Warm up is a combination of skipping and stretching. Beginners should try and skip continuously in any style in order to gently warm the muscles. Students who do not want to skip can try alternative warm up exercises. Beginners are welcome to turn up at any class to try Tai Chi Chuan Kung Fu. Arrive 10 minutes before your first lesson so that the instructor can talk to you about what you can expect. Classes begin with Kihon and the student exploring the ‘soft’ application of technique by practicing single or combination moves individually. With the ‘soft’ application explored, the students then perform a selection of these techniques on focus mitts or kick shields – the ‘hard’ application. This is to ensure the technique is correct in application and to develop strength and confidence. Following bag-work, the class continues to work in pairs but moves on to self-defence/combat techniques. The emphasis is on developing a body-reflex to threat situations to supplement other elements of the Thai Chi Chuan Kung Fu syllabus. Classes finish with stamina sessions including a broad variety of exercises.
Southern Martial Arts has adopted the westernised methodology of using coloured belts to show progression towards Black Belt. By successfully completing a grading the student receives a new belt. Gradings for beginner students may be as often as every 2 to 3 months, though this is dependent on ability. As the syllabus becomes more complex, the frequency will decrease and it may be 4 to 6 months / a year between gradings.
Students begin to learn the Thai Chi Chuan Kung Fu Form (or Kata) from orange belt onwards. There is a single but extensive form to learn and it is broken down between the belts in groups of 5 or 6 steps. The steps are cumulative between the belts. By the end of the middle grades, students are expected to be able to distinguish and demonstrate accurately the stances and strikes in all elements of Kihon.
Two new elements are added to the class for High Grade students – Focus Pairs and Knife Defence. These are a range of techniques for the student to master and to demonstrate great accuracy when performing Tai Chi Chuan Kung Fu.