Founder and Principal Instructor:
Chris Willoughby
Chris first started training in the Chinese Martial Arta in 1988 when he joined a Lau Gar class in Yeovil run by Clive Parkinson, and later in Shaftesbury with Kalvin Bartram. However, Chris’s Lau Gar career was short-lived and, following a lower back injury in 1990, Chris was forced to stop. Chris has now been exclusively practicing Taijiquan since 2012, first with Patrick Harries, a Longfei instructor in Sherborne and Winterbourne Stickland, and then reaching out to other Longfei instructors under Simon and Richard Watson. Chris still attends workshops with Simon Watson and Longfei Instructors.
Since 2017, Chris has been an instructor under the Deyin Taijiquan Institute based in Telford, Shropshire and makes regular visits there to further his knowledge and ability. Chris was part of the Deyin Taijiquan Display team that preformed at the Hackney Empire during the 45 Year Friendship concert in 2017 and again at the opening ceremony of the 3rd European Qigong Games in 2018. Chris is now a Level 3 instructor with the Deyin Taijiquan Institute and a Level 2 instructor with the British Health Qigong Association. Chris a 3rd Duan with the International Health Qigong Federation in China.
Friends Forever.
On the 24th of October 2017, the Deyin Display Team performed a special display at the Hackney Empire Theatre to celebrate 45 years of ambassadorial relations between China and the UK. The Taiji and qigong sequence was specially devised and choreographed by Deyin Taijiquan Institute’s founder, Master Faye Yip, and was preformed by Deyin students and Instructors from all over the UK.
The routine showcased the very best of contemporary Taiji and Qigong combining Taiji Stick, Taiji Kung fu Fan, Wudang and Yang Style straight sword, and included elements of Bagua, Xingyi , Sun style Taiji and health Qigong.
Meet our Instructor
Chris Willoughby
Founder and Principle Instructor
Associated and governed by some of the best organisations in the Taijiquan and Qigong field.
FAQs
What are the benefits of practising Taijiquan and Qigong?
The benefits of practicing Taijiquan, and the related art of Qigong, are extensive and research is no going, but the commonly reported benefits are: improved blood circulation, which may lead to a lower blood pressure, better posture, better balance and a calming of the mind which in turn can lead to a reduction in stress levels. If practiced regularly, improved lower body strength and overall body co-ordination and conditioning will also be experienced.
What styles of taijiquan can White Willow Taijiquan teach?
We teach the Beijing Yang Style Taijiquan as our backbone style, but also teach the traditional Sun Style Taijiquan.
Tai Chi or Taijiquan, what’s the difference?
The correct name for the art that we do, is Taijiquan; meaning Supreme Ultimate Fist. In the west, it has become known as Tai Chi and is mostly done as an exercise routine rather that the martial art that it is based on. In China, Tai Chi, or Taiji is the name given to the Catalyst that started the universe as we now it today, But that’s another story.
Do I need to practice between Classes?
All the good things in life, never come easily, somethings like Taijiquan need to be practised regularly, so the short answer is “Yes, you do”, but life can get in the way and you may not be able to train every day, but remember Motivation will get you started, but discipline will keep you going.