WUDANG TAI CHI CHUAN MANCHESTER

Learning Wudang Tai Chi Chuan

The classes are suitable for all ages and levels of fitness

 Students  learn in small class groups or individually progressing  at their own pace, depending on their personal requirements and level of fitness.

There is a choice

Opportunity is given to students who wish to develop an understanding of the self defence applications and push hands techniques. 

Extra provision is made for  dynamic students to work at more vigorous exercises and train for  forms and push hands competition. Some students  have successfully competed in local, national and international competition.

The Teachers

 Manchester Wudang Tai Chi Chuan  Teacher                 Chris Henney

First lesson

Chris started teaching Tai Chi in 1998.She has taught in a variety of locations including Stockport Local Authority, secondary schools and Manchester University. Chris has a flexible approach to teaching enabling her to successfully teach a students who ages range from adolescent to over 70 years, whose levels of fitness have varied from international competition level to students requiring support a variety of physical conditions.    A qualified teacher with over 30 years teaching experience, Chris started to learn tai Chi in 1994 with Steve Forde. . From that time her teaching and learning of the complete system of Tai Chi Chuan were overseen by Dan Docherty. Chris  has travelled throughout the Uk and Europe to learn from Dan and his senior instructors; noteably in the early stages, Godfrey Dornelly and laterly Carl Burgess. Chris has gained medals for advanced hand form and sabre form in The British Open Tai Chi Championships, and she has judged weapons and hand form competitions . In a constant endeavour to improve her standard of Tai Chi and teaching Chris continues to attend national and international workshops, seminars and judge training sessions.

  Head of Wudang Tai Chi Chuan School                Dan Docherty 

Dan met his teacher Cheng Tin Hung in  1975.  Like his master he established his repuation by winning a major fighting contest in Malaysia in 1980. After eight years of intensive training and travelling with Cheng Tin Hung he went to London where he established his teaching base. He has trained a number of students who have gone on to win major fighting competitions. However,like his master, his reputation as a martial artist has overshadowed his ongoing contribution to  Tai Chi Chuan. He is a founder member  of The Tai Chi Union for Great Britain and plays an active role in The European Tai Chi Federation. Dan is also an author writing with insight and conviction on the practical, historical and philosophical aspects of Tai Chi Chuan.  Dan has an international reputation as a teacher of practical tai chi chuan; he  travels extensively,  leading students to high levels of personal achievement. He has many instructors in the UK and Europe. More information about Wudang Tai Chi Chuan and Dan's books

Cheng Tin- Hung 1930-2005

Cheng Tin Hung established his reputation in 1957 after winning a major fighting tournament in Taiwan. Since then he trained many students who have won major fighting competitions. His reputation as a pugilist tends to overshadow his other major contributions to Tai Chi Chuan. Not only was he a writer but he is reputed to have taught over 10,000 students many of whom did not follow the martial route. In 1976 in conjunction with The Hong Kong Government he took over the role of teaching and examining teachers to teach in the parks in Hong Kong. He has left a legacy of a practical system of Tai Chi Chuan which focuses on physical fittness and self defence. See Cheng Tin -hung in action

Wudang Tai Chi Lineage

Chen Wing Kwang   and         Qi Min-Xuan

taught

Cheng Tin Hung 1930-2005

taught   Dan Docherty 1953-  

Cheng Wing- Kwang was Cheng Tin -hung's uncle, his lineage can be traced back though the Wu family line to Yang Lu Chan.

Qi Min Xuan was also known as the Buddhist monk, Chin Meng. Qi Min Xuan's lineage can also be traced back to Yang Lu Chan via Wang Lan -ting, reputed to have been one of Yang Lu Chan's top students. Wang was forced to take refuge in a monastery after killing  Manchus. His Tai Chi was passed to the monk, Ching Yi and from Ching to Qi Min Xuan

Yang Lu Chan 1799-1872 Yang Yu Chan was active at a time when there was a revival in martial fitness to throw off Manchu rule and combat threats from Japan, Russia and The West. Yang Lu Chan was taught a complete system of Tai Chi by  Chen Chang-xing, a member of the Chen family. Yang's son, Yang Ban Hou, who learned from his father  was renowned for his martial Tai Chi . It is from him that Wu style evolved and was passed to Cheng Wing-Kwang.

The Chen Family Yang Lu Chan was taught by a member of the Chen famly, Chen Chang-xing, but how the Tai Chi originationg from Chan San Feng arrived at The Chen family village is a subject of scholarly debate.