Instructors:

Knowledge and Skills:
After leaving the services he continued gaining experience in the martial arts based on the foundation blocks laid in Hong Kong; gaining other knowledge and skills within the fighting arts including the practice of Judo, Wu Shu-Kwan, Aikido, Karate, and Kung-Fu. These in turn guided me to the philosophical side of the martial arts. During this 'searching time' I found the softer side of yoga. 
In 1985 I was re-introduced to the internal art of TaiChi and Qigong, since then I have practiced various styles including the Weapons and the philosophical and self-healing aspects of the ancient art of Tai Chi and Qigong.

Continuing Advance Learning & Qualifications:
My own teacher training development is a continuing program through the World Taiji Boxing Association, holding the WTBA 2nd Degree level Instructor certificate, this is encompassed with the formal Further and Adult Teachers Certificate, accredited by the City & Guilds 7306 at NVQ 3 Level qualification in teacher competence. This also includes eight years teaching experience. 
I would like to see a National Standard for Taichi coaching, incorporating a recognised teachers qualification, thereby establishing a high standard of taichi throughout the UK.
My own advance training is ongoing with the World Taiji Boxing Association director Erle Montaigue and Peter Smith the WTBA England Representative based in Folkestone Kent.

Mitzi was born in Glasgow Scotland in 1934, she remembers clearly the air raids, and especially the bombing of the Clydebank Ship Yards only a few miles from Glasgow. At that time she was evacuated with hundreds of children to the country for safe keeping.

As a young woman she immigrated to New Zealand spending seven years there. During that period of her life she also visited other various countries including Panama City, Singapore, Sri Lanka, France, Greece, Italy and Spain.

Her working life has been varied, but the highlight of her working career was as a legal secretary for a firm of solicitors in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

In 1994 she suffered a massive heart attack during which she was resuscitated twice and was incapacitated for a long time afterwards. While incapacitated she started searching for some form of soft exercise to help her recuperate. In 1995 she discovered Tai Chi and has never looked back. Her studies and hard work over the last 12 years was rewarded by the World Taiji Boxing Association level one Instructor Certificate. Since then she has met the requirements of the TCQHC Senior Instructor level and now holds the grade of Chief Instructor with Colin. She is also the TCQHC Secretary looking after the financial and administration requirements of the club.

In March 2006 she had open heart surgery at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire. She has since recovered with flying colours returning to teaching at the club within three weeks after the operation. She says “the specialists at Papworth believe my recovery was so quick because of my Tai Chi and Qigong practice”. No wonder she’s called the Iron Lady! But Colin still prefers the name of ‘Tai Chi Butterfly’.
Mitzi's hobbies are: reading, horse riding, sudoku and Egyptian dance.
Her outlook and tenacity for life can certainly be admired.

Photographs by kind permission of Simon Finlay 07753 868431

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Congratulations Andy - Qaulified TCQHC Instructor.........

Photograph by Ben Lynes TCQHC Member

Congratulations and well done Andy on acheiving three of the six instructor modules covering Tai Chi, Qigong and Observed Social Skills.

He is now qualified to teach:
Tai Chi: covering the Yang Cheng-fu Long Form.
Qigong: covering the Eight Strands of Silk Brocade. The Fragrant Buddha level one. The 18 Tai Chi Qigong set of movements and 5 Posture Zhang Zhong -Standing Meditation Qigong set.
And lastly the Observered Social Skills module. find out more

Andy joined the TCQHC on 27th January 2002. He has proven to be a competent well above average student demonstrating willingness, commitment and dedication to his practice of Taiji.

Assistant Instructors

Our assistant Instructors have considerable coaching experience and meet on a regular basis to keep their teaching skills updated to the requirements of the TCQHC criteria, aims and objectives. They also attend ongoing advancement sessions to improve their own level of competence.