Meditation, Breath control & Tai Chi movements to develop: Tranquility, Flexibility & Balance.
Building deeper mental and physical resilience & well being on each of the 24 lessons.
Martial arts classes
Village Centre, Trinity Road, Hurst, BN6 9UY
07988 831547
* Advert shown was published in a set month of the magazines, any offers may not be available and closing dates may have passed.
Unbeknown to them, it was while studying Kung Fu under Chris Crudelli back in 2016, that classmates were to become husband and wife for Marie and Stephen Van Dunk.
In fact, Marie was recovering from a serious injury and moved from Kung Fu to Tai Chi. “I had been into martial arts for a number of years at this stage, under the brilliant Sifu Chris Crudelli (of BBC TVs Mind Body Kick Ass Moves),” she explained. “Tai Chi is basically Kung Fu done slowly. As I moved through the course, I got more and more into it.”
Tai Chi is a series of flowing movements which develop tranquillity, flexibility and balance. The slow-motion exercises are based on martial arts moves and are accompanied by deep and controlled breathing. Research on Tai Chi from Harvard University demonstrates various benefits for the practitioner including: improved balance, relief from pain, lower anxiety and a reduction in stress levels.
Marie and Stephen began to take Tai Chi more seriously and started travelling from Hurstpierpoint to Shropshire for intensive 2-day courses every month. It was during this time that the pair got together. And it was on a retreat on Mount Snowdon that Chris first mooted the idea of them becoming instructors.
The couple were keen to share what they had learnt with others, and so searched for a venue to start their ‘side hustle’ – both have other jobs. Marie is a hairdresser and Stephen is a tattoo artist, as well as a partitioning engineer at a local firm.
Classes started in Hurst at Court Bushes Community Hub in 2020, before the Covid lockdown. Having been forced to carry out classes online during the pandemic, Tai Chi 24 and Kung Fu 36 returned to face-to-face at the Village Centre during 2021, and that’s where they meet on a Tuesday evening and Sunday morning ever since.
“Adults love our Tai Chi classes, which provide a tranquil space to improve mobility and strength. Everyone can do the movements,” Stephen explained, “its an incredible accessible form of exercise. Our Kung Fu classes are a space for children to exercise focus and discipline, while improving their f lexibility. It isn’t a sport, and there is no competitive element, but kids have fun, making friends and ‘playing’ Kung Fu with us, as they move freely around a rotating syllabus, designed by our Sifu and taught by us.”
Both classes even have the ability to join online, so location or transport doesn’t have to be a barrier to taking part.
