https://www.brightontaichi.club/home daily 1.0 2024-02-03 https://www.brightontaichi.club/our-instructor daily 0.75 2022-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cc9a6f9ef9e25f8b81f966/1640798866388-91TIJ9FXXKILMYAOAYL5/20210923_210447_remastered.jpg Instructor - Kevin Bryant Tobias Keene, D.D.S. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Tobias Keene brings a bit of unabashed Southern hospitality to all his patients. He moved to Washington, D.C. over thirty years ago as a freshman at Ivy College. Right after graduation, he attended World University’s School of Dentistry. Before opening Keene Dental in 1994, he worked for free clinics and some of the finest practices in the District. He is part of the 123 Dental Association and stays up-to-date on the latest dental discoveries. When not striving to keep his patients happy and healthy, he’s enjoys hiking with his family in Rock Creek Park. https://www.brightontaichi.club/location daily 0.75 2021-12-30 https://www.brightontaichi.club/about daily 0.75 2022-01-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cc9a6f9ef9e25f8b81f966/1640798863155-XNWS0WGL6QPSSOM333AD/20190303_161258-1.jpg About - Weekend Course - 4 Burhill Rd, Hersham Sister club, Surrey Tai Chi Club was founded by Kevin Bryant in 2003. He moved to Hove in 2013 and then launched Brighton Tai Chi Club. He has slowly begun introducing Yeung Family Tai Chi to a handful of students while continuing his teaching practice in Surrey. His longer-term aim is to develop an equally robust school in the Brighton area, with the emphasis on quality over quantity. Teaching relationships are built one at a time. We attempt to cater to all levels of interest whether for health, stress reduction, self-defense, or spiritual development - always with a smile and a good dose of humour! Deep study is available to those who show sincere interest and commitment. Join our Meetup group for our up-to-date class schedule and related information. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cc9a6f9ef9e25f8b81f966/1640798863175-NKXNFR8EY3SA8ECNWS4S/20181001_125915.jpg About - What is Tai Chi Chuan? We quote directly from Yeung Sau Chung’s book Practical Use of Tai Chi Chuan (Its Applications & Variations) as translated by Mary Sifu: The value of Tai Chi Chuan in self-defense is universally acknowledged. Applying it properly, you can neutralize the opponent’s force with a much smaller one, command the situation leisurely, and even utilize his force to your own advantage. It is based on the Chinese philosophy of Yin (female characteristics) and Yang (masculine traits) which control all the changes of phenomenon in the Universe. Yin also means softness and inactivity, whereas Yang means strength and activity, but both are not mutually exclusive. Strength can be hidden in softness and activity is camouflaged in inactivity. Constant practice of Tai Chi Chuan will enable you to acquire peace of mind, relaxation of body, not flabby but flexible muscles, and an excellent physique regardless of your health at the start. Its value has been proved with numerous examples in China and overseas by those who practice it, regardless of their rank, profession, age, or sex. Mary Sifu has been emphatic in stating that Tai Chi Chuan is an “internal martial art”, an art where the mind precedes every movement and where the underlying ideas are preeminent. From the family’s “thirteen important rules”: 8) Do not exert force, but the idea is there. 9) Action and idea should be in harmony. 10) The idea and energy should be in agreement. The correct practice of Tai Chi Chuan cannot be achieved without careful attention to both its health and martial roots. Those who practice it just for its health-giving properties will lose its full benefits without an understanding of its martial applications. Those who practice it just for its martial applications will fall short without a full appreciation for its health-giving aspects. Tai Chi Chuan’s health benefits are becoming more widely known and increasingly supported by scientific research. It is now commonly recommended as one of the treatment protocols for a wide range of chronic conditions including, diabetes, Parkinson’s, MS, ME, COPD, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and many others. In general, practitioners experience a heightened level of general health over time with consistent and focused practice. Most report more energy, better sleep, improved appetite, digestion and elimination, improved sexual function, less muscle stiffness, especially as it relates to the back, and lower stress. Those of more advanced age have also noted positive effects on balance and their mental capabilities. https://www.brightontaichi.club/classes daily 0.75 2026-01-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cc9a6f9ef9e25f8b81f966/1640798834030-DMT8J748EEBKKBJV2IJ1/20190303_150346.jpg Classes - Teaching Style Individualized to the extent possible. Most classes are relatively small and informal. Kevin likes to say, the student doesn’t follow the teacher, the teacher follows the student. If you are just looking for a little relaxation and basic exercise we will try to help you achieve that aim. If you are looking for a deep, intensive dive into the art, we will do our best to help you along that path. While there is not a rigid curriculum, there are a number of core practices that we can offer the student according to their objectives and progress. Some of those practices are summarized below. Pictured are Surrey Tai Chi and Brighton Tai Chi students at a weekend course. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cc9a6f9ef9e25f8b81f966/1640798834035-BMWYGLRVA80LV1JZT1UY/20211127_091347+%281%29.jpg Classes - Softening Exercises Every class begins with these. At first, these are simply warm-up exercises before proceeding to the form. With time, practice, and instruction, these exercises deepen and the student will hopefully develop an understanding of their larger and deeper relevance to the practice of Tai Chi. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cc9a6f9ef9e25f8b81f966/1640798834040-V5EIVKAJKWOU3LPHVWUW/20190609_145610-1+%281%29.jpg Classes - Form Practice This is what most people think of when they think of Tai Chi Chuan, ‘The Form’ for short. There are many forms in addition to the ‘Hand Form’, including the ‘Fast Form’ and forms for the sword, knife, and spear. Most Yang-style schools include similar sequences and elements. We study specifically, the Yang Family Form which includes elements of the family’s original form as passed down from Yeung Sau Chung to Yeung Ma-Lee sifu. Even those who have trained in ‘traditional’ Yang style schools, are generally stunned and usually challenged by its precision and core internal elements. It is a form that will continue to develop and reveal itself over the course of a lifetime of training. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cc9a6f9ef9e25f8b81f966/1640798834046-QXKB3AY744M6IRO8JCQU/20180708_102051.jpg Classes - Joint Hand Operations This is partner work which includes ‘Push Hands’ (pictured on the right), a practice Tai Chi is well known for. Through these exercises and drills, the student learns how to express the core principles learned through the softening exercises and the form and other practices. This practice also helps the student to better understand the family’s internal principles and structural roots, the importance of being soft, well-balanced, and agile, for example. Most of these exercises are gentle and appropriate for all ages and sensibilities. More advanced students can explore practices with more obvious martial applications according to their personal goals and comfort. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cc9a6f9ef9e25f8b81f966/1640798834051-O3BRXF6WYNRSI4MCIX10/20160410_130010-1-1+%281%29.jpg Classes - Chi Kung (Qi Gong) Chi Kung translates as ‘energy work’. In these practices which are virtually infinite in number, the student first learns how to relax and soften their body, heighten their internal awareness and use intention to direct their vital energy, what the Chinese call ‘chi’. These practices are generally not studied until the student has spent meaningful time studying the softening exercises and the form. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cc9a6f9ef9e25f8b81f966/1640798834056-LAGZB5CHI3IUKZKXAOFW/20130728_165841+%281%29.jpg Classes - Meditation For serious practitioners, stillness is a core practice, whether sitting, standing, lying down - or all of the above. The Yeung Family has refined their version of these of practices which are available to experienced students. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cc9a6f9ef9e25f8b81f966/1640798834061-CT5LXHRZC61521YG81CQ/20171109_073726.jpg Classes - Private Tuition There is no question that the serious student will, at some point, want to pursue 1-2-1 tuition. The Yeung Family ‘catalog’ is simply too vast to explore adequately in a weekly group class. Instruction is best delivered according to individual strengths, development needs, and character. ‘Hands-on’ instruction helps the student make the external and internal adjustments necessary to save many months - or years - in their training. Unfortunately, Kevin’s availability is tight given heavy teaching and work responsibilities in addition to his own training needs. If he is unable to accommodate your request, he is likely to know someone from an affiliated school who can. Video Instruction: Kevin also has a number of international students who receive instruction primarily through video instruction but who also augment their instruction with periodic trips to the UK. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cc9a6f9ef9e25f8b81f966/ad0aea7e-2b69-4809-8662-144428aa42f0/20170917_121731.jpg Classes - Covid-19 Thank goodness we no longer have to take special precautions. We ask, however, that if you feel you’re coming down with something or certainly if you’re hacking and coughing that you give our session a miss until you’re feeling better. Kevin Bryant also produced a series of more than 60 Facebook Live sessions from the start of the lockdown period in the UK that remain accessible to the general public. You can find many of these taster sessions here. https://www.brightontaichi.club/book-a-class daily 0.75 2025-11-17 https://www.brightontaichi.club/video-gallery daily 0.75 2024-03-22