About T'ien Ti Tao.

About T'ien Ti Tao P'ai - Taoist Arts Academy
Posted on 29th June 2009 by Jan Scheck

The Taoist ("Dowist") Arts are based upon a centuries old philosophy called Tao. This means "Path" or "Way" and can be taken in context as "The WAY of Nature", or "Life, the Universe and everything" as they say. One of the most noticeable features of Taoist Arts is the use of Yin and Yang, the two main or harmonic forces. Alongside this are natural movements, relaxation of the waist and other principles common to Taoist Kung Fu and T'ai Chi Ch'uan or Ch'i Kung (Breath/Energy Training). The Taoist believe in living as naturally as possible and obtaining better health through good diet and exercise, the mind being as important as the body.

Tiandidao is the only system known in the UK which has been fully tested and accepted by China's highly regarded: ICKF - the largest Traditional Kung Fu organisation in the world with many highly revered genuine 'Old Masters' at that. Tiandidao was tested between early 1985 and late 1987 when it was accepted as "Genuine traditional Chinese Arts"; with one Old Master from China commenting gleefully, "It's probably more traditional than most traditional systems!"  

See below for a Free starter Lesson!

Our system was developed by our Founding Master, Mike Symonds Shih-fu. Since early childhood of about 5, he practiced unknown "shadow boxing" routines at home and did throwing and punching routines using large pillows. There were no books about the subject and nobody in his family knew what it was, there was also no TV then, so it came from past life experience or other unseen sources. In teenage years his studies turned more and more toward philosophy and religions of the East, finally settling with Taoism after many years living as a Buddhist and studying other beliefs for knowledge sake. After this came the study of Herbs, but Western Herbs, not Chinese. Then came many, many years of intense study of Martial Arts, firstly trying to understand "hard style" before moving on to "soft style". There is a saying that "Tao provides" and when Shih-fu was ready for Taoist Arts a Taoist arts Master appeared and invited him to his Teacher's Training Classes in UK. That Master was Professor C. Chee Soo, a remarkable man with great Ch'i (Qi) who specialised in the Taoist Health and Healing Arts, Lee Family T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Taoist Yoga and Ch'i Kung. Later Tao provided again and a timely organisation was set up un the UK linking to the ICKF in R.o. China. It was through these channels and one Shih-fu Goh that Tiandidao's basic syllabus was fully tested and eventually accepted; this took over two years! The syllabus, then, was just five sections and had taken Shih-fu Symonds over fourteen years of study to produce. To give some idea of the detail, each Form (Kata in Japanese or Set in English) took two years minimum to develop so that it fitted both the correct purpose and achieved the right results. So it is today, after over thirty-five or so years of development, Tiandidao is recognised as a "great achievement" but, more importantly, a step back in time to preserve a traditional system of Wudang style Kung Fu within a unique modern framework which would otherwise have been lost to time.

News. New Beginners can get FREE lessons when joining Tiandidao beginner's classes. Come along and join in at our city centre venue; limited places, so please only apply if you are sincere about continuous training.

About Wudang & Kung Fu

The "seat of Taoism" is situated in the heart of China. Built on a mountain range called Five (Wu) Peaks (Dang) Mountains (Shan) is a huge over 400 kilometre complex. At a height of up to 1,6010 Metres above sea level, monks, hermits and many Taoist devotee students study and practice the Taoist Arts. Sadly though, in the Chinese Communist 'cultural revolution' many of the ancient buildings were ravaged and destroyed, left in ruins by the barbarian government scheme to rid China of anything "traditional" and replace it with modern commercial clap-trap. What is left was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, bringing mainly tourists and unwanted litter to the unique and precious area. However, many serious practitioners have felt that they have had to leave China and set up home in foreign countries where there is more tolerance, respect and appreciation of traditional Arts and knowledge, thus preserving the worthwhile Taoist Life Skills for the general good of the world's public.

Self-defence is just one area where people can benefit, even though the extra benefits are not obvious at first. For example, as a woman learning self-defence can literally be a life saver. After some months of training in T'ien Ti Tao though transformations in character start to take place. Confidence grows along with self-awareness and a mindfullness which can take you on to achieve better things in your life. The same applies to men, of course. Everyone benefits from life enhancing changes and the philosophy, which permeates everything we do, also has a very positive effect in helping to solve life's problems. Training in the long term is a truly wonderful and life transforming thing. Thanks to the giving and caring Shih-fu (Chinese Arts Teachers) we all have the chance to learn something that we can carry with us for life and help us in many ways.