Welcome to the internet home of
Established in 2015, we offer weekly classes, occasional seminars and workshops and corporate events in and around the Preston area of Lancashire.
Dig around and you’ll find everything you need to know about our classes, the history of Tai Chi and Qigong, forthcoming seminars and links to YouTube videos featuring the forms we practice.
Check out the News page for our archive of articles and features about Tai Chi and Qigong in general, or get in touch with us via our contact us page.
LATEST NEWS
We have a few cancelled sessions in June and July. Please check the Classes page for details.
11 August 2025Our Autumn Qigong seminar seems to have become something of a tradition, so in order not to disappoint we’ve invited the wonderful Feixia Yu back again to share some of her extensive knowledge.
Our first Autumn seminar was back in November 2021 as the country was finally getting back to normal after Covid had knocked the world for six. At that first seminar Feixia took us through the ancient Shaolin qigong exercises known collectively as the Yi Jin Jing, so we thought it might be useful to revisit the routine and jog a few memories.
For more information about the seminar, or to reserve a place, head over to our seminars page. [...]
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11 August 2025We’re delighted to announce that we’ll be welcoming David Gaffney, chief instructor at Chen Jiagou Taijiquan GB to spend an afternoon looking at the first two sections of Lao Jia Yilu.
David began his training in Asian martial arts in 1980, but has focused exclusively on Chen Taijiquan since 1996. He’s trained with many leading Chen Taijiquan teachers and since 2003 has been training with Chen Xiaoxing in the Chenjiagou Taijiquan School.
His quest to experience the art in the most authentic way has seen him travel to China more than twenty times to train in Chen Jiagou, the birthplace of Taijiquan. He is one of the few westerners to be awarded an Advanced Instructor’s Certificate by the Chenjiagou Taijiquan School and holds a sixth Duan grade with the Chinese Wushu Association. He has published a number of books with Davidine Siaw-Voon Sim, including “Chen Taijiquan Illustrated” which we recommend to all students as a course handbook. David also publishes the popular Talking Chen Taijiquan blog.
David is one of the UK’s leading instructors of Chen Tai Chi, so don’t miss this chance to train with him in here in Preston. For more information regarding the forthcoming seminar, or to book a place, head over to our seminars page. [...]
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22 June 2025Zhan Zhuang (Standing Post) is an iconic exercise practised across a spectrum of Chinese internal arts, while Chan Si Jin (Silk Reeling) is a foundational exercise of Chen Tai Chi. Both are intended to help train the body to sense, cultivate and feel Qi (internal energy) within the body.
We’ll be holding a 2 hour workshop on Sunday 27th July at St. Aidan’s Church Hall in Bamber Bridge where we’ll be practising and improving both skills.
For further information or to book a place at the workshop, please visit our Seminar & Workshop Bookings page, or click the flyer below.
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18 April 2025In June of this year Amelia, one of our club members, is undertaking the daunting task of scaling Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, in order to raise money for Reuben’s Retreat.
Reuben’s Retreat is a remarkable charity offering emotional and practical support to families who have suffered the loss of a child or are caring for a child with a life-limiting or complex condition. Based in the North West, they provide a warm and welcoming sanctuary where families can find peace, make precious memories, and begin to heal.
From counselling and respite breaks to wellbeing therapies and peer support, the charity is dedicated to walking alongside families through the most difficult of times, with compassion at every step.
To donate to this worthy cause and support Amelia in her challenge, click here to visit her JustGiving page. We’re looking forward to the pictures of her practising her forms at the top of the world! [...]
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2 April 2025Clair, one of our club members, will be jogging one mile a day for Dementia UK this month.
Most of us will know someone who suffers from Dementia and just how challenging it can be. Just £8 could pay for the telephone costs of two families calling its free Dementia Helpline, so any support would be much appreciated.
Please click here and offer Clair your support! [...]
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3 February 2025In 2015 the British Journal of Sports Medicine published a study suggesting that Tai Chi is great for older adults with conditions like arthritis, COPD, and even heart issues. Researchers found it helps with pain, stiffness, and overall quality of life without making symptoms worse. The gentle, flowing movements combine relaxation with deep breathing, making it an accessible way to stay active. With evidence from over 30 studies, experts think Tai Chi could even be prescribed in the future for multiple chronic conditions.
Check out the BBC News Article here for more information and head to our classes page to find out when and where you can join us at a session and begin your Tai Chi journey. [...]
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22 January 2025Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) can be incredibly challenging, with symptoms like chronic pain, fatigue, and limited mobility often impacting daily life. For some, Qigong (a gentle, ancient Chinese practice combining slow movements, meditation, and breathing) has offered a surprising and effective way to manage symptoms.
Originally developed over 5,000 years ago, Qigong is rooted in Chinese medicine and martial arts. Unlike more strenuous forms of exercise, Qigong is accessible for those with physical limitations. Its flowing, low-impact movements can be done standing, sitting, or even in short sessions, making it adaptable for people with conditions like EDS.
The benefits of Qigong for EDS sufferers are profound. Its gentle movements help build strength and improve flexibility without straining the body, while the focus on breathwork and mindfulness promotes relaxation and reduces stress (a key factor in managing chronic pain). Many who practise Qigong report feeling energised, more mobile, and less reliant on medication.
If you’re curious about how Qigong can help alleviate EDS symptoms, this BBC article shares an inspiring story of recovery and resilience. It’s a fascinating glimpse into how this ancient practice is making a modern impact on lives. [...]
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9 January 2025It’s the time of year when Master Chen Zhiqiang, Chief Coach of the Chenjiagou Taijiquan School and eldest son of Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing, visits the UK to share his knowledge during a week of seminars looking at Push Hands, Straight Sword (Jian) Form, Lao Jia Yilu. Silk Reeling and Standing Pole (Zhan Zhuang)
To book a place on any or all of the seminars, Download the PDF here, or contact David Gaffney (details on the flyer below) to book yourself a place.
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3 January 2025In September 2015 Ling Shui opened the doors on our Saturday morning Bamber Bridge class for the very first time. Since that humble beginning, we’ve moved location three times, weathered a global pandemic and openend up another five weekly classes in various locations.
In order to mark our first 10 years we’ll be organising a number of events throughout the year, kicking off with the second instalment of our “Xin Jia First 15” seminar later this month. February sees our annual Chinese New Year celebrations to welcome in the year of the Snake with a full day of Tai Chi/Qigong, followed by a Chinese banquet in the evening. In September we’ll be joined by guest instructor
David Gaffney for an afternoon seminar looking at Lao Jia Yilu. In addition to running The officially affiliated UK branch of the Chen Jiagou school, David is an accomplished author with several Tai Chi books to his name including “Chen Taijiquan Illustrated”, which we recommend as a course handbook to all new students. We’ll also be running our other usual Tai Chi and Qigong seminars throughout the year.
As if that wasn’t enough, we’ll be sending a delegation to take part in Master Chen Ziqiang’s March seminar, Master Wang Hai Jun’s residential double sabre seminar in April and Grand Master Chen Zhenglei’s annual UK seminar in May. That’s not to mention our various weekly classes in Penwortham, Bamber Bridge, Chorley, Lostock Hall and Tarleton.
While it’s the quality of your practice that really matters, it doesn’t hurt to look good while you’re at it. To that end, we thought we’d milk the 10th anniversary concept for all it was worth and have put together some rather glamorous t-shirts and hoodies to set you apart from the hoi polloi. You’ll find details and an order form here in our members area.
With so much happening this year, it’s the perfect time to join us, so if you’ve been curious to find out more about Tai Chi there’s no better time to take the plunge. Head over to our Beginners page and book your place now! [...]
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13 October 2024As Autumn draws in we thought it would be nice to squeeze one more seminar in before the end of the year so we’ve booked St. Aidan’s Church Hall for the afternoon of Saturday November 23rd for a 3 hour refresher session looking at the first 15 movements of Xin Jia (or the 15 form as it’s known to most club members). It will be a great opportunity to remind yourself of the sequence, improve your knowledge of the finer points of the form and practice moving from the centre. Head over to our seminar page to reserve yourself a place on the seminar.
Xin Jia Yilu, often referred to as the 83 Form or the “New Frame, First Routine,” is a relatively modern development within Chen-style Tai Chi. The “New Frame” (Xin Jia) was created by Chen Fake (1887–1957), a 17th-generation master of the Chen family, who revolutionized the traditional Chen-style Tai Chi by refining and evolving the original forms. Xin Jia Yilu is the first routine of this New Frame and is seen as an adaptation and extension of the “Old Frame” (Lao Jia) created by earlier generations of the Chen family.
Origins of Xin Jia
The development of Xin Jia Yilu began during Chen Fake’s lifetime, particularly when he moved to Beijing in the early 20th century. Chen Fake was already highly respected for his mastery of Lao Jia, but his approach to the art evolved significantly during this period. As a response to the demands of the modern world and perhaps as a result of his deepening understanding of internal energy cultivation (neigong), Chen Fake began to introduce new elements to the traditional Chen-style form.
While Lao Jia is rooted in the teachings of Chen Wangting, the 9th-generation patriarch of Chen-style Tai Chi, who synthesized martial techniques with the Daoist principles of yin-yang and qi circulation, Chen Fake saw an opportunity to refine the movements. He introduced subtle but profound modifications to express greater complexity and sophistication. His changes led to the creation of two New Frame routines—Xin Jia Yilu (First Routine) and Xin Jia Er Lu (Second Routine)—with Yilu focusing on foundational techniques and Er Lu emphasizing explosive power (fajin).
At Ling Shui we practice our Tai Chi in the style of Master Wang Haijun. Here he is performing the first 15 movements of Xin Jia:
Differences Between Xin Jia and Lao Jia
While both Xin Jia and Lao Jia maintain the core principles of Chen-style Tai Chi, including circularity, spiralling energy (chan si jin), and the integration of softness and hardness, there are notable differences between the two. These differences reflect not only Chen Fake’s innovations but also his deepening mastery of the art.
Spiralling Energy (Chan Si Jin): Both frames emphasize the concept of chan si jin, or “silk-reeling energy,” which involves a continuous spiralling motion in the limbs and torso to generate power. However, Xin Jia places a greater emphasis on this principle, with more pronounced spiralling and twisting movements, allowing for finer control of internal energy.
Size and Complexity of Movements: Lao Jia tends to feature larger, more expansive movements that are relatively simple and fluid. In contrast, Xin Jia introduces more compact, intricate, and detailed movements. The smaller circles and increased complexity in Xin Jia challenge practitioners to control their internal energy (qi) more precisely and promote deeper coordination between the upper and lower body.
Fajin (Explosive Power): While both forms contain elements of fajin, the explosive release of energy, Xin Jia incorporates this principle more frequently and dramatically. In Lao Jia, fajin tends to be reserved for specific points in the form, whereas Xin Jia integrates fajin more seamlessly throughout, reflecting the increased intensity and internal power cultivated in this form.
Transitions and Flow: The transitions between movements in Xin Jia are more intricate and connected by internal energy flows, requiring practitioners to pay closer attention to the subtle connections between movements. Lao Jia emphasizes a smoother, more continuous flow, while Xin Jia often includes dynamic contrasts between soft and hard movements, reflecting a more complex understanding of yin-yang principles.
Internal Cultivation: Xin Jia focuses heavily on internal energy cultivation, emphasizing the role of the dantian (energy centre) in guiding movements. Practitioners of Xin Jia must maintain a heightened awareness of internal processes such as the movement of qi through the meridians, which in turn helps to inform the outward physical movements.
The Nature of Xin Jia Yilu
Xin Jia Yilu is a practice that demands a high level of internal awareness and energy management. While it’s rooted in the same martial principles as Lao Jia, the New Frame goes beyond basic martial techniques and becomes a study of the internal workings of the body. Practitioners are encouraged to connect deeply with their internal energy, and movements must be executed with a level of precision that reflects this heightened awareness.
In the first routine, Xin Jia Yilu, practitioners focus on the fundamental movements that define Chen-style Tai Chi, but they are performed with a greater focus on internal dynamics and spiralling energy. This routine is an essential foundation for understanding the more advanced practices within Xin Jia, such as Er Lu, which focuses on fajin and combat applications. However, Yilu itself is considered both a comprehensive martial training and a meditative, health-promoting practice.
So there you have it! Xin Jia Yilu represents the continued evolution of Chen-style Tai Chi, a balance between tradition and innovation. While it maintains the core principles of the Chen family’s martial art, it also introduces new complexities and internal energy work that challenge practitioners at both a physical and mental level. This form showcases the richness of Chen Tai Chi, embodying centuries of wisdom while adapting to the modern practitioner’s need for a deeper understanding of internal martial arts. [...]
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So… what’s it all about?
To some, Tai Chi is a martial art, to others a spiritual practice and to yet others, simply a way of keeping body and mind fit.
Regardless of the definition, there’s a growing wealth of scientific evidence which recognises the benefits regular Tai Chi practice bestows on both body and mind.
The origins of Tai Chi are obscure and subject to much debate. Folklore attributes the creation of Tai Chi to the Taoist priest Zhang San Feng who, while living in the Wudang mountains, saw a snake and a crane fighting. Legend has it that he subsequently integrated the moves of both creatures into his own sequence of movements, thus creating Tai Chi.
The “official” Chinese account (and the earliest with any written historical evidence) names the birthplace of Tai Chi as Chen Village (Chen Jia Gou) in Northern China’s Henan province. It is from the Chen family’s Tai Chi that the four other styles of Tai Chi arose, namely Wu, Wu (Hao), Sun and the most well known and widely practiced style, Yang. The village is on the opposite side of the valley to the Shaolin Temple in Deng Feng county. It is perhaps no surprise then that Chen style Tai Chi, which echoes movements found in internal Shaolin Kung Fu styles, became known as a formidable martial art long before the world awoke to its broader health benefits.
At Ling Shui we practice the original old frame Chen Family Tai Chi in the style of Grand Master Chen Zhenglei, as taught by Master Wang Haijun.
Tai Chi is a journey, not a destination and classes are relaxed, friendly and allow students to explore this beautiful art martially, spiritually or simply as a path to improved fitness, as they prefer.
In addition to Tai Chi, we practice traditional Qigong including the ancient Ba Duan Jin, Mawangdui Daoyin Shu and Yang Shi Ba Shi sequences.
For more information regarding our class schedule or to join us, please leave a message for us on our Contact Us page, or via our Facebook group.