Person Tai Chi Form in order to understand applications of moves Posture, Balance, and Intention. By far the most important part of these classes is developing the ability to sense and be aware not only of one's own posture, balance, and intention, but also that of another person. Relaxation. Many of the exercises are ultimately about the ability to act from a very relaxed body and mind, so that (for example) if someone pushes towards you, you don't 'lock up' (the instinctive reaction), but instead you sense the push, and divert it. Initially it is this 'locking up' (which in effect makes you unable to move), that we are working on undoing. This is about getting more control of your sympathetic nervous system (fight & flight), the 'stress' system, so that in difficult situations, you 'roll with the punches' better.

* Notes on the Taiji Fan Form Class This is a short 18-Move Tai Chi Fan Form. It is graceful, fun to do, and uses all the principles of Tai Chi. We are also doing a set of Qigong exercises in this class. This is a 13-week term.

In this class you will learn the Yang 10-Step Tai Chi Form. This is a 'standardised' routine, in other words it is performed in the same way throughout the world. We are also doing a set of Qigong exercises for the health of the internal organs. This is a 13-week term.

In this class we work on the Yang 24-Step Tai Chi Form. This is a 'standardised' set of movements that is performed in the same way throughout the world. We also occasionally look at the 'applications' of the movements - how they can be used for self-defence in a gentle non-confrontational way. This is a 13-week term.

In this class we work on the Yang 10-Step Tai Chi Form. This is a 'standardised' set of movements that is performed in the same way throughout the world. We are specifically focusing on the 'energy' side of tai chi in this class - how energy rises and falls in the body. We are also working on a set of Qigong exercises called the 'Ba Duan Jin' or '8 Strands of the Brocade' - one of the oldest sets of Qigong. This is a 13-week term.

This class focuses on the 42-Step Tai Chi Competition Form. This set of movements is a mixture of different 'styles' of Tai Chi - Yang, Wu, Sun, & Chen styles. This is a 13-week term.

In this class we are doing the Wu style Competition Routine. This is a 45-move set of movements using all the features that make Wu style tai chi different to other styles of tai chi. We also do a set of Qigong exercises in this class. This is a 13-week term.

In this class we work on the Yang 24-Step Tai Chi Form. This is a 'standardised' set of movements that is performed in the same way throughout the world. We also occasionally look at the 'applications' of the movements - how they can be used for self-defence in a gentle non-confrontational way. This is a 13-week term.