Tai Chi – Page 2 – White Crane Academy

Day 29 – Hong Kong Tourist

China 2019 - Day 29, Thursday, 15th August When you look at a planet from space, you don't think, "Hmmm, I wonder what arbitrary lines of segregation have been drawn on that planet?" You think, "Wow, what an awesome looking planet!!" Now, practicalities and logistics aside, and I don't want to hurt anyone's national pride, … Continue reading Day 29 – Hong Kong Tourist

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Day 28 – Travel to Hong Kong

China 2019 - Day 28, Wednesday, 14th August With a taxi booked to Guilin airport for 10am, I decided to get a bit of extra early morning training in by myself for a couple of hours before departure. I was also joined by Hotpot, so we got to hang out and say our goodbyes for … Continue reading Day 28 – Travel to Hong Kong

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Day 27 – Modern Day Self Defence

China 2019 - Day 27, Tuesday, 13th August Today has been my last day at the tai chi school and as ever you have mixed emotions about these things. Sad that the training has come to an end, I will miss Masters Ping and Kim and many of the students...and of course there will be … Continue reading Day 27 – Modern Day Self Defence

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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

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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

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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 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

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