Mark Stevenson

My Story

I am a teacher and student of two distinct traditional Chinese martial arts styles: Chen Tai Chi, as well as White Crane (which includes Kung Fu, and a soft style martial art akin to Tai Chi).
Additionally I teach Strong for Life classes and one-to-ones, which are focused on strength training for the over-50’s.

When younger, I dabbled in judo and kickboxing and then in my 20’s I started learning the White Crane system, in addition to Chinese Kickboxing, with Russel Southern of White Crane Martial Arts in Brighton.

I distinctly remember that I was instantly hooked after my first lesson. Since then, Chinese martial arts, particularly Tai Chi, have been my passion, and I am fortunate enough to be able to teach and pass them on to others.

After beginning my training in White Crane, I completely dedicated myself to the art, spending many hours each week, and practicing over several years. Following a visit to Beijing in 2007, I became a teacher and started teaching my own classes in Mid Sussex.

The following year, I founded White Crane Academy. Through a combination of hard work, luck, and the support of a fantastic group of loyal students, it has grown into my full-time occupation, with classes in Haywards Heath, Lindfield, and Horsham, and one-to-one sessions from my own studio in Haywards Heath.

After almost two decades focused on White Crane, I decided that it was time to develop my skills and knowledge further and I spent a short time training at the Shaolin Temple in Kunming, China. It was a fantastic experience but ultimately not for me at that time.

Based on my experiences and research in China, I spent the summer of 2019 learning Chen Tai Chi at the Yangshuo Tai Chi School with Master Wu Yu Ping and Master Wu Heng Dong.

Once again, I was hooked, and with my usual zeal and passion for martial arts training, I have dedicated myself to studying with Master Ping—now of FangYuan Tai Chi School—training with him twice a year in China and for countless hours online. I am now also a senior instructor for FangYuan Tai Chi School, and I regularly teach Master Ping’s international students.

In addition to my live classes, I also teach tai chi and qigong via courses and follow-along lessons on my app, Tai Chi App. Launching in 2023, it is now a tai chi community of hundreds of students from around the world.

Away from martial arts, I love to spend time with my family – partner, mum, daughter, three step sons, two dogs – most of whom also train with my at WCA (the dogs try!). I enjoy learning Mandarin Chinese, travel (particularly to Italy and China), reading, movies, walking the dogs, training in my home gym, playing pickleball, walking football, and watching the world go by over a coffee.

I look forward to hearing from you or meeting you in class!

Mark