Tai Chi

Tai Chi Chuan (or Taijiquan) is an exercise that improves balance, flexibility, cardiovascular health and the immune system. It is also known as “Moving Meditation” since we practice slow, fluid, circular and centered Martial Arts and Qigong movements with a relaxed body and mind.

Harvard Medical School says Tai Chi is one of the best exercises you can do for your health. It helps the recovery from chronic stroke, heart failure, high blood pressure, heart attacks, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and fibromyalgia and reduces the risk of falls, stress and the symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder in adolescents.

Tai Chi Training in Cyprus and Online

Below are the Tai Chi forms that I teach in-person in Cyprus or online in group and one-to-one lessons. Enthusiasts of all levels of experience are welcome to join weekly classes, half/full day intensives, multi-day camps and one-to-one training. You can also learn Tai Chi at home with Tai Chi Basics Training Videos.

8 Steps Yang Style Tai Chi

Yang Style is the most popular Tai Chi style, developed by Yang Lu-chan during mid 1800’s. It has wider stances and more open hand and arm positions in relation to other Tai Chi styles. Click for Yang Style Tai Chi Lineage

International Wushu Federation (IWUF) has developed the 8 steps form by bringing together the relatively easier movements of Yang Style. It can easily be learned at any age and takes only a few minutes to do the 8 movements. Therefore it’s an ideal exercise for beginners and for those with busy schedules. This is the form that you learn in Tai Chi Basics training.

16 Steps Yang Style Tai Chi

Again developed by IWUF for beginners, 16 Steps is the next form for students to develop their knowledge and skills. Most of the movements can be learned and applied with ease. You can feel the wide, expansive and circular movements of the Yang Style better in 16 Steps Tai Chi. This is the form we practice in Tai Chi Mechanics.

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24 Steps Yang Style Tai Chi

Is developed by Li Tian Ji in 1956, who was appointed by Chinese Sports Committee to create a simplified form of Taijiquan based on the traditional Yang style Tai Chi with the aim to promote an effective health exercise that can be practiced by the majority of the general public. The resulting 24 Steps Yang Style Tai Chi movements take about 6 minutes to perform and train the students on most of the essential elements of Taijiquan. It is also known as Beijing Form or Simplified Form and is the most popular Tai Chi form all over the world. It takes more time and dedication to learn compared to the 8 & 16 Step forms but still can be learned and practised by beginners. This is the form that you learn in Tai Chi Dynamics training.

13 Steps Sun Style Tai Chi

Is the ideal form for beginners with its easy and characteristic movements of Sun Style Tai Chi.

Sun style Tai Chi is one of the five traditional schools of Tai Chi characterized by nimble steps, opening and closing of hands, gentle and graceful movements executed with an even speed and the emphasise on self-rejuvenation and energy work. There is no power exertion or jumping. Advancing or retreating steps are usually followed by a half step, and bow stances are only occasional. Body weight doesn’t stay on one leg for too long. Relaxed mental focus is more important than physical exertion. Gentle postures and high stances make it a safe health and energy cultivation exercise.

Sun Style Tai Chi was created in the early 20th century by the famous Martial Arts Master Sun Lu Tang, who was a Xingyiquan and Bagua Zhang Master and a scholar of Yi Jing and the Tai Chi classics. When Sun Lu Tang was about 50 years old and already a well-known expert of Bagua and Xingyi he started to learn Wu (Hao) Style Tai Chi from Hao Weizhen. He saw Tai Chi, Xingyi and Bagua as one family of internal arts and combined Bagua Zhang’s stepping method, Xingyiquan’s leg and waist methods and Taijiquan’s body softness in his Sun Style Tai Chi. Sun Style Tai Chi lineage

42 Steps Combined Styles Tai Chi

42 Steps Combined Tai Chi Form (or Competition Form) is the standard Wushu competition form which combines movements from the 4 traditional Taijiquan styles: Yang, Chen, Wu, and Sun. It was created in 1989 by Professor Li Deyin from the People’s University and Professor Men Hui Feng from The Beijing Sport Institute who were asked by the Chinese Sports Committee to form a standard competition form.