Tai Chi Yangshuo Learn Tai Chi with Luo Mei Juan

Yangshuo has plenty of activities, but Tai Chi (Taj Chi, Tai Qi, Taichi) is not commonly named as one of them. However, Yangshuo is a good place to start exploring the world of Tai Chi.

Almost everywhere in China you will see people practicing this old form of martial arts. Just go out in the early morning or late afternoon to a central square and you will find plenty of people practicing Tai Chi. One could say, it's a social activity for many Chinese.

However, to master the art of Tai Chi takes many years, so do not expect to become a Tai Chi master in a few lessons, even though you will find a great (and one of the few female teachers in China): Luo Mei Juan.

Luo Mei Juan owns the Long Tou Shan Martial Arts School in Shi Ban Qiao village which is located just outside Yangshuo in the very quiet countryside, an ideal location to practice tai chi.

Long Tou Shan Martial Arts School

Why Long Tou Shan Martial Arts School?

There are a few tai chi schools in Yangshuo, so why would you want to choose for the Long Tou Shan Martial Arts School?

Mei's father was a Kung Fu master and from her youngest days she loved martial arts. However, her father, being very traditional refused the young girl to teach his skills.

As soon as she was old enough, she went to study under Fu Neng Bin, in Nanning, and later with Chen Zheng Lei, of the actual Chen family. Chen Zheng Lei is recognized by the government as one of the ten great martial arts masters of China.

Mei is a high qualified teacher in Tai Chi and Kung Fu. Mei has the title of China Traditional Wushu Advanced Trainer.

Mei explains: "It's a very high qualification". In the past years Mei was involved in several international Tai Chi contests in which she won several medals including some gold. The photo below shows Mei with the two gold medals she won in 2008 in Beijing.

With her other instructors (of course all certified masters) Mei offers an excellent introduction into Tai Chi as well as training for the experienced.

The schools' location makes it easy to concentrate on what you want to achieve. And with Mei and her other instructors will make sure you get the best instruction possible.

What is Tai Chi?

Let me explain, I know next to nothing about Tai Chi other then that I see many Chinese practicing in the morning and evening. Thus I need to ask the master, Luo Mei Juan , herself.

Like many other martial arts, Tai Chi is a way of life. It's about finding balance in everything you do. As Mei explains, there are 6 elements:

• The weak overcomes the strong

  Mei explains: "The weak overcoming the strong is the ideal of Taichi. How can this paradox be understood? By an other one!"

• Non doing

  This non-doing, which is at the same time a very central and very controversial notion of the Dao De Jing, should in any case not be seen as a static state. On the contrary, it's the ability of non resisting, like the highest leaf of a tree is able to follow to the slightest breeze. The virtue that Taichi practitioners call  , light and alert.

• Surrender

  So Non doing implies never acting on your own, never forcing anything but instead completely adapting to the circumstances by following your opponent's moves.

• No struggle

  If one doesn't resist, there can't be any struggle. One doesn't use force and as there is no opposition, the opponent doesn't know where to use his.

• Clear vision

  As there is no struggle, one is able to relax, both mentally and physically. Mentally because he is not busy trying to find a weakness to exploit in his opponent, nor is he afraid of not being able to block his attacks. Physically because if the mental is relax, the body follows naturally and one doesn't have to be tense to surrender and follow with fluidity, on the contrary. Therefore, surrender leads paradoxically to a form of freedom...

  Being relax and quiet, one's vision becomes clearer and he becomes able to act on things before they grow.

• Letting go

  When one is quiet and relax, it becomes even easier for him to adapt to circumstances and wait for them to change.

Mei concludes: "Instead of cultivating strength and speed like most martial arts, Tai Chi emphases openness, quietness and softness. The first opponent is therefore oneself. How can one vanquish himself? Well, just like this! There would be of course a lot more to say but I'm afraid that you will have to come to see us at Long Tou Shan Martial Arts School if you want to hear it and, more important, to practice it!"

Mei is a great teacher and the school is located in a beautiful environment that let you focus on why you did come for.

I was very impressed especially after Mei giving a demonstration with the sword which shows (to me) the grace and beauty of Tai Chi.

The Instructors and the courses

When I visited the Long Tou Shan Martial Arts School I met a few of the other instructors. The other instructors are: Tang en Xi, Zhang Xiao Yuan. Mei will teach all of the following courses herself with the exception of Kung Fu. Usually instructors stay for a period of time so it is very possible when you visit there are some other instructors.

At the Long Tou Shan Martial Arts School you can follow the following courses:

• Tai Chi (Yang and Chen) for fluidity, balance and coordination.
• Qigong for sensations and rooting.
• Push-hands for application.
• Massage for relaxation.
• Yoga for flexibility and balance.

Prices and accommodation

Courses start in the early morning and the Long Tou Shan Martial Arts School has accommodation including meals available. However, if you would want to stay in Yangshuo town itself, the school is able to help you with transport to and from the school.

Prices below are in Yuen:

1 week all-inclusive, training, and meals,

• private room with fan: Y1300/person or Y2200 /couple
• shared (2-bed) room with fan: Y1100 /person

The school has a few air-con rooms available. If you require one, add Y150/room for a week.

Teachers and students

Single classes for day students are taught by the hour, 50 RMB/hour

Location

The Long Tou Shan Martial Arts School is located a 2 km outside Yangshuo town center in an amazingly quiet and beautiful valley. The easiest way to reach the school is to contact Mei (86)13878376597), but if you insist going yourself, walk outside of West Street and follow the river north.

You will pass the local tourist market, where the boats from Guilin arrive. After about 1 km you will see a sign for the school. Follow this. Skip the first building, it's another Kung Fu school and keep left. As Mei told me, just follow your heart and you will see a short steep path going uphill. The school is at the end of the path. (see also our Yangshuo map)

Bookings and more info, please use the following form

You can leave your recommendations about Mei and the Long Tou Shan Martial Arts School here

Tai Chi Auctions

Learn Tai Chi with Mei, that's a great opportunity. How about additional audiovisual materials or other Tai Chi accessories? We have set up 3 different auctions all related to Tai Chi:

• Tai Chi audiovisual materials
• Tai Chi Shoes
• Tai Chi Swords

More photos of the Long Tou Shan Martial Arts School and Mei, her staff and student here

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Read and see more of Mei's latest two gold medals she won in an international Tai Chi contest in Shanghai

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