Arthur Martin

I started studying tai chi in 1991 with the student, of the student of my teacher's father: Dong Zhen Chen. I became a more serious student in 1998 after I joined Master Alex's father's trip to China: The skill and accuracy of their students from other countries blew me away and gave me a goal.

From 1998 I tried a lot harder and attended many of Master Alex Dong's workshops around the world. My teaching philosophy is to try and plagiarize as much as I can from Master Alex's classes. Part of the fun of being taught by Master Alex is, that feeling you get when he suddenly makes simple, things that were making your head hurt trying to understand.

I like tai chi because it's mentally and physically stimulating, and makes you feel great. I live in Essex.

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.