Steve Halls

I like Tai Chi because it is exercise for the mind as well as the body and I feel I am fitter, stronger and more relaxed than I was 20 years ago. The effect on me has been so beneficial that it has inspired me to help those around me to achieve a similar experience.

In order to introduce new people to the art I specialise in teaching the Yang Style 10 Step form. It is particularly suited for beginners because unlike the more traditional forms very little space is required, making it easier to practice in the average living room. Also it is symmetrical so that postures can be practiced individually as a continuous exercise which is very helpful in the learning process.

I appreciate that with todays hectic lifestyle that students may not be able to attend every week, so if a class is missed, it is not a problem. There is a certain amount of repetition from week to week making it easy to catch up. Wear loose fitting comfortable clothes and comfortable thin soled shoes. Trainers are not recommended because they can be rather thick soled and 'clunky' which does not help with the gentle stepping of the exercise. All ages and fitness levels are welcome. Please feel free to e-mail me on s_halls@hotmail.com or telephone me on 01767 316679 if you have any questions.

I have been practicing Tai Chi for over 15 years and I am currently studying the following forms: Yang 10, 24 and 88 Hand, Yang 32 Straight and Broad Swords, Sun 38 and 73 Hand and Chen 56 Hand. I also practice pushing hands, Da Lu, the General Health and Cardiovascular sets of Daoyin Yangshen Gong Qigong, Taiji Jin 2 and the first set of Taiji Bang Qigong. Over the years I have studied with Professor Li Deyin, Master Liu Qing Zhou, Master Liu Lian You, Master Huo Dong Li and Professor Zhang Guande in Beijing and Master Wang Yanji here in the UK.

I have won medals in the following competitions:

June 2009 in the London Competition:
Gold for the Modern Open Hand Form.

May 2010 at the BCCMA Championship:
Bronze for the Internal Short Weapon (Sword).

June 2010 at the London Competition:
Gold for the Group Hand Form
Silver for the Individual Sword Form
Bronze for the Individual Hand Form
Silver for the Moving Step Pushing Hands
Bronze for the Fixed Step Pushing Hands

September 2010 at the BCCMA Sparring Championship:
Silver for Pushing Hands

December 2010 at the TCFE European Championships:
Bronze for Sun and Hao(Wu) Style Hand Form
Bronze for Free Moving Step Push Hands

April 2011 at the British Open Championships:
Gold for Fixed Step Pushing Hands in the under 60kg category which made me the British Champion.
Silver for Moving Step Pushing Hands in the under 60kg category.

June 2011 at the London Competition:
Bronze for the Yang Style Sabre Form
Bronze for the Fixed Step Pushing Hands under 65kg category and I weighed only 57kg!

September 2011 at the BCCMA Sparring Championships:
Silver medal for the Pushing Hands in the under 65kg category again only weighing 57kg!

November 2011 at the Dutch Open Championships:
Silver medal for the Mixed Moving Step Pushing Hands in the under 65kg category.
Bronze medal for the Chen Style Hand Form.
In this competition one of my team mates won the trophy for the best overall male competitor and my team, The Longfei Taijiquan Association, won the trophy for the best school.

April 2012 at the British Open Championships:
Gold medal in the Veterans category. This was the first time that I had qualified having now turned 55 years old.
Gold medal for fixed step pushing hands in the under 65kg category. This was the second year in succession that I had won this medal therefore retaining the British Championship title.

April 2012 at the BCCMA Traditional Forms Competition I just missed the medals and came 4th in the Advanced Internal Hand Forms and the Internal Short Weapons categories.

I travelled to Beijing in 2004, 2006, and 2008, to practice and study.

In April 2010 I returned again where I studied Daoyin with Professor Zhang Guangde, attended the 10th International Conference on Qigong and attained my 4th Duan qualification. Also I was a member of the Longfei team who won the gold medal performing the Cardiovascular Daoyin set in the competition on the last day of the conference.

I returned to China again in March/April 2012 for further training and practice with Professor Li. I also attended Master Liu Qing Zhou's 80th birthday banqet where I was a member of the group who demonstrated the Yang 24 Step Form.