The Leamington T'ai Chi and Kung Fu club teaches the Lee style of T'ai Chi and Feng Shou kung fu as taught by Master Chee Soo. The club was established by Chee Soo in 1982 and is now taught by Rachel Simpson.Location:
Every Wednesday evening: Feng Shou Kung Fu 6.30- 8pm; Tai Chi Ch'uan 8pm - 9.30 pm Contact: Email: Rachel Simpson, Phone: 01926 612560
Term times Autumn Term 2010 begins on Wednesday 8th September 2010. Costs Anyone is welcome to join at any time during the term and we charge £6 for each lesson attended. If you are doing both lessons then there is a discount. When you first attend you will be given a Registration form to fill in which covers you for insurance and is payable yearly or you can opt to pay for Life Membership. The cost is £30 yearly or £100 for life. Clothing It's best to wear loose, comfortable clothing and trainers. T'ai Chi and kung fu uniforms, T-shirts and shoes can be obtained from the instructor. The Uniform is £35, £25 for children's sizes, the Association badge is £5. The Classes The exercises we do in both classes are not strenuous and develop flexibility, posture and internal strength. We are not interested in competition so everyone is able to develop at their own pace. Our Arts attract a wide variety of people from all walks of life and our style is very old and unique. The benefits of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. The T'ai Chi exercises are suitable for anyone of any age or level of ability. T'ai Chi is an excellent way to learn how to relax even when under stress as well as developing the internal energy of the body known as 'Chi'. Internal exercise forms are based on the philosophy behind Chinese Medicine which benefits the internal organs and energy meridians rather than the external part of the body or musculature. This helps to protect you from disease as well as slowing down the ageing process. T'ai Chi exercises have been practised in China for over three thousand years. We also learn loosening up exercises, deep breathing and relaxation techniques as well as K'ai Men or Taoist Yoga, an ancient form of Chi Gung or energy building exercises that help to open up the energy meridians and increase the flow of 'Chi' or life-force. T'ai Chi is not just a physical form of exercise but also has mental and spiritual aspects. Physical The gentleness of T'ai Chi ensures that the practitioner does not suffer the kinds of strains or muscular and joint injuries which are common with more physical types of exercise, but develops greater strength while developing greater flexibility and suppleness. Dedicated athletes will find that T'ai Chi is one of the finest ways of gently warming up to offset any vigorous exercise that may follow and it can help to speed up recovery from injury. The nervous system is soothed and calmed which can help aid restful sleep. In China T'ai Chi is often practised as a Health Art because it has been known for centuries to aid recovery from a variety of diseases especially those caused by stress or overwork, and it can also benefit anyone suffering from overweight as it helps to break down the fatty tissue in the body thereby reducing the body to its natural weight level. T'ai Chi is also very good for the balance. Mental T'ai Chi can help to sharpen the mental faculties and improve acuity so that a very strong and purposeful mind is developed. Dynamic and exact control is maintained over all parts of the body and by this means one learns to keep control over the emotions. We also learn various partner exercises which provide a unique opportunity to learn how to utilize and develop internal energy as well as learning practical methods to stay focussed and relaxed in stressful situations Spiritual In Ancient China there were various activities performed in order to strengthen the spirit, for example Archery, Swordsmanship, Calligraphy, flower arranging and so on. The emphasis of this kind of exercise is quite different to the types of competitive sports that are practised in the West, that is why we refer to the practise as an Art. T'ai Chi is based upon the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism. Although Taoism is not a religion, studying T'ai Chi can have spiritual benefits by helping us to become aware of how we are a part of the natural environment. By learning how to control the emotions you can start to develop a deep inner peace thereby becoming at one with oneself and others around you. This naturally leads to a greater awareness and understanding of oneself, and a greater appreciation and understanding of others, all of which creates a balance and harmony within oneself and an understanding of our relationship with the Universe. Feng Shou Kung Fu. Feng Shou Kung Fu is a practical and effective form of self-defence training based on Taoist philosophy. Rather than developing muscle power we develop the 'Chi' and concentrate on using techniques which use the energy of the attacker so anyone can learn to protect themselves without having to resort to harsh physical fitness regimes.
The Teacher Rachel Simpson has been involved with the Taoist Arts for more than twenty years, she
is a 5th Tengchi T'ai Chi and 3rd Tengchi Feng Shou Kung Fu master and a student of Professor Chee Soo.
The Taoist Cultural Arts Association The Taoist Arts courses we have to offer include T'ai Chi Ch'uan, T'ai chi traditional weapons forms including stick and sword, Feng Shou Kung Fu, and Anmo or Taoist massage including basic theory and practise of Traditional Chinese medicine, diagnosis, and Chang Ming or natural dietary therapy. The Lee style is one of the oldest forms of Taoist training which was brought to the west in the 1930's and so it still encapsulates the traditional Taoist methods from before the communist era in China. It is a pure system which has not incorporated western philosophy and materialism and has not been watered down with material from other styles, so you can be sure that if you train with the Association that the knowledge that you are given has been passed down in traditional form through Chee Soo himself exactly the way it was passed on to him by his master and the generations of Taoist teachers before him. Beginners are always welcome so come along and give it a go.
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