Traditional Karate, Kung Fu or Tai Chi in South Dublin

CianRyan

Hi, first I'm sorry I've had to post this thread as I can see it's frowned upon but I have looked in the club thread and could not find what I am looking for.

I've always had an interest in martial arts, not so much for the fighting or for self defence but for the gracefulness and the philosophies that go with them; So what I'm looking for would ideally be a traditional Karate, Kung Fu or Tai Chi class in South Dublin that isn't focused on the competitive sport or purely self defence.
As what I'm looking for is quite specific I can travel to classes but within reason, I don't drive and rely mostly on public transport. I can cycle to classes too but I'm not keen on leaving my bike locked up for very long or the idea of cycling home if I'm injured in training, hence, the closer to home the better.

So, to try and build a question from my rambling, does anyone know of a class like I have described or someone I could contact about training?


A little info about myself:
Male
21
Reasonable fitness
Living in Tallaght
Currently unemployed so day classes are an option.

I'd be grateful for any advice given on the subject.
Thanks,
Cian.

Niall Keane

There's classes (Wudang -practical- tai chi Chuan) in UCD monday and Thursday with regular weekend seminars. Ifyou are not a student or graduate you have to join the sports centre, but then the classes are free.
I teach on Mondays, and either Paul Mitchel (my old coach) or Shane McLoughlin on Thursdays.
It's the complete system, as passed down by Cheng Tin Hung (Tai Chi Bodyguard) and his student, now head of the style - Dan Docherty (1980 SE Asian open weight champion etc...)
System consists of Nei gung, forms, weapons, self defence, push hands. Lots of wrestling and sparring, competing of you like to keep it all grounded!

CianRyan

This sounds pretty great!
I'm not exactly sure about being a member, you see I've never attended UCD but I have a card for the climbing wall and can use it as I please, does this mean I'm a member or is there more to it than this?

Is it alright to just turn up unannounced or is there is set amount of classes in which I must start with the first?

Thanks for the reply.

arybvtcw0eolkf

CianRyan wrote: »

Hi, first I'm sorry I've had to post this thread as I can see it's frowned upon but I have looked in the club thread and could not find what I am looking for.

God I hope other's are not put off because we've a clubs sticky.. No, your thread is very welcomed.

I hope you find a style and stick around!.

Ross Cousens

You might liketo take a look at John Ding Academy classes run in a number of locations throughout Dublin. Check out the main website to take a look at Dublin options:

http://www.jdiatcc.com/component/option,com_sobi2/catid,8/Itemid,48/

Classes cover Traditional Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan.

Contact the relavant instructor if your interested.

R

CianRyan

This looks good too, Ranelagh isn't to far a cycle from my place and the lads write up seems well.

I'd be inclined to try out the classes in UCD first if I can and if I find I'm interested enough I may well end up paying for lessons.
Thanks.

smacl

CianRyan wrote: »

I'd be inclined to try out the classes in UCD first if I can and if I find I'm interested enough I may well end up paying for lessons.
Thanks.

Good stuff. The Thursday class is tomorrow 8pm-10pm in the sports centre, and is usually a small enough class, though we had two new lads join us last week. Practical tai chi is a very versatile style, combining wrestling, striking, conditioning and weapons in a functional format. While I'm new to teaching myself, Niall and Paul are among the top exponents of this system anywhere, and both they and their students have repeatedly demonstrated the efficacy of the style in various formats of open competition internationally. It's also great craic, which to me is hugely important.

I cycle down from Ballyboden myself, which is a handy enough spin. There's always a mass of bikes locked-up outside the sport centre, though I wouldn't leave a top end road bike locked outside anywhere at night. PM me if you want any more details.

Shane

Niall Keane

Sounds like you are a member if you can use the climbing wall?
Turn up whenever you like, there's a class on Thursday, then UCD is in the exam and Xmas period so classes will begin again on Monday 16th January.

There's a UCD Tai Chi Facebook page and group, Maybe 2 actually:

http://www.facebook.com/people/Ucd-TaiChi-Chuan/100002058876773

http://www.facebook.com/pages/UCD-Tai-Chi-Club/110728775624246

Info on classes, seminars updated regularly, also vids of instruction given in class, to facilitate revision of material

Other Wudang Tai Chi Chian affiliated gyms include "Wudang Sanshou" - Drumcondra and Navan

www.sanshou.webs.com

YouTube channel with applications, drills, forms and Sanshou fight clips:


http://m.youtube.com/?rdm=4om3yl0ca&reload=3#/profile?desktop_uri=/user/lungqino111&help=False&channel_id=0&livestreaming_tutorial=False&ytsession={}&start=0&user=lungqino111&tab=&autoplay=True&gl=IE

(sorry seems like mobile site - search YouTube for "lungqino111" and you find the Wudang Sanshou channel

The complete system of tai chi Chuan is vast, and designed so one training method enhances another, there are five pillars to the system -
Nei Gung (trains the body to efficiently move with intention, developing awareness of martially relevant counter and recovery options, also develops skills to withstand force - the famous jump from 6ft onto stomach)
Hand Form (what most schools have reduced tai chi to, but as they leave out the martial even their forms lack the twists and subtle movents that only a fighter recognises as chin na skill, techniques are placed beside each other that offer counter or recovery to adjacent techniques, good for correcting dynamic structure.
Tui shou 12 types, ranging from limited drills consent rating on specific related technique to free wrestling trains the body in the tactics of the art
Sanshou means scattering hands, and refers to martial techniques, each traditional orthodox technique trains specific "Jin", as they say - "train technique to acquire principle, once we have principle we can abandon technique", here's and example of the first movent of the form:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA7Wrxmf_jc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Weapons and auxiliary excercises
We train sabre sword and spear, in UCD you will be practicing spear from day one. I use it to train students in focus, triple tip theory, 6 harmonies etc... (not just a dance, you will be taught applications for each technique you learn from the form and there are 2 person drills etc.

All the best

CianRyan

You've been more than helpful, lads. Cheers!

I reckon I'll get down to the first class after the break and do Mondays for a while to see how well I bond with the sport. If I feel like I like it enough, then I'll start Thursdays too.

That's a great video, is it one of you?

Niall Keane

See you then, the video is me allright. I tend to make videos of stuff taught in class, as over the years I've felt that students can only pick up so much at a time, so the videos give people a chance to revise and pick up on further details, seems to work.

CianRyan

Hey lads, planning on coming out to you on Moday, just wanted to confirm the class is going ahead and find out what you'd recommend I bring clothes wise?

Really looking forward to getting started.

Zen65

CianRyan wrote: »

Hey lads, planning on coming out to you on Moday,

While you're there take a look at the UCD Shotokan Karate Club which trains from 6pm-8pm on Mondays (and 8pm-10pm on Wednesdays). Joe, Bill, Darragh & Donal are the instructors there and are good guys with a lot of experience. I'm not sure if they accept non-student members though many university MA clubs do now as a necessity.

Other Shotokan karate clubs on the southside which I know either directly or second-hand to be good clubs are:

Tanden Karate Club in Loughlinstown (Jerome is very much about the traditional stuff, not into competitions)

WSKF club in Tallaght (Mark the instructor is a very talented guy). Also the WSKF is well represented around Dublin, you may find some of their clubs easier to get to than others.

JKS Hombu Dojo in Ranelagh and elsewhere (Scott Langley's clubs.. very well-known and respected instructor)

Cheers,

Z

KathleenMcCabe

Hi Cian,

Master Dong Teaches both sholin kung fu and tai chi in Rathfarnham. Great teacher, lovely person and if you're interested in the philosophies, he's the very man to go to.

He also does workshops and tea ceromonies with taoism philosophies and organises a trip to china every year

http://www.shaolinkungfuacademy.net/ and http://www.taichiyinyang.com/ are his websites

Hope this helps

CianRyan

Wow, thanks!
I didn't realise there were so many options so close by!
For the mean time I'm going to check out the UCD classes but I may expand to some Shaolin classes when I can afford it.