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Links for Northern School of TaijiQuan - Sedgefield, Co. Durham
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Welcome.
 | Tai chi / Taiji Form practice in the Botanic Gardens, Durham
Welcome to the County Durham branch of the
Northern School
of TaijiQuan
Taiji Tai Chi TaijiQuan Tai Chi Chuan
This site details Taiji classes currently run in Co Durham, in the North East of England.
It is my hope that these few pages have just enough information for you to get a flavour of what we do, and then if you feel drawn to the training provide you with what you need to make contact and get started.
New Beginners Course Starts Sept 2008 Open yourself to the deep transforming power within see events page for details
Remembering that
- What you read is intellectually understood,
- What you experience is understood by the Deep Mind,
- Only a combination of the two gives rise to true understanding. The New Starters page has information on how best to join.
There are interviews, articles and links for my teacher Patrick Kelly, Questions and Answers by his teacher the late Master Huang Sheng Shyan (Huáng Xìngxián), and a link to our school in Carlisle, Cumbria - headed by my teacher Dan Russell MA.
You are welcome to drop in for a chat & watch a class, or to join in please read New Starters & FAQ page.
E mail: joetaiji@gmail.com
Phone: 01740 629 452
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In Brief
 | Taiji
Tai Ji
Tai Chi
TaijiQuan
Tai Ji Quan
Tai Chi Chuan
Different spellings and expressions for Taiji, the Supreme Ultimate - an ancient Chinese art based on Daoist principles dating back some 3500 years.
Expressed in the 2,500 year old 'Dao De Ching' (Tao Teh Ching ) attributed to Lao Tzu, and 1000 years earlier in the 'I Ching' The Book of Changes.
Much can be read about the origin and history of the art and how it developed over the generations through the various family lineages.
But as for how it directly relates to our practice.....
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Master Huang & Patrick Kelly
 | Form amongst the statues
We are practising Taiji passed down by
Yang Cheng Fu 1883-1936
and his famous student
Cheng Man-Ch’ing 1901-1975
further developed and refined by
Master Huang Sheng Shyan 1910-1992
Patrick A Kelly
is our greatly respected guide in these teachings, and himself a long time 'inner school' student of Master Huang.
From the age of 14 Master Huang practiced the internal Daoist arts and Fujian White Crane. In 1949 he became the student of Cheng Man-Ching and studied and refined his Tai Chi for a further 43 years, thus completing nearly 70 years of intense personal study.
During this time he headed one of the largest Taiji schools in SE Asia.
Of the thousands of students that passed through Master Huang’s schools most were taught in a general way in the 'outer school'.
In the traditional way, only the inner school students received the special detailed training handed down from master to close inner student. As an 'inside the door' student Patrick Kelly spent 20 years studying with the master during the last decades of his life.
Patrick A Kelly has systematised the teachings and now combined with his many years of dedicated personal investigation and evolution generously disseminates the teaching for the benefit of the Taiji world.
He guides the instructors of the
Northern School of TaijiQuan.
Joe Harte runs the Co.Durham branch, see 'Meet the Instructor'
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What We Do
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.5 Loosening Exercises
.Short Form
.Long Form
.SanFeng Quick Fist
.Pushing Hands & Applications
.8 Paths (Meditation)
The 5 loosening exercises. Forms of Cheng Man-ch'ing, Yang Cheng Fu, & Master Huangs Fast Form. Set Pattern Pushing Hands & applications (Tuishou). Daoist 8 paths (Neigong) are the basis of our training program.
Initially concentrating on the 5 Loosening exercises and Cheng Man-Ch’ing 37 movement Taiji Form (Short Form), we lay the foundation for those who wish to further their study.
At the core of our practise is the Form.
This is where we create the depth in our Taiji – a sequence that flows from one posture to the next, co-ordinating mind, energy and body.
This hauntingly beautiful slow flowing sequence of movement is what most people recognise as Taiji.
Muscles contract – body lifts & moves.
Muscles release - body settles & aligns.
Muscles stretch – forces gather.
Surface mind stills – deep mind awakens.
Like the ceaseless rhythm of deep ocean swell, the gentle ebb and flow of Taiji movement belies a depth of power and stillness.
What most see is the undulating surface, but like water - only when we go against the flow do we become aware of the immense forces in the gathering wave.
Over time as we go deeper and leave the surface ripples behind we become increasingly aware of the internal sensations – and so begins the shift from external movement to awakening of the deep mind.
Through the clear direction of the mind’s intention (Yi), the body is drawn inexorably towards a point of stillness. Where the intention withdraws, where the awareness expands, where the forces are free to travel through the body and beyond…..
Although people train for many different reasons, you could say Taiji has 3 main reasons for being:
1) A gentle system of exercise that stretches, mobilises and strengthens the body, and calms the mind through relaxed, accurate, smooth, slowly flowing co-ordinated movements. Postural alignment and concentration are enhanced
2) A system for increasing mind, energy, body co-ordination.
It offers freedom to review habitual, perhaps unconscious, responses and through deepening awareness provides the potential for inner change.
3) A subtle martial art, in which yielding and neutralising are the overlapping central principles.
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What To Expect
 | 'Pull & Push' on the hips
RelaxDeepMind- RelaxDeepMind - RelaxDeepMind -RelaxDeepMind........
The classes are quietly concentrated, encouraging people to go deeper each time they train.
Specifically to help new people integrate into the training we have a 4 week introduction phase – please see New Starters page for details.
During the Form practice we often split into small groups or practise individually to work on whatever has been introduced that week.
Partner work develops sensitivity and explores the distancing and timing required for the many set-pattern pushing hands exercises.
For the longer trained people, we progressively add in Yang Cheng Fu 108 Long Form, and San Feng Quick Fist - a fast Form from Master Huang's Fujian White Crane.
Classes usually finish with the ancient Daoist 8 Paths, Sharing the Light, 5 clouds (Neigong) meditation.
Like any discipline, without question, only those who are prepared to make some effort and practice a little outside of the class will make progress and gain the most from what is taught.
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Updates
1/1/08 - Classes pg. Jan 08 start dates added5/1/08 - New Monday Venue - classes pg.
12/1/08 - New venue for 20th Jan Wkshop. see events pg.
30/1/08 - Event added.6/2/08 - 2day Workshop updated on Events page.
7/2/08 - Class times adjusted.
8/2/08 - New starters page info changed to suit new class arrangements.
12/3/08 ? Book ?Relax, Deep Mind? added to New Starters, FAQ.
14/3/08 - 3rd Fri training added, KB+ page deleted.15/3/08 - Class directions updated. Fri taiji May date added.
21/03/08 - FAQ's - WHAT HAPPENS AS I PROGRESS? updated.
30/05/08 - Event added.
2/06/08 - small tweaks to classes pg.
16/06/08 - FAQs updtaed.
7/7/08 - Event added. Taiji workshop
26th July.9/7/08 - classes & Events pgs, small changes
16/7/08 - Beginners course added to Events pg.
18/7/08 - Events page. Details of Class changes in Sept 08 added.
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22/7/08 - Event added. Free taster class at Oriental Musem.
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