Flowboxer Tai Chi & Bagua - IMA Unpacked in Edinburgh

Interested in the Internal Martial Arts? How they work (do they work!?) and how you can develop yourself with them?

Join the Edinburgh Flowboxer Tai Chi & Bagua group for skills exploration and development in the practice of Tai Chi Chuan and Baguazhang, under the direction of James Tripp. This group is dedicated to exploring the principles and techniques of these internal martial arts, with a specific focus on push hands and their application in close quarters fighting situations.

Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) and Baguazhuang are two of the 'big 3' Chinese Taoist Internal Martial Arts (IMA). They are said to be 'internal' because much of the skill involves working with what lies beneath the surface of the obvious - subtle internal alignment, flows and expressions. Through solo and partnered work you will develop these subtle skills and awarenesses and discover how they might enhance your life or martial work (if you are already a martial artist).

You will also learn much about the Taoist philosophy (which has broad application in life) that underpins these arts in a way that brings them to life as no book or video ever can!

What to expect

Expect to be learning and exploring real skills that have application in close quarters fighting (in-fighting), BUT in a very playful, co-operative, yet 'alive' way.

This is martial arts, but the training is focused on play and exploration rather than 'going hard'. The training is not hard on the body - indeed, it aims to build functional qualities and fluid connections rather than 'toughening'.

Who is this for?

If you have no martial arts experience, this will be a very gentle introduction, and you will get to play at a level that is comfortable to you, but there WILL be physical interaction during partner work, including some 'pushing and pulling' and off-balancing.

If you are already a martial artist or combat sports practitioner, come with an open mind (and you can bring your critical faculty too) and expect to learn things you can apply to your existing arts/skills. Whilst I myself am no 'top fighter', I do have some experience of bringing these skills into Boxing, Muay Thai and Wrestling contexts.

Within this work we will be learning about structure, grounding, alignment, angles, tactile sensitivity, adaptation, fluidity, strategy and tactics and more.

Again, the work is grounded in play, exploration NOT hard sparring. Please note that the push hands training is traditional skills development push hands rather than modern sport/competition push hands.

Who am I to be your guide/trainer?

I have been practicing and exploring with Chinese Internal Martial Arts and other related styles since 1996. This time has been divided into three 10 year periods - the first and the third comprising dedicated study, exploration and practise, and the second mostly noodling and gently exploring adjacent arts.

During this time, my main teachers have been:

• Brian Nuttall - Yang Style Taijiquan, Wing Chun
• John Ding - Yang Style Taijiquan
• Paul Brecher - Erle Montaigue Style Taijiquan
• Axel Post - Jiang Style Baguazhuang
• Rob Poyton - Yang Style Taijiquan and Systema
• Karel Koskuba - Chen Style Taijiquan
• Alvin Guinanao - Silat Open Circle
• Dos Metros - Capoeira
• Paul Britten - Wu Style Taijiquan and Swimming Dragon Baguazhuang
• Paul Rogers - Wu Style Taijiquan and Swimming Dragon Baguazhuang
• Craig McEwen - Western Boxing

I also have had significant workshop input from Chen Zhonghua (Chen Style Practical Method), Maul Mornie (Silat), Makhail Ryabko and Vladimir Vasiliev (Systema), Glenn Blythe (Huang Tai Chi), Zongqing 'Chester' Lin (Phoenix Mountain Tai Chi) and Alan Orr (Wing Chun).

To be clear, I do NOT claim to be a master of these arts, but I have definitely learned a thing or two and love to pass on what I have to others.

Whilst what and how I teach draws from the entirety of my experience, my own current training is centred in the Wu Taijiquan and Swimming Dragon Baguazhuang of Paul Rogers (Paul holds lineages in Wu Taijiquan, Baguazhuang, Hsing I and Yiquan, and has, IMO, deep skills!).