| Iain Naylor, chief instructor of the Hands of Light School of Tai Chi, which provides tutors for all the tai chi classes taught at the college, is taking a group of around 20 of his students to study the art at the Beijing University of Physical Education, the Shaolin temple and at Chen village where tai chi began.
The trip is the result of meetings between four-times Chinese national tai chi champion Chen Lei and Iain earlier this year, despite the fact the Hands of Light school teaches a non-competitive form of tai chi, concentrating on physical and mental health
Chen Lei was touring the UK to make contact with various groups and practitioners of oriental martial arts in a bid to promote the Beijing Olympics.
“We had already priced a trip to China and decided that it would be too expensive,” explained Iain.
“Then we met Chen Lei and were lucky enough to secure Chinese government sponsorship, which is paying half the cost!”
Hands of Light has been connected with Dundee College for the past six years with four classes (100 people) running throughout term time, both at The Space at the Kingsway campus and at the Graham Street campus.
Iain (40), originally from Halifax, has spent the past 25 years in Scotland. He set up the school in 1995 and this is his first trip to China.
Anyone interested in finding out more about tai chi at Dundee College can call the inquiry service on (01382) 834800 after January 6. |
