Fiona will be starting a new class on 19 September 2019.
Wu Style Long Form
The Long Form of Liu Hongjie
The Long Form class is only available to those who have advanced sufficiently in the short form, and who are willing to put in the extra practise that is needed. It is not a drop in class.
The Wu Style Tai Chi Long Form contains the full internal development of Tai Chi – all of the 16 components of neigong. It takes twenty to thirty minutes to complete.
B. K. Frantzis learned this form from his Daoist lineage master, Liu Hongjie. Liu lived and studied with Wu Jianquan, founder of the Wu Style, who made him a lineage disciple.
The Liu Form
What makes this form different to others is that Liu transformed his Tai Chi practice into an authentic vehicle for Daoist Meditation. Although Tai Chi is often described as a form of moving meditation, genuine meditation was never practised in traditional Chen, Yang or Wu Tai Chi. Many people confuse the ability of all well-designed Tai Chi forms to promote relaxation and manage physical stress with actual meditation.
Liu Hongjie spent his life in the study and practice of meditation, Buddhist and Daoist. After being declared enlightened within the Tien Tai Buddhist school, Liu spent a decade in the mountains of Western China living and studying with Daoist masters. There he became the head of an important Daoist lineage.
While in the mountains, Liu learned long moving neigong forms. Some of these were similar in many respects to Tai Chi forms. These ancient Daoist long forms were designed as vessels for moving meditation. Having learned the specific energetic and meditation methods within them, Liu altered his Wu Style form to make it completely consistent with the energetic and meditation parameters of the Daoist long neigong forms.
The Age of Anxiety
Unlike previous ages when the threat of physical violence was much more common, ours is an age of anxiety and distraction, where most people are under far more emotional and mental strain. This is why our focus in Daoist Internal Arts is primarily on health: firstly physical, but increasingly emotional and mental. This is where Liu Hongjie’s Wu Style plays such a vital role. For as well as being a superb healing form, it has specific methods for managing emotional and mental stress.
“What good does it do you to have lots of material things if your mind and body are constantly miserable? This is the case for many of us much of the time.
If Taijiquan can simply help you slow down and enjoy the life you are living more, then that is benefit enough. I have also seen that down the road, after a lot of practise, Taijiquan has very real spiritual benefits provided that a person has a really sincere interest in meditation.
In China, I have only ever heard of two traditions regarding Taijiquan, and addressing what Taijiquan is.
One tradition says that Taijiquan is a superlative martial art that uses Daoist energy practices and strategies as the support base to develop power and fighting skills, with the secondary benefits of good health and calmness of mind.
The other tradition considers Taijiquan to be a Daoist body practice, which is the support base for strengthening and healing the body so as to be able to learn meditation correctly, with the secondary benefit of self-defense ability.
When l was younger, I was interested in the former tradition. As I have gotten older, I have become more interested in the latter.”
(B.K. Frantzis, ‘Martial Arts Odyssey: Fact vs. Fiction’, T’ai Chi Magazine Vol. 11, No. 3, June 1987, pp.7-8.)
Attending the class
You will need a firm grasp of the Short Form (Matthew’s recommendation is at least three years) before taking on the Long Form. This class is significantly more demanding than any other that Matthew teaches. In order to really benefit from the Long Form over the Short Form, you must be willing to invest much more practice time.
The minimum experience required to join this class is that you have done at least one cycle of the Wu Style Short Form.
Please contact Matthew if you are interested in attending.
Recommended reading
Frantzis, B. K., The Power of the Internal Martial Arts (Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 1998).
Frantzis, B. K., Tai Chi: Health For Life (Berkeley: Frog Ltd., 2006).
Frantzis, B.K., Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body, 2nd edition (Berkeley: Blue Snake Books, 2006).
Wu Style Medium Form
The Medium Form
The Wu Style Tai Chi Medium Form is a series of gentle flowing movements which takes about seven minutes to complete.
This form is only five movements longer than his original Short Form, so it is still quite short and is an excellent form to start with.
This is now the shortest Tai Chi form that Matthew teaches. Dave continues to teach Bruce’s Short Form.
Some of the Benefits of Tai Chi include:
- It can be practised by anyone, young and old, strong and weak, healthy and sick.
- It develops a high degree of relaxation
- It releases physical and emotional stress
- It promotes mental and emotional well being
- It improves balance, physical coordination and flexibility
- It tones and exercises every single muscle, ligament, tendon and joint of the body
- It massages every lymph node and internal organ
- It makes the arteries and veins springy and elastic, keeping them open and healthy
- It energizes all the body’s internal pumps and improves circulation
- It heals and reduces injuries and improves reflexes
- It smooths out and regulates the central nervous system
Tai Chi balances and strengthens the flows in your body and thus improves your energy levels and increases your range of motion. The Wu Style is renowned for its healing and meditative qualities, and it contains many important healing elements that are rarely taught, even in China. It gives you the majority of the health and spiritual benefits of much longer Tai Chi forms.
B. K. Frantzis designed this form with the help and encouragement of his Daoist lineage master, Liu Hongjie. Liu lived and studied with Wu Jianquan, founder of the Wu Style. We are very lucky to have such a direct and powerful lineage.
Tai Chi is more than a martial art and more than most forms of exercise. It has a deep philosophical and spiritual perspective. Its gentle, slow-motion movements and sophisticated methods of moving life force or chi within the body teach you to relax and open up to your full human potential on all levels – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. (BK Frantzis, Tai Chi: Health For Life p.16)
On-going Tai Chi Medium Form classes are being run in Whitstable.
Recommended reading
Frantzis, B. K., The Power of the Internal Martial Arts (Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 1998).
Frantzis, B. K., Tai Chi: Health For Life (Berkeley: Frog Ltd., 2006). ISBN: 1583941444.
Frantzis, B.K., Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body, 2nd edition (Berkeley: Blue Snake Books, 2006). ISBN 1-58394-146-0.
Where & When
Dr Matthew Brewer, the head of the school, teaches in Canterbury, Faversham and Whitstable.
Dave Willis teaches in Deal and Folkestone.
Gary Short teaches in Rainham and Sheppey.
Fiona McArthur teaches in Canterbury and Herne Bay.
What We Teach
Where To Start
Tai Chi Fundamentals
We generally recommend Tai Chi Fundamentals as the place to start. This ancient neigong set teaches all of the essential alignments and movement principles in the most simple format possible. It is the foundation of the internal arts and it makes learning any Tai Chi form much easier.
Dragon & Tiger
Another place to begin is with qigong. Dragon & Tiger will quickly give you a sense of the body’s energy. It is like giving yourself acupuncture (without the needles). The beauty of this qigong is that you need learn only seven movements to practise a complete set that will balance and strengthen all of the major meridians (energy channels). It is particularly good for healers of all kinds as it protects against and clears the negative energy that they are often exposed to in their work with others. Dragon & Tiger is good for those who are only interested in qigong, whereas Tai Chi Fundamentals allows you to move on to Tai Chi more easily.
Longevity Breathing
Matthew has often heard B.K.Frantzis say that if he could only teach one of the many disciplines that he has mastered for general health it would be breathing. It follows that if you only ever learn one aspect of the internal arts breathing would be an excellent choice. With relatively little effort you can learn the most essential practice for letting go of stress and gaining optimal health. It can be done anywhere, any time.
The Next Step
Wu Style Tai Chi Short Form
The Wu Style, as taught by Grand Master Liu Heng Jie to B.K. Frantzis, is taught entirely in terms of the 16 components of neigong. It is the only form that I know of that does so. This form is specifically designed to contain all five of the neigong systems, of which Tai Chi Fundamentals is the first and most essential. Its effect is to amplify the power of any neigong that you practise. It is considerably more difficult to learn than the neigong, but having studied Tai Chi Fundamentals for some time, you will be able to practise the form with content from a very early stage.
Heaven & Earth NeiGong
Heaven & Earth is the gateway to all higher level Daoist energy and meditation work, including high level Tai Chi and Bagua. It is taught with the expectation that you are familiar with the material from Tai Chi Fundamentals, without which your progress will be limited.
And beyond …
Wu Style Tai Chi Long Form
You will need a firm grasp of the Short Form (Matthew’s recommendation is at least three years) before taking on the Long Form. This class is significantly more demanding than any other that Matthew teaches. In order for a person to really benefit from the Long Form over the Short Form, they must be willing to invest much more practice time.
The minimum experience required to join this class is that you have done at least one cycle of the Wu Style Short Form.
Please contact Matthew if you are interested in attending.
Immortal Cloud Play (or Gods Playing in the Clouds)
This is the advanced neigong set, the bridge into genuine moving meditation.
Minster-On-Sea & Rainham
From 15 March 2020 all live classes cancelled due to the virus.
Minster-On -Sea
Tai Chi Fundamentals
Day: Monday
Time: 11.30am-12.30pm
Starting: Join any time
Location: New Road Community Centre, 55-57 New Road, Minster-On -Sea, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 3PT
Rainham
Tai Chi Fundamentals
Day: Monday
Time: 9.30 – 10.30am
Starting: Join any time
Location: St Thomas of Canterbury church hall, 63 London road, Rainham, ME8 7RH.
Instructor: Gary Short
Deal & Folkestone
Deal – live from 1 September 2021
Tai Chi for Relaxation & Health
Day: Wednesday
Time: 1.30-2.30pm
Starting: Join any time
Location: The Landmark Centre, 129 the High St, Deal CT14 6BB.
Folkestone – hoping to return to live classes in October 2021
Tai Chi Fundamentals and Qigong
Day: Thursday
Time: 1.00-2.00pm
Starting: Join any time
Location: Bar Invicta, Cheriton Road, Folkestone, CT19 5JU.
Instructor: Dave Willis
Canterbury, Faversham & Whitstable
Matthew’s Canterbury (Thursday) and Whitstable (Wednesday) classes are returning LIVE from 27 April 2022.
Canterbury
Tai Chi Fundamentals
Day: Monday
Time: 10.30 – 11.30am
Location: St Stephen’s Church Hall, Hales Drive, Canterbury CT2 7AB.
Instructor: Fiona McArthur
…
Dragon & Tiger Qigong Live
Day: Thursday
Time: 6.30 – 7.30pm
Prerequisites: None. All welcome.
Location: The Friends Meeting House, 6 The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS.
Tai Chi Fundamentals Live
Day: Thursday
Time: 7.45-8.45pm
Join any time
Location: The Friends Meeting House, 6 The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS.
(Faversham) Remaining online
Dissolving in Tai Chi Fundamentals Online
Day: Saturday
Time: 10.15-11.15am
Dissolving is a more advanced practice, and does not really suit beginners.
Prerequisites: familiarity with Tai Chi Fundamentals, the ability to stand comfortably for half an hour.
Location: Fleur de Lis Hall, Gatefield Lane, Off Preston Street, Faversham ME13 8NS.
Whitstable Returning LIVE from 27 April 2022
Wu Style Tai Chi Medium Form LIVE
Day: Wednesday
Time: 6.30 – 7.30pm
Prerequisites: (Ideally) familiarity with Tai Chi Fundamentals.
New cycle starting on 27 April 2022 – this is the best time to start learning the form.
Location: St Peter’s Church House, 154 Cromwell Rd, Whitstable CT5 1NA.
Wu Style Tai Chi Long Form LIVE
Day: Wednesday
Time: 7.45 – 8.45pm
Presently closed. Not suitable for beginners.
Recommended Prerequisites: Three cycles of the Short Form.
Please contact Matthew if you wish to attend.
Location: St Peter’s Church House, 154 Cromwell Rd, Whitstable CT5 1NA.
Perpetually Online Classes
Mondays
Still Breathing Online
Time: 8.00 – 9.00pm
Details: New cycle starting 25 April 2022.
Join any time
Tuesdays
Tai Chi Fundamentals Online
Time: 6.30 – 7.30pm
Join any time
Instructor: Dr Matthew Brewer
Instructor: Fiona McArthur
Herne Bay
Classes will recommence on 24 February 2022.
Tai Chi Fundamentals
Day: Thursdays.
Time: 10.00-11.00 a.m.
Starting: Join any time.
Location:
Instructor: Fiona McArthur