If You are Not a Beginner 

But Would Like to Study Taijiquan

with Nick Gudge in Limerick

If you have some skill in taijiquan from previous training I am happy and willing to accommodate you in classes beyond the beginner’s stage. I will want to see you move, to verify that you have the skills required in the level of class you wish to enter.

To initially enter my second stage (18 Step Form) class, this means being able to demonstrate to me that you have some understanding and skill in loosening the body (song). Usually this means demonstrating the ability to turn the waist loosely in all three planes of motion and to have loosened the hips and the back between the shoulder blades. This process normally takes less than 5 minutes and I am happy to meet with you before or after classes to do this. I am happy to show you what I am looking for and if you can do demonstrate at least some ability to do them then I will be happy to accommodate you. If your body proves to be stiff and you need to take time and practice to loosen it then I will recommend you do some work in the beginner’s process. (For some people this can be done at the same time as attending the 18 Step classes at no extra cost.) The 18 Step Form class usually starts once per year at the end of the summer.

To directly enter the Foundation Form (laojia yilu) class this means being able to demonstrate to me a shortened Chen style form (any of the 18 Step, 19 Step or 24 Step forms) with at least some limited understanding of silk reeling and peng jin, the ability to turn the waist loosely in all three planes of motion and to have loosened the hips and the back between the shoulder blades. This process normally takes less than 5 minutes and I am happy to meet with you before or after classes to do this. The Foundation Form (laojia yilu) class usually starts once per year around the start of April.

Contact Nick

If you can already practice the Foundation Form (laojia yilu) then please feel free to contact me directly to discuss which classes might best suit you.