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Longfei Taijiquan Association of Great Britain

Longfei Newsletter Volume 7 Issue 2

Lessons from Hong Kong: keep up or else...

Hong Kong

Hanue Chan, a regular visitor to Hong Kong and a familiar face at the Wednesday class in Welham Green, has shared his experience on a recent trip to the island. He mentions the district of Wanchai; this was made famous in the 1960s movie "Susie Wong". In the days of British possession the British and US fleets that patrolled the seas in the far east used to enjoy their rest an recuperation there.

Learning Taiji in Hong Kong

The local government runs the taiji classes. I came across one at Wanchai district on the island of Hong Kong. This is what I observed.

The class was run three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) beginning at 8am, for one hour. The location was a so called "local park", which is a concrete recreation ground, a fraction of the size of a football pitch among high rising tower blocks. On rainy days they sheltered under a flyover and continued their practice.

Attendance: I counted more than 60 (what are you doing wrong Simon). All elderly and mostly women. I did not see a single teenager. The class was taught by a female master supported by one of her senior students. They were being taught the 88 forms. The complete form would be taught in three months on the basis of three attendances a week. If you can't follow they do not wait for you, but you can rejoin at the next cycle.

After the warm up, the complete form was run through once. Then the complete beginner and the intermediates were separated (12 in each group) and moved to there own corners. The Master would come to each group, teach new movements and make corrections to individuals. I was invited to join the warming up and the first run through. After some practice one student complained of my lack of knowledge and inability to keep up and I was forced to leave. I would not think this could happen in Simon's classes. What I witnessed was not typical and I hope to find out how private lessons would be run.

Hanue Chan

Thanks for the contribution Hanue. Contributions always welcome! Richard Watson

Longfei Newsletter Volume 7 Issue 2 Table of Contents

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