Patrick - Tai Chi instructor

Hi, my name is Patrick and I’m an instructor of Yang style tai chi. I’ve been practicing tai chi for ten years and a qualified BCCMA Instructor for two years, prior to that I was a firefighter for 30 years in the Dorset Fire and Rescue Service. For most of my fire service career I served as a PTI responsible for the fitness training and wellbeing of my watch colleagues. Before I joined the service (and during )I was an all round sportsman although my main love was boxing. I also became interested in martial arts and in particular Wing Chun and Tai boxing.

My inspiration in my teaching comes from my own teacher Paul Hamerston and also from his teacher Sifu Steve Rowe but mainly from the students that I teach. There are many aspects to Yang family tai chi, there’s an emphasis on Mind, Body and Breath, good posture and alignment and good balance and coordination to name but a few.

In my sessions I aim to bring an awareness to these aspects through gentle exercise (Qi gong) and learning the Yang 108 Long form (moving meditation). I look forward to you joining me on my tai journey at Urban Health.