This class teaches the basic movements and mindfulness skills needed to progress in the Hunyuan Style of Taichi (aka Beijing Chen Style Taichi). Students in this class will learn the traditional movement sets known as Hunyuan Gong (Essential Skills) and Chansi Gong (Silk Reeling Skills). These practices help to build and maintain functional strength and range of motion, while improving relaxation, balance, coordination and ease of movement.  

This class builds on material presented in the Tai Chi fundamentals class, introducing new movement sets and partner training exercises based on traditional Chinese martial arts. These sets include the Taichi Bafa (8 Principles) and the Taichi Wubu (5 Stepping Patterns), together these are called the Taichi 13 Form. Every 4 weeks the class will alternate between core movement patterns and partner training exercises traditionally called Taichi Tuishou (push-hands).

The aim of this class is to further improve movement awareness, dynamic balance, strength and agility by diversifying students natural movement. Partner training can also improve endurance, reaction speed, balance recovery and the skill of neutralizing or evading incoming forces that might harm the body.

This class focuses on the self-defense aspect of Taichi. Training in this class includes advanced martial arts forms, weapons and self-defense partner training from both the Hunyuan Taiji and Dragon Tiger Eagle Kungfu systems. Class focus will alternate between form work, self-defense and sparring skills every 4-8 weeks. The purposes of this class is to further the development of speed, endurance and power release, while continuing to hone movement awareness, timing and the effortless application of self-defense technique.