Continuing on from my previous blog on my first experience of learning Tai Chi in 2003:
Within the last couple of years I have been refreshing my knowledge and practice. The internet is a great aid in research.
I attended Sid’s classes for several years and asked myself where his Tai Chi originated from? For many the lineage of where a martial art originated is important.
This style of Tai Chi is a variation of the Yang style. The lineage is traced further back from Sid Revill to his teachers. Sid had learnt Tai Chi from Alec Jones from his Dragon Spring Taiji School and Richard Farmer of the Rising Dragon Tai Chi School which had been formed in 1979.
The below image is a link to Alec Jone’s Dragon Spring Taiji based in Birmingham:
Dr Chi Chiang Tao…
Richard Farmer had learnt his Tai Chi from Dr Chi Chiang Tao. Dr Chi was a personal student of Cheng Man Ching for many many years. Cheng Man Ching is a very well known Tai Chi master of modern times, one that introduced Tai Chi to the west. Below is a link for more in depth information on Cheng Man Ching:
I have tried another variation of Yang style Tai Chi in Banbury at a different school for several months but found there was many inconsistencies but it’s always good to explore other avenues.
I decided to return to Sid Revill’s Tai Chi and Chi Kung where the Tai Chi was consistent, smooth and following a traditional lineage and including the practice of pushing hands.
As well as the health benefits of Tai Chi and Chi Kung I am also keen to continue my practice into the martial art aspect.
Training, more than ever, has become more challenging now we are in the second wave of the Corona Virus.
Since writing this original article I have recorded myself practicing the Dr Chi Chiang Tao form. It was a damp, muddy and windy day in December 2020
Tim Butt practicing Dr Chi Chiang Tao form
I have also started teaching the Cheng Man Ching form of Tai Chi in Banbury.
Leave a Reply