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SYLLABUS

Hine Tai Chi Schools teach the Traditional Yang Style; beginners to advanced levels. In addition the original Old style is taught to advanced members.

The Traditional Yang Style employs smooth, relaxed and exact movements to produce robust good health with a calm and centrered mind. Regular, correct practise relieves stress, strenghterns the immune system and builds energy. Muscle tone, flexibility, and balance are all improved gradually as you progress through the classes.  All ages (18+) and abilities are warmly welcomed to our schools.

At all levels within the Hine Tai Chi Schools a strict syllabus is followed to produce the best possible results. It is only by applying exact criteria in a systematic and logical fashion that constant high standards can be achieved and quantified.

The traditional training regime has been systematised and is under constant review, to endeavour to help each student achieve the best possible results from the training. Within each period, attainable goals are set for both students and instructors, so that both can check their progress.

Master Hine expects his students to continually strive to improve the system in every way possible - to take what our Tai Chi forebears have given us and develop it further. To rely solely on tradition or the efforts of others would be abdication of responsibility.

The complete Traditional system is taught in our schools, this includes:

• Traditional Yang Tai Chi Solo Form
• Chi Kung
• Pushing Hands
• Weapons and
• Self Defence Applications (Combat)

The Traditional Yang Style Form is a series of slow, smooth and rhythmic movements, developed to relax the mind and gently but thoroughly exercise the body. In the far east alone, some 300 million people practise Tai Chi regularly; world-wide the figure must be staggering.

From harassed businessmen to busy housewives, people of all ages and from all walks of life find benefit in its practise.

Studies on the effects of Tai Chi support what has been intuitively known by it's advocates,
that it:

• Calms the mind and relieves stress
• Tones and energises the whole body
• Relaxes the mind and body
• Develops robust good health
• Strengthens resistance to disease
• Improves Posture
• Strengthens joints
• Lowers blood pressure

The purpose of Chi Kung is to build and circulate the vital energy, Chi, within the body. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that ill health is caused by a disrupted or unbalanced flow of energy inside the human body. Consequently correct practise of Chi Kung will aid in ensuring and uninterrupted flow of vital energy and cultivate good health.

Hine Tai Chi Schools uses the traditional Tai Chi approach in teaching Yang Style Solo Form in conjunction with many forms of Chi Kung, from beginners to advanced. The dual practise of the Solo Form and Chi Kung vastly increases the effects on the vital energy. Regular, correct Chi Kung practise builds the energy and develops:

• Robust good health
• Mental clarity
• A sense of wellbeing

Within our Chi Kung training there are also internal power building routines, developed to increase striking power for those who wish to develop their martial arts abilities.

The purpose behind pushing hands is to develop internal awareness, principally through the sense of touch.

Practitioners slowly run through a series of exercises, where each side is continually in contact with their partners arm or hand. The purpose in these pre-set pushing hands exercises is not to win, but to sense and control. As such it becomes a form of active meditation as each person experiences the others actions and counters them gently, without force.

The state of quiet awareness engenders a clear and alert mind sensitive to the subtle changes. This mental state carries over into everyday life and allows practitioners to be more attuned to the ever changing circumstances of our existence.

For most of our students, the practise of Tai Chi is purely for a stress free mind and a healthy body. As such the pre-set pushing hands exercises form an integral part of that endeavour. However, at selected branches we have the ability to cater for those students who wish to use Tai Chi as a martial art and the more robust competitive form of Free Style Pushing Hands. In these exercises the two students attempt to unbalance each other, in a healthy exchange of Tai Chi techniques.

The four Tai Chi weapons consist of the double-edged sword, broadsword, spear and staff. Many schools use the first three only, whilst others have several more weapons, most commonly the walking cane.

It may seem strange in the twenty first century to still be teaching students how to use weapons. The purpose in training in the use of weapons is to strengthen the internal energy (chi). This is accomplished by the increased difficulty imposed by the weapons and the sophistication of the techniques employed. All of the strengths acquired in the practice of the solo empty hand form are elevated to a higher level with the weapons.

Once students have progressed beyond a basic level of ability in the solo empty hand form, the weapons are introduced. The initial awkwardness of using the double-edged sword soon gives way to a feeling of exhilaration as it moves easily from one posture to the next. The broadsword employs much larger and more circular movements than the double-edged sword. It is heavier and more difficult to use elegantly, hence the broadsword is taught after the double-edged sword.

In Hine Tai Chi schools, the staff is the weapon taught next. The increased weight and awkwardness of the six foot and eight foot long staffs not only exercises the body, but also refines and strengthens the chi. Following the staff the spear is the next weapon to master. It is much more difficult to use than the staff, as the wooden shaft is made of Chinese white "waxy" wood, which is very pliable and has a whip like quality.

When correct technique is used with the staff, its rigidity transmits the energy relatively easily. The waxy wood spear on the other hand bends and twists with an almost snake like quality. A considerable amount of practice is necessary before any sort of relationship can be formed with the spear. But it is worth it, the spear is the most prized among traditional Tai Chi schools for its ability to strengthen the chi.

Tai Chi is very different in its approach to self-defence. Tai Chi aims to use an opponent's force rather than oppose it. Consequently, it can be utilised by both men and women, even into advanced age. This obviously takes a great deal of practise, but it holds out the promise of increasing self defence ability with age, rather than a diminishing one.

Tai Chi self-defence strategy can be divided into: -

Defence:

• Lightly parry a blow with circular movement, so as not to stop or absorb the force.
• To avoid by turning, slipping and side stepping the oncoming force completely.
• To neutralise attacks before they gain momentum.
• To stick by lightly touching your opponents arms and sensing their intentions.

Attack:

Following all of the above, any weakness, loss of balance or retreat should be followed by a powerful attack, either by striking or throwing.

Although Tai Chi is very defensively orientated, self-defence could not be effective if it were just this. The opportunity to stop the attacker from attacking you must be taken at the first opportunity.

View Date for the Tai Chi Combat - 17th March, 21st April, 26th May, 30th June, 4th Aug, 8th Sep, 13th Oct, 17th Nov. Please see your instructor for details.

Successful Instructors for Satisfied Students

The difference between an excellent instructor and a poor instructor is the training they have received.

Hine Tai Chi Schools has a successful approach to teaching Tai Chi and it's allied disciplines. The system is tried and tested with professional and continual support and the backing of a full time office.

For information of teaching programmes please enquire through one of our branch schools or send a full resume to:

PO Box 159, Bromley, Kent, England, BR1 3XX