Welcome to Tai Chi Wisdom; we teach warm friendly classes across Brighton and Sussex. Our emphasis is on each student being able to develop their skills and fitness at their own pace; whether it's health benefits, martial skills or the meditative aspects which have drawn you to Tai Chi, we value them all and enjoy teaching students how to deepen their understanding in all these areas.

All classes are taught with emphasis on fun, individualised learning, and training. We teach all levels from absolute beginners to teachers, so whatever your level, we will have a class for you. We teach a traditional and complete Yang Style curriculum (the most widespread Tai Chi in the world) which includes: medical and martial qigong, hand forms, weapons forms and two person work for both hand and weapons which leads on to freestyle training; also Cheng Man Ch'ings Tai Chi - Simon is a well-known expert in this system of simplified Yang Style.

Simon is registered and insured as an Advanced Instructor with the Tai Chi Union for Great Britain and a student and British representative of Master Sam Masich, hosting regular UK seminars. Having studied Martial Arts - including Judo, Aikido, Jujitsu - since 1976, he took up Tai Chi in 1991 and has specialised in this and other internal arts since. Teaching in Brighton since 1995, many local teachers have been taught and inspired by Simon or continue to study with us as part of their Tai Chi journey.

Enjoy rummaging through the site and if there's anything you want to chat about, give us call on 01273 239054.

Tai Chi

Is Tai Chi a martial art, a moving meditation or a Chinese health remedy? Yes. The beautiful thing about Tai Chi is that it is all three. Tai Chi and Qigong are energising and relaxing skills used as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. They are fun, easy to learn and able to be practiced in a variety of places by people at almost any level of physical ability or age.

The Tai Chi we teach follows two curriculums. The first is study based on the 24 step Peking form which includes not only that form but also a shortened version (around 4 – 5 mins long) that forms the basis of a two person form, sword form, two person sword form and a Chen style variation. This is a brilliant introduction to Tai Chi as it gives the beginning student an ability to experience the range of Tai Chi in solo and partner work, with and without weapons, in short simple to learn sequences. The second curriculum is the complete traditional Yang Style curriculum. This system of Tai Chi, although popular, is rarely experienced in it’s entirety. As well as the solo long form (30 – 40 mins long) there is also the two person form, two person drills (tui shou and da lui), sabre, sword, spear and the weapon drills leading from pre-arranged exercises to free sparring… and the deep theory that underpins every movement and transition within the art and facet of it. It is a profound study, requiring years of commitment from the student to develop the skills of a well-rounded Tai Chi player.

There are many reasons that the eager student doesn’t get all they could from their Tai Chi. Firstly the teacher they first choose may not know a full curriculum. Secondly many of us like to progress quickly – it’s what we’ve often been taught is valuable throughout our education, but in Tai Chi there are no short cuts. Every level of understanding has to be appreciated and demonstrated as skill; one cannot move to more advanced training without being able to stand well, comprehend movement through ranges of stance and in different stances, be able to release the body to free up energy flow; and to even begin to think of breath and breathing requires the diaphragm be free to move…
Qigong

Focused on health and meditation, this gentle art is designed to stretch and open your body, increase circulation and concentration, and help you to keep fit and active all the way through your life. Even the names of its forms stimulate the creative imagination: 'Opening of the Golden Lotus', 'The 18 Harmonies' and ' Five Animal Frolics'. There are whole hospitals dedicated to the use of healing Qigong in China, and it is finally being recognised here in Europe where many of students now tell us that it was recommended by their GP.

Yoga

When Bodhidharma arrived in China, carrying the teachings of Buddha, he also took with him his knowledge of the Indian fighting arts which were part of every Brahmin's training. The amalgamation of these two ancient cultures created our modern experience of Tai Chi and Qigong. As well as the moving and standing stretches of Qigong we also teach Yoga and Chakra focused workshops to create a multi-discipline approach to Internal Development.