My Tai Chi and Qigong Experience

My introduction to Tai Chi came while I was at Exeter University in 1989. I started practicing Cheng Man Ching's Yang Style Tai Chi with Angus Clark (who went on to found livingmovement.com).

I moved to the Dominican Republic in September of 1990 and carried on practicing tai chi alone. Then in 2001 (under my maiden name of Smith) I began to practice under the watchful eye of Professor Li Deyin at the Deyin Taijiquan Institute. His daughter Faye and son-in-law Tary Yip were her Masters and I soon exhibited an excellence in my practice of the forms that Professor Li had developed.

I also developed a deeper understanding of the relationship between the practice of Qigong and Tai Chi. Qigong develops skills in breath control, bodily strength and suppleness and promotes a sense of inner strength and calm. These qigong benefits not only help in the practice of Tai Chi forms, but also promote general health, vitality and wellbeing.

I then spent the next four years training in the traditional way of intense one to one instruction with Tary or Faye every time I returned home to England. I attended every class I could with them every time I came back home for a visit.

By 2003 I was proficient enough to teach the forms myself.

In 2004 I was authorised to teach under the mantle of the Deyin Taijiquan Institute, in the Dominican Republic, setting up a franchise in the West Indies with Tary and Faye's blessing.

Unfortunately when I returned home permanently in January 2006 there was no one for her to pass the school on to as no one had progressed enough to become a teacher.

Faye and Tary have continued to coach me, forming a backbone to my quest to improve my style and repertoire. Under their tutelage I have won many medals in competitions - including two World Health Qigong gold medals. I also won several years of Official British Championship crowns in both hand and weapon forms thanks to their guidance on how to perfect my style.

I have now studied with the Deyin Taijiquan Institute, UK since 1999 and have been coached to many medals in that time in many different competitions around the country including the title of Official British Champion in both open hand and weapons forms in the time 2005 – 2008.

I retired from competition in 2008 but was invited to represent GB again in 2015. This began my return to international competition and, to date, I have 4 World Championship gold Medals and 2 silver medals and 1 bronze medal. I have 2 European Championship gold medals and 8 British Championships gold medals.

When Covid hit, the international and national championships were suspended but I’m now in training to return to the competition floor in 2023.

I currently hold several classes each week, combining Qigong and Tai Chi into a learning experience that develops within the student practitioner an understanding and appreciation of the benefits and applications of each step within a form - gently encouraging a deepening of commitment, grace and skill within those in my classes.

My Masters are Faye Yip Li and Tary Yip, with my Grand Master being Professor Li Deyin. All three are highly regarded in the field of Tai Chi and I teach in the style I have been taught.

Please check out the Deyin website for more information on the quality and lineage of my training. Click on this link to go to my Deyin instructor page.