(last updated: 20-04-2024)
What is Free Community Tai Chi?
Summer Hill Tai Chi Club provides a weekly FREE 1 hour Tai Chi & Qi Gong 'follow along' session, called "Gong Gong Tai Chi", as a Community Service for the people of Summer Hill & surrounding suburbs to enjoy some Breathing & Movement Exercise, Fresh Air & Sunshine in a Social setting (while maintaining social distancing).
Gong Gong (公共) means Public, and in this sense Community (社区).
Further, in English, I feel, the name "Gong Gong Tai Chi" has a nice, fun sound to it! 
* Please note that, "Community Tai Chi hour" is NOT a Lesson/Class, and is NOT suitable as a 'trial lesson' or to 'see what a class/lesson is like'. They are nothing alike. For that purpose, please book a Lesson instead: LESSONS.
What is "follow along" style?
You simply follow along, trying to copy & mimic the movements of the Instructor moving in front of you, as best you can. Since it is not a Lesson/Class, There is NO Instruction, NO Corrections and minimal to No Directions, perhaps (sometimes): "step your left foot forward", "turn to the right" and so on. You simply try to copy as best you can - "monkey see, monkey do" style.
Remember it is NOT a Lesson or Class, The purpose of 'Gong Gong Tai Chi' is simply to come together and get some movement & deep breathing exercise, enjoying the sun and fresh air in social setting, Free of charge. Therefore as long as you are 'moving your arms and legs around', extending and bending your joints, breathing deeply, and so on, then it's all good, just try and have fun, get some movement and do your best to copy allow. This will at least provide some basic level health benefits.
As the same movements are repeated each week, it is possibly to actually pick up a basic rudamentary execution of them gradually over the weeks. Many of the simpler Qi Gong exercises can be picked up in this way.
We Change sets of exercises every 3-4 months, cycling through 3 or 4 sets per year for variety.
What if I want to actually learn Tai Chi (Taiji Quan) &/or Qi Gong, or other aspects of Tai Chi?
Of course you are most welcome to take Lessons in Tai Chi &/or Qi Gong!!
I Teach Lessons in all aspects of Tai Chi (Taiji Quan) and Qi Gong in a step by step Quality manner. See LESSONS
Can I actually 'Learn' Tai Chi properly from these sessions?
Short answer is NO. As mentioned these are not Lessons or Classes and no Instruction or Correction is given
Long anwser, No not really, and that is not the purpose of Community Tai Chi, which is simply for people to do some movement & deep breathing, outdoors in nature & the fresh air, with other people in a group setting. It doesn't matter if your movements are "correct" or not, simply move your arms and legs around for some movement and blood circulation.
Having said that, if you come reguarly over a long period of time, you could pick up at least a rough external shape or form of the movements, like a dance, if you pay close attention and focus on copying the movements.
However, this would be a vary shallow level of understanding and skill, and provide only very basic level health benefits.
For some taking an hour "time out" from work/life, doing some deep breathing, and just moving gently, outside with nature in the fresh air is sufficient, and all they desire, for a little bit of stress relieve.
If you want to learn the actual Art or for actual healing purposes, then Lessons are available.
Summer Hill Martial Arts & Self Defence
I also Teach Filipino Martial Arts (FMA - Escrima, Arnis, Kali), Martial Arts, Self Defence, Women's Self Defence and Muay Thai / Kickboxing.
I'm also a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, including Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Moxibustion and Cupping.
What is Tai Chi and Taiji Quan (太極拳 / 太极拳)?
Simplistically, Tai Chi or Tai Chi Chuan (Taiji Quan 太極拳) is a Chinese Martial Art that today is generally focused on it's health & healing aspects, and is practiced as an enjoyable health nourishing exercise that helps you maintain good health, relaxation & vitality. The graceful movements of this Martial Art reflect a history of centuries of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) & Daoist (Taoist) Philosophy, which western science is also gradually confirming & validating.
The regular practice of Tai Chi has been shown to have many benefits to the health and well being of people of all ages and fitness levels. It is particularly helpful for those wishing to improve mobility & balance, relieve stress, strengthen the immune system increase one's health & vitality, as well as recuperating from illness or injury.
Tai Chi Chuan (太極拳) is simply an older way of romanising the Chinese word 'Taiji Quan' (太極拳) into English. The same as we once romanised (& pronounced) the Capital of China as "Peking" (北京), and nowadays we use "Beijing" (北京). You can see the Chinese Characters are the same.
Tai Chi / Taiji is simply an abbreviated form of the full name Tai Chi Chuan / Taiji Quan
Tai Chi includes the practice of Qi Gong (see below)
Regarding Yin- Yang philosophy: It often expressed that Tai Chi is the Yang aspect and Qi Gong is the Yin aspect
What is Qi Gong (氣功 / 气功)?
Again simplistically, Qi Gong (氣功),or Qigong/Chi Kung, are forms of Deep Breathing Health Nourishing Exercises. They involve aspects of stillness, movement, stretching, flexing/tensing, combined with deep abdominal breathing. For convenience, Meditation Practices can also be included under this term.
Benefits of Qi Gong are increasingly recognized worldwide and within scientific community. Qigong benefits range from mind relaxation and sharpening, stress relief to increased energy, vitality and helping to heal degenerative and chronic diseases.
Qigong exercises integrate body postures, movement, breathing and meditation for a healthy life, spiritual advancement and/or martial arts training.
It is a 5,000-year-old Chinese healthcare modality that has endured the test of time.
Qi Gong can be practiced as a stand alone Art, however it is very often practiced together with Tai Chi, and infact Tai Chi includes Qi Gong within it's practice.
Regarding Yin- Yang philosophy: It often expressed that Tai Chi is the Yang aspect and Qi Gong is the Yin aspect
'Gong Gong Tai Chi' - General Format
The session consists of:
The same set of Qi Gong exercises and short Tai Chi form are repeated each session for a month or three, and then changed for new ones, cycling through 3-4 different sets over the year.
How To Attend
Please register via the Contact Form on this website. Mention that you are interested in the Free Community Tai Chi hour (and/or Lessons, etc)
What to bring
Always take Water breaks when you need to. Always have a rest break and sit down if you need to.
If any movements feel uncomfortable or painful, adapt or omit them. Please let me know if this is the case, I am very happy to show you a variation/modification of any movements to suit any health issues or injuries you may have - that is not a problem at all. If you know in advance something which may cause a problem you can also let me know at the start.
Please register your interest / Contact us below
* Training is conducted Outdoors in Nature with the Elements, in all Weather Conditions *
