Martial Arts Classes in North Devon
info@eightwaves.co.uk
On 29th may there will be a grading for those wishing to take part. Mostly junior grades expected but one or two highers. It will be fun and challenging.
PDFs of grading syll’s will be available for download on this site soon
We have been invited to perform demonstrations in Rock Park Barnstaple 12th June.
We will also be doing demos
Newsletter 25th January 2016
Greetings from Eight Waves
Item 1. We have decided to streamline our grading system. As of now there will be two scheduled grading opportunities each year. One of these gradings will be scheduled for a Sunday and one for a Monday roughly six months apart, one summer, one winter.
Eligibility for grading will be based on only a few criteria. Have you been studying long enough? Have you been to enough classes? Do you know the techniques appropriate for your level? There will be pre-grading assessments and you will be advised wether or not you should apply to grade. We of course will not advise you to grade if there is a likelihood of failure.
In the next newsletter we will publish these dates.
Item 2. Equipment. Now we are doing a bit more sparring we are lending out our kit. This is fine but in the interests of hygiene you might want to invest in your own. We can get 20% off RRP for the kit that we advise, and we advise keeping it simple. Gloves, gum shield, shin guards. Head guards are optional, I’ve never been keen on them but many people are. We can also order groin and chest protection.
Item 3. Sunday morning classes are going well but there are still some spaces for juniors (including beginners) and a few more for adults. Not a bad way to start the day and a real good justification for a big Sunday lunch.
Eight waves School of Martial Arts has always been interested in improving the health of both individuals and the community. One of the key arts we use to achieve this is Tai Chi Chuan. Though Tai Chi is itself a devastation martial art, many people who study it do so for it’s health benefits alone and we have had a great deal of success with people coming to us with physical, mental and age related health problems.
We have contributed to the NHS staff well being programme and have used tai chi for those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction and soon we will be running supported sessions for Torridgeside link specifically for the benefit of those with mental health difficulties. We are very much looking forward to contributing to the health of the community in this way.
Though we have always been aware of the benefits of this art for many people I have recently been enriching my study with exploring the benefits of Tai Chi for the elderly with specific reference to Parkinson’s disease and Dementia. You may have heard recently of ballet classes being used for Parkinson’s sufferers and Tai chi offers similar benefits of focused movements, gentle repetition and stimulating the mind.
Both the NHS and the Telegraph have articles available extolling the virtues of tai chi for the elderly
Telegraph 12 December 2014 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/elder/9187133/Tai-Chi-named-as-perfect-exercise-for-the-elderly.html
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/taichi.aspx
though I believe that it can be of benefit to all ages and levels of fitness. I have competed at international level in Tai Chi with people of all ages who had to be considered athletes, some of whom were also gymnasts. It can be as gentle or as physically demanding as you need.
This is our programme of study.
Beginners (All levels)
Basic Qi Gong
10 Step Introduction Form
Transition forms
Intermediate
Qi Gong
Yang Style 24 Step Form
32 Step Sword Form
Advanced
Qi Gong (including iron shirt)
42 Combined Competition routine empty hand
42 Combined Competition routine Sword
Advanced options
yang Style Sabre
Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan
48 Step Combined Routine
Sun Style empty hand
Sun Style Sword
Introduction to Hsing I
Pushing hands
martial applications
Of course we can’t cover all of these in each class so the focus often shifts however all of the above can be taught in classes, seminars or courses. If any of this catches your interest or if you think your organisation would benefit from experiencing any of this please get in touch.
Alan Powe and Dan Hosegood will open our first satellite Aiki Ju Jitsu club.
This Wednesday 25th november in Northam at the United Community Centre.
Juniors 6:30-7:30
Adults 7:30-9pm
Check our classes pdfs for directions or give us a call
All welcome.
Below are a set of PDFs giving information and locations for classes in
Aiki Ju Jitsu
Kick Boxing Circuits Class (fitness)
Tai Chi Chuan
These are based variously in Barnstaple, Bideford, Northam and Braunton.
Some classes are for juniors (normally from 7yrs) some are exclusively for adults. If there is any information you would like in addition to these please contact us.
Private classes by arrangement
aiki braunton tai chi circuits kick boxing circuits milllanetaichi sunday openingi