Prior to finding Wu Style Tai Chi, I studied Ju Jitsu under Sensei Ogden Louie at the Minoru dojo. I am grateful that Sensei Ogden suggested I try Tai Chi when I asked him about energy work.

I stepped into my first Wu Style Tai Chi class at the Toronto headquarters in 2002. In 2003 I accepted the honour of becoming a disciple of Master Eddie Wu. I knew from my first class that this place was special. The students who were of all ages were truly engaged and the slow exercises they were doing were precise, smooth, coordinated and powerful without using muscle. Many of the instructors were skilled martial artists prior to finding Wu Style but found this style and had stayed with it for decades as they found it ever-deepening. Master Eddie Wu taught us with a common sense methodology, expertly demonstrated the principles and applications and demystified much of the art. I found that Wu Style Tai Chi and Ju Jitsu were similar in that they both used leverage over brute force but Wu Style went to a deeper level by teaching beginners internal energy development through proper coordinated breathing, relaxation, awareness and posture. In the beginning, I struggled with the slowness of the form but I soon began to enjoy the focus and deep relaxation it produced in me. The training had a nice blend of form, breathing exercises, meditation, push hands and applications. I always left class feeling stretched, invigorated and peaceful. Over time I let go of tension that I had not been aware of and my body began working as a relaxed coordinated integrated whole. My speed, timing and power increased and I began to learn how to move a partner with minimal force and got a taste of what the Chinese call Wu Wei (pronounced Wu Way), meaning effortless doing or the art of letting be. I found I had a particular love of the sword form, push hands and the applications. In the next couple of years I entered a few tournaments and won a couple of medals, including the silver for Sword at the Traditional Canadian Kung Fu Championships in 2004.

My career has revolved around counselling, teaching and training individuals and I am looking forward to using these skills to build a club where fun, focus and camaraderie flourish. I will be offering classes in Ladysmith and Nanaimo starting in February 2014. If you have a positive spirit and would like apply to be a student, please write me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..