China – Page 2 – White Crane Academy

Day 26 – Tai Chi, Forms and Principles

China 2019 - Day 26, Monday, 12th August Thoughts on Learning Forms, Principles, Eastern/Western Instructors, and Health and Martial Tai Chi So the Chen 74 form and the broadsword form moves have all been shown to me now - notice that I am hesitant to say that I have learnt them, as yet! That's a … Continue reading Day 26 – Tai Chi, Forms and Principles

China, Travel

Day 25 – Hiking and Rafting

China 2019 - Day 25, Sunday, 11th August Today was my last opportunity for some sightseeing here in China and myself and another student at the tai chi school, took a taxi and bus up to a town about an hour and a half north of here. We set off from there preparing to hike … Continue reading Day 25 – Hiking and Rafting

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Day 24 – Emotional Resiliance

China 2019 - Day 24, Saturday, 10th August It's the weekend and what better way to start it off than with a two hour private lesson at 0830, followed by a coffee and some planning on how to spend my last weekend in China and make the most of the time. I'm not really one … Continue reading Day 24 – Emotional Resiliance

China, Travel

Day 23 – Tui Na

China 2019 - Day 23, Friday, 8th AugustAnother full week of training done and my final weekend of this trip is here. It feels as though I have been here for a long time - and simultaneously time has gone by in a flash. Training, eating, studying Mandarin, sleeping is a pretty good routine that … Continue reading Day 23 – Tui Na

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Day 22 – Challenges

China 2019 - Day 22, Thursday, 8th AugustTime is going rapidly now and I have just over a week left in China on this visit. The more time I spend here and peel back the curtain of what once seemed to me like a vast, mysterious country, the more I fall in love with it. … Continue reading Day 22 – Challenges

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Day 21 – Empty Your Cup

China 2019 - Day 21, Wednesday, 7th August When arriving at the school in China, I squirmed a little when asked what my profession was. I felt a little awkward coming to the land of tai chi and telling them I was a tai chi instructor! I quickly added the suffix - "but I come … Continue reading Day 21 – Empty Your Cup

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Day 20 – Strength Within

China 2019 - Day 20, Tuesday, 6th AugustThe temperature has soared back up but I do love the training here in a humid 37C, which is said to feel more like 42C today according to my phone app! One thing I like about martial arts is that you train for imperfection, and when situations are … Continue reading Day 20 – Strength Within

China, Travel

Day 19 – Going Solo

China 2019 - Day 19, Monday, 5th August 2019 This is now my last full week of training (as well as two days next week) before a day and a half in Hong Kong, where I will fly home from next Friday. One of the great things about being a full time martial arts instructor … Continue reading Day 19 – Going Solo

China, Travel

Day 18 – The Tao of Brexit

China 2019 - Day 18, Sunday, 4th AugustLast night I awoke to a banging and scratching at my door. I've seen enough horror films to know that I should only tentatively open my door - but there was Hotpot, who let herself in and slept on my floor for the night! Think I have got … Continue reading Day 18 – The Tao of Brexit

Weapons Training

If you like me love a good action movie, you will love the WCA weapons classes! It is less ominous than it sounds (although still pretty cool to wield a sword or a staff), in fact learning tai chi weapons is incredibly meditative. And at the same time fun! It adds an extra layer to your tai chi, you have a partner in crime in your weapon of choice, and like a dance, you eventually learn to perform a beautiful sequence of moves that at times could very well be described as a slow meditative ballet. Without having to go on the the tippy toes. Mark’s knowledge of both white crane and chen weapons is vast and all… Read more “Weapons Training”

Karina