About Me (Tai Chi Mat)
About Tai Chi Mat
Matthew Ward
Asian Martial Arts have been a serious passion of mine since 1982. I began studying Tai Chi and Chi Kung in 1997 and have been training in these arts primarily ever since. I began teaching my own classes in 2003 and founded my own school 'Inner Harmony' . I am fully insured and am a registered instructor with the Tai Chi Union of Great Britain. I have also studied many closely related arts including Karate, Ninpo, yoga and Taoism as well as various breathing and meditation techniques. Over the years I have trained with many great masters and teachers including Sam Masich, Franco Mescola and Faye Li Yip and have 'pushed hands' with the European 'Push hands' champion, as well as the Italian, Swedish and Dutch national champions.
I currently teach my own private classes, work for West Sussex County Council as an adult education tutor and teach for MIND, teaching those with mental health issues. I have experience of teaching a wide range of students with various medical conditions and teach all age groups. I teach classes specifically for the elderly and have created specially adapted seated exercise classes for those who are less able and/or unable to stand.
Through West Sussex County Council I have recently completed a PTTLS teaching course, am fully CRB checked and am a qualified emergency first aider.
My Classes
Classes are taught in a down-to-earth and professional manner. There is nothing esoteric or mysterious about my Tai Chi classes and everything is taught in a Western and scientific way. There is no Chinese to learn and no religion to convert. Absolutely anyone can learn this wonderful art and learn practical self-help skills to relax and enrich their lives.
Students can choose to study both martial and/or medical Chi Kung and the 'Cheng Man Ching' (Yang style) short form. I also make use of warm-up exercises and 'standing Chi Kung' as well as many meditation and breathing techniques in all my classes. Students can also choose to learn the Martial applications of the art with 'Pushing Hands' (Tai Chi's partner work or gentle sparring).
How To Join
Anyone interested in attending classes can contact me for dates and times. I am always looking for new students to join my existing classes as well as the opportunity to start new classes. I am also available for smaller group work or one-to-one private lessons. County Council classes run for either 10 or 20 weeks and further details are available through the West Sussex Adult education office or through me. New classes and private lessons are available at between £20 and £25 per session (depending on where you are and travel costs). Please contact me for further details or enquiries to arrange these.