Taiji Kungfu Fan Instructor Certified Course
- A Brief Report

The 1st European Taiji Kungfu Fan Instructor Certified Course was conducted with exceptional success during 15-18 May 2008 in Wolverhampton, West Midlands in the UK. The Course was hosted by Master Faye Li Yip, the highest authority on Taiji Kungfu Fan in Europe and founder of Deyin Taijiquan Institute (GB). Fifteen experienced & enthusiastic Tai Chi Instructors/practioners from UK, Holland, France and Denmark attended the instructor course.

The Course was structured into a 4-day in-depth training programme with an assessment on the last day of the course. 12 delegates successfully completed the training and assessment to become the first Certified Taiji Kungfu Fan Instructors Network in Europe to teach, run workshops and/or seminars. One delegate gained certification for the first 2 sections and two more delegates are planning to have their assessment in the near future.

Course Training Programme
In Brief
Nobody expected the course was an easy ride, but with Master Faye's clear instructions, precise demonstrations, lots of watching, copying, note taking, practise and regular breaks, everyone was able to keep up with the progress throughout the course. Better still 12 delegates successfully rise to the challenge passing the assessment to become Qualified Taiji Kungfu Fan Instructor in Europe.

Warm-Up
Master Faye Started the course by taking everyone through a set of warm-up exercises that is widely used in China for daily work-outs in Schools, Colleges, Factories and Offices, that simply known as 'the Broadcast Exercise'. Everyone loved doing it and was amazed that a set of such simple,enjoyable movements can give the body a great workout and boost energy within 10/15 minutes. Smile was on everyone's face! In fact as the delegates discovered over the four-day programme that warm up/down time was a time for special treats because Master Faye shared a number of enjoyable sets of exercises including Eight Treasure Qigong, Daoyin Baojian Gong, Broadcast Exercises and Effective Wushu techniques.

Master Faye explained that the variety of warm up/down exercise is particularly helpful to develop the kind of skills required to understand/teach as a Taiji Kungfu Fan Instructor.

Training:
The training on the Fan Form was divided into six sections with each day focusing on two of the six. Each movement was broken down into small parts and Master Faye will lead the group go through each part step by step a few times then followed by explaining the foot work, the techniques used, the correct co-ordination of stance, waist, arms and eyes.

Questions from the delegates were always welcomed by Master Faye and occasionally questions would develop into friendly, beneficial discussions.

Social Aspect
Although delegates only met each other for the first time on the course and maybe with minor language difficulties, all got on really well. Coffee breaks, lunch breaks were perfect opportunities to get to know people and the course was carried out in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.

Another welcoming social highlight during the 4-day programme was an evening meal out in town which was a great opportunity to get to make friends. It was apparent that everyone was keen to become the First European members of Fan Instructors Network in order to support each other and allow more people of all age and fitness level gain benefits.

Assessment
After 3 days of intense and in-depth hard work both physically and mentally (even for the experienced practitioners), delegates faced final stage of the course - instructor assessment. Master Faye led everyone through the final practice and explained the format for assessment: individual performance with/without music in front of Master Faye plus a short teaching session to a group of fellow delegates. Excitement, tension and nervousness were` in the air and a few delegates even became a little emotional. Master Faye gave each delegate some valuable feedback on their individual performances and advice on teaching immediately after his/her assessment. The result though was excellent - 12 delegates successfully completed the assessment and became the Certified Taiji Kungfu Fan Instructor in Europe.

The first certified Taiji Kungfu Fan Instructors in Europe & their contact detail

Comments from some of the Delegates:

Derek Bacon (Port Stewart, NI)
My brief comments fall under four headings - Structure, Content, Delivery and Overall Impact.

Structure: The design of the four days took me through the routine at a pace that both permitted some depth and did not feel rushed. What was so valuable was the time built in to allow for taking stock and keeping up notes. It was good to have short occasional spaces for ongoing reflection, to avoid information overload and to capture more of the material being presented.

Content: A massive amount of material was touched upon and you clearly signalled that even this is no more than the tip of the iceberg. For example, the focus on the Wushu background was brief, but enough to illuminate the interpretation and transform the expression of the fast sections. The fan-opening exercises were sobering.

The variety in warm-up and cool down exercises was pleasing. The broadcast exercises were great fun and the glimpses of the Eight Treasures technique and Dao Yin Bao Jian Gong were enchanting. It all came together in a way that was utterly engaging and that left no room for monotony.

Delivery: The quality and value of what was made available at the course was never in doubt, nor was the way in which it was delivered. No Tai Chi expertise is necessary to recognise the presence of a model teacher. It is reasonable to expect that a teacher should be supportive, encouraging and stimulating. You were all three. It is not unusual that a teacher should present challenge and constructive criticism. These you offered with humility and grace. What is perhaps rarer is a facility to present authoritative information in a manner that respects the students' independent thought process and experience and, without overwhelming it, enables further connections to be made and opens up other possibilities. This was particularly apparent when feedback was being given and both the integrity of the qualification and the trust of the students were to be upheld.

Overall Impact: Given my old bones and limited Tai Chi experience, it would be surprising if I had not felt challenged and stretched. Yet I was never made to feel uncomfortable or inadequate. Indeed it was wonderful to have the opportunity for individual attention to problems and weak points. The large amount of new learning is already working and will continue to percolate through into my understanding of, and practice of, this form. I learned much from every person that the course brought together. It is thrilling to feel myself at a new starting point. I look forward to the day when we might have a text giving detailed breakdown and application of the steps in the manner of Professor Li's big book. Is there any hope of that?

Torban Rif (Denmark)
Feedback:
The Taiji Kung Fu Fan Instructor course was a greate experience for me. I had learnt the fan form in Hong Kong 1 year earlier and was hoping to get a few corrections, which I got. The course was well organised and nobody was left alone despite there level. You are a grate instructor, a true Master.

Suggestions: It would have been nice if the lunch where included in the course so we didn't have to spend time looking for shops and eat fast food etc. in the lunch break. I would be happy to pay a little bit more to get the lunch included, which I do in DK.

Vicky Ahern (London UK)
My feedback about the course is that on a personal note, I feel that I have learned so much, on lots of different levels. I feel that you have programmed us through your teaching and I will not know exactly what I have learned until I use it in my regular classes.

Although I had previously learned the outline of the form over the past 2 years, I know that I learned a deeper level with you last week as now I can see each movement separately before being connected to the rest of the form, which is paramount in order to teach others and to have a better understanding of each move, you showed this really well.

I loved learning the Broadcast Exercises and was surprised how difficult I found it at first (co-ordination was challenging as these movements and order are not in my muscle memory - which taught me loads about teaching beginners - back to beginners mind myself - Excellent!) You give a Chinese perspective, whilst being very forward thinking, modern and open with your answers to questions and your teaching in general.

I was really surprised how much you shared with us, Broadcast exercises, Warm Ups, Lots of Drills for warming & stretching, Ba Duan Jin Qigong, Fan Form (in detail, timing and adding the music), Dao Yin set - Wow!! I am still buzzing with it all and enjoying my morning practice even more with the Fan music which I now have on my mobile phone.

Ellen Wel-Hartman (Holland)
I just received the Taiji Kungfu Fan instructor T-shirt. Thank you. I had a magnificent time with you in the UK. I made a picture of the students from the Broadway Academy. "Musical Theater performers and Taiji Kungfu Fan is possible!"

Lee Fairweather (London UK)
Hi Faye, first to thank you you for an excellent course and tuition. I personally think the course content was fantastic, mixing exercises such as the brodcast and daoyin over the 4 days as well as variety of warm up which entwined with our fan instruction.

The pace of each day seemed about right for everyone, leaving us uplifted and wanting more!

Keith Sharp (Southampton, UK)
A short note to thank you for your patience, experience and encouragement during the recent course held for those of us who believe the fan will be a major asset in widening the participation of T'ai Chi and Chi Kung.

Whilst I personally have some way to go before I can demonstrate confident competency in the form, I was delighted to receive your recognition that my classes for the more mature will benefit from my personal understanding and abilities.

To receive the Certificate and be among the first in the UK to have this award is most satisfying and I will endeavour to uphold the principles that the Deyin Institute wish to promote and maintain. Once again grateful thanks for your efforts and sharing your skills with us. We feel very much comforted by the positive, enthusiastic and genuine feedbacks/suggestions from all the delegates.

Although we are very pleased with the response and result, we are not the kind of people sit back and be complacent. We will take on board and address some of the issues suggested to us for future course.