The European School of T’ai Chi Chu’an UK was formally founded in February 1995.
It had evolved in an organic way since 1980’s when Tew Bunnag established a number of T’ai Chi classes in Surrey, London and Sussex.
Many of our current Teachers were amongst Tew’s early students.
We recognise the value of drawing from many different styles of T’ai Chi and Qi Gong. The art can be authentically practiced without falling into the trap of blindly following lineages, at the expense of learning from the teacher within.
We regard it as a strength to encourage the freedom and individual responsibility (along with the risks) to develop and explore the Yang style in ways which are suitable for the 21st Century.
As a result, we are a richly varied group who try to keep true to the Taoist principle of non-conformity, whilst honouring the continual return to the source of this beautiful and powerful art.
The principle of Metta (loving kindness) has always been central to teaching within the school. It involves engaging with others, the world, and ourselves, with our heart and compassion rather than self-serving motives. It means gentleness, but with clarity, truth and strength.
Through action and profits we support charities, perhaps most notably, the Mercy Centre – an AIDs refuge for children and adults in the Klong Toey slums of Bangkok – for which Tew has been a long standing friend and advisor.