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Links for Northern School of TaijiQuan - Sedgefield, Co. Durham
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A little about the Instructor
 Joe Harte - Co. Durham branch of
the Northern School of TaijiQuan
Long time student of Patrick Kelly and Dan Russell.
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Starting out in London
I began as a schoolboy at a local Judo club and then at the age of 16 in 1977 I began Kung Fu with Joe Holmes in London.
But it seems deep down my interest lay elsewhere so after 10 years of dedicated training I felt that further gradings would not serve my needs and Full Contact competition, although a valuable experience, no longer held my interest.
Having experimented with meditation as a teenager the often quoted "training of Mind and Body" had drawn me to the martial arts in the first place. Now this interest resurfaced more strongly. I read about Sport Psychology and experimented with visualizations but more was needed.
My teacher was an honest man and when I asked he said he knew little of these things so could not help me.
For that and the wonderful generosity in the things he taught so well I am forever grateful - We are still in touch.
Looking around I found in traditional Jujitsu a more circular use of forces. The Dojo I joined included regular meditation but the training was harsh and after a few years it became apparent that the meditation was not well integrated.
It was about this time I moved to the North of England.
A young Joe Harte (nice beard!)
with Joe Holmes - My Kung Fu Teacher
showing a nice jumping kick! |  |
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Finding Taiji
Having moved to Cumbria in the early 90's I began training in Taiji with Dan Russell of the Northern School of Tai Chi Chuan in Carlisle.
After a few years it transpired that Dan had met the Taiji teacher he had been seeking and we began training with Patrick Kelly.
Patrick A Kelly, our greatly respected guide in Master Huang's teachings, spent some 20 years studying intensively with Master Huang Sheng Shyan. He was the only westerner to be admitted to Master Huang’s inner school.
Patrick has systematized Huang's teachings and now with many years of personal evolution offers guidance to the instructors of the Northern School of TaijiQuan and others throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
You can read more about Master Huang and Patrick Kelly on this site.
It goes without saying – I am deeply indebted to my teachers and the traditions of their own teachers, for their openness of teaching and kindness.
Whether being there as a mirror to my inadequacies or just ‘being’ - deep and still, so that I may benefit from their inexorable commitment to their individual paths - these extraordinary human beings continue to help shape the person I am.
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These Days....
Joe runs Taiji classes in County Durham, having moved there in 2001.
He regularly attends international seminars run by Patrick Kelly.
See New Starters page for details on how to join
Patrick A Kelly & Joe Harte |  |
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Tea anyone?
 | Joe Harte & Dan Russell MA having a cup of tea at a recent Trance course
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