David Fricker

I started martial arts in 1990 in a school named Ying Wu Kwan Kung Fu, where I achieved 3 grades and I also did judo as a child.

When I moved from one address to another in Dagenham I changed doctors that was where I met Phillip Shields. I had one lesson of tai chi and felt fantastic and followed Phillip to all his other classes for seven years mainly learning slow set and push hands. Phillip was a great teacher of tai chi and when I met Alex Dong for the first time I could see where his teaching method had come from.

I attended classes with Alex in the UK, and the energy and well being was great. I wouldn't say its a cure but it does help dilute physical and mental problems.

I like tai chi because it is beneficial to my health and it makes me feel good as long as I keep training.

Alan Finch

I always had an interest in martial arts mainly after going to the cinema to see Bruce Lee films.
In 1989 I started to attend a Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan short form course run by the London Borough of Redbridge. To progress I then went to classes in London.
In the 1990s I started being taught with Master Alex Dong and immediately I was hooked by his style and way of teaching.
The years have passed but since then I have learnt many new forms, met many friends who, like myself, are very enthusiastic about Tai Chi.
Alex teaches new forms but also devotes a lot of his time on refinements of existing forms pointing out slight modifications and nuances in order to create a better, more flowing form. I find this is an enjoyable part of Tai Chi as it means the form evolves over time and the changes are logical when explained.
I have had my Instructors Certificate with the Tai Chi Union for Great Britain since 2002 and have assisted the weekly seniors group together with taking classes when instructors are on holiday. In May 2017 I took voluntary redundancy from my regular employment and now take classes in London and Essex having been accepted by Alex Dong as one of his instructors.
One of the classes I teach is provided by the Redbridge Carers Support Service for people who are carers for a disabled, frail or elderly relative or friend. This assists in reducing their stress levels, providing a calming effect and inner peace and these students have said they have benefitted from improved mobility and strength.
The other class I teach is in Blackheath, London which is during the lunchtime period.
My other pasttimes are Iyengar Yoga which I have been practicing since I was 20 plus playing Table Tennis in various local leagues.