News

[10.4.2008] Last weekend our competition team brought back 5 medals again from the British Open Tai Chi Championships in Oxford. 
Timothy Verhaeghe won silver twice in both fixed and moving step pushing hands (-85kg class) and also tested out his skills by fighting in the higher weight division (+90kg class) of moving step as well. In this higher weight class he won gold (!) which is a great show of skill! Rudy Rys took silver in fixed step pushing hands (-75 kg class) and also took part in the weapon forms competition, winning bronze with his well practiced sabre form! The other team members Rini Moeyaert, Sébastien Ferdinand and Peter Glas also did very well.

Photo (left to right) : Peter Glas, Rini Moeyaert, Timothy Verhaeghe, Sébastien Ferdinand and Rudy Rys.

[5.1.2008] With enough interest we can set up a new, short-term introductory course in our three locations.  The course will focus on the basics of traditional tai chi chuan : Bruges (on Tuesdays 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/4, 3/11 and 3/18, from 6-7pm), Ghent (on Wednesdays 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/5, 3/12 and 3/19, from 6-7pm) and Ostend (on Fridays 2/15, 2/22, 2/29, 3/7, 3/14 and 3/21, from 6-7pm).  Class locations can be found by clicking on 'courses'.  Tuition fee is €50 (€40 for students).   Registration must happen in advance and is possible by contacting us through e-mail before February 8th.  Our longer running beginners courses will start again from September.

[16.12.2007] The next seminar with Dan Docherty will be held on March 8th in Ostend and on March 9th in Wolvertem at the same venues as last year.  Both days from 12 to 5pm.  Fee non-members : € 50/one day ; € 90/both days (PTCCI and CBC-members : € 40/one day ; € 70/both days).  Contact us for further details and registration.

[16.12.2007] A short instructional film consisting entirely of photos (taken from Geert Van Loo's book 'Tai Chi Chuan') shows the first part of the Wudang style square form.  It gives a very detailed view of every position.  A few transitions may look slightly different because only photos were used.

[29.8.2007] On Wednesday, September 26th, a new beginners course for people aged 50 plus will start in Ostend.  Classes will be held on Wednesday afternoons from 3 to 4 pm in Health City, Northlaan 13 (next to Media Markt).  For further information, contact V.O.V.O : 059/508480 (Monday till Thursday from 10 to 12 am). 

[4.8.2007] We'll be offering group classes (see courses) again from the end of September in Ostend, Bruges and Ghent.  Private classes on an individual basis or for restricted groups are also possible.  Contact us for further information.

[15.4.2007] Our competition team brought home 5 gold medals and 1 bronze medal from the 19th British Open Tai Chi Championships, held in Oxford on April 1st.  Johnny Lombary (up to 70kg class) won a bronze medal in fixed step pushing hands.  Timothy Verhaeghe (-90kg class) competed in both fixed and moving step pushing hands.  He won gold in both disciplines, showing an exceptional level of technical skill.  In the women's lightweight division our team member Helene Wolf also won gold twice in fixed and moving step pushing hands.  She took part in the forms competition (beginners internal weapon forms) as well and won gold again (!) after demonstrating a fantastic spear form.  The first photo shows Helene, Johnny, Timothy and their coach Geert.  The second photo captures the whole Belgian team and some supporters (standing from left to right are Geert Van Loo, Hans Saelens, Johnny Lombary, Antonio Cornelis and Rini Moeyaert ; sitting from left to right are Romy Costa, Helene Wolf, Gino Flamien, Rudy Rys, Franky 'Muze' Heusequin and Timothy Verhaeghe).  Thanks to Muze for the photos!   

[25.2.2007] Dan Docherty's recent seminar was attended again by a number of very satisfied club members.

Thanks to Yves Storm for mailing this group photo.

[23.11.2006] We will be hosting a seminar again with Dan Docherty : on Saturday 17th February in Ravelingen, Zeedijk 290, 8400 Oostende and on Sunday 18th February 2007 in Sportschuur Ten Dries, Populierenlaan 20, 1861 Wolvertem. Both days from 12 to 5pm. All aspects of traditional Tai Chi Chuan will be covered. Open to all styles, beginner and advanced.  Fee non-members : € 50/one day ;
€ 90/both days (members : € 40/one day ;
€ 70/both days).
Registration through Chinese Boxing Club :
tel. ++ 32 (0)59517469 or info@chineseboxingclub.com .
Accommodation in Ostend : info and booking www.toerisme-oostende.be

[15.7.2006] Timothy Verhaeghe will be teaching a basic form course in Bruges.  Timothy has been a member of our club since 1993 and has won many medals in international pushing hands
tournaments through the years.
Classes will be held at WLZ, Revillpark 1, 8000 Bruges on Wednesday mornings from 9-10,
starting from October 4th 2006 and finishing on January 31st 2007. To sign up for this course call 070/225070.  The club's training shedule for 2006-07 can be found by clicking on 'courses'.

[15.7.2006] 'The Shadow Boxer' is a typical Hong Kong movie (Shaw Brothers) from the early seventies (a revenge story without too much content) but still quite interesting because the 'story' focuses on tai chi chuan and also because Chen Wo-fu plays the lead role.  In real life Chen Wo-fu practiced our style of tai chi chuan.  At the time he was considered one of Cheng Tin-hung's best students.  He tragically died just before 'The Shadow Boxer' premiered.  He was only 24 and stood at the beginning of a film career.  The movie contains some authentic techniques from our style.  At the start of the movie an energetic and still young looking Cheng Tin-hung demonstrates a small part of our form and astonishes the world with a highly realistic demonstration of tai chi chuan applications.  The movie is also available on European dvd-format now.  A good review can be found on : http://www.kungfucinema.com

[15.4.2006] Members of our competition team did very well again last Sunday at the 18th British Open Tai Chi Championships.  Gino Flamien (-72kg class) won bronze in fixed step pushing hands, winning his final match with a convincing 22-0 score!  Rudy Rys (-80kg class) also took third place in the fixed step category.  Our most experienced team member, Timothy Verhaeghe, competed in both fixed and moving step pushing hands.  Weighing in at 83kg he deservingly won silver twice in the -95kg class.

[30.1.2006] Another new book about taijiquan (tai chi chuan) is now available : "Taijiquan, Modernity and Tradition".  This new book by leading taijiquan and neijiaquan expert, prof. dr. Dan K.J. Vercammen, discusses the evolution of taijiquan in the twentieth century against the background of social, political and cultural changes in China. A must-have again for the discerning taijiquan practitioner!  Only € 20,-!  Available from China Arts at www.china-art.org.
Additional information about dr. Vercammen can be found on www.taoiststudies.org .

[25.12.2005] Geert Van Loo's successful (Dutch & Hungarian) standard work "Tai Chi Chuan - The Complete Martial Art for better Harmony and Health" will soon be reprinted!  The book can now be ordered again through bookshops, via publisher Roularta Books or through our club.

[25.12.2005] More than 20 club members attended a very interesting tai chi chuan seminar in Ostend with PTCCI-chief instructor Dan Docherty over the last weekend.  An extensive photoreport can be found on both this website and Dan's Practical Tai Chi Chuan International website ( www.taichichuan.co.uk ) very soon.  Our photographer Pascal Rys and club member Kenny Dauwe (who unfortunately couldn't participate due to an injury) took some very nice pictures.  Through this way we wish to thank Pascal and Kenny!  On the accompanying photo : photographer Pascal Rys, flanked by Dr. Luce Condamine, Geert Van Loo (left) and Dan Docherty (right).  

[18.10.2005] The Dutch version of Geert Van Loo's book (see our bookpage) is completely sold out.  If you can't find it anymore in the bookshops, you can contact publisher Roularta Books directly.  They can inform you about a possible reprint.
E-mail : roulartabooks@roularta.be

[26.9.2005] PTCCI chief instructor Dan Docherty will be in Belgium again soon!!!  Seminars will be held on Saturday 10th December in Ravelingen, Zeedijk 290, 8400 Oostende and on Sunday 11th December 2005 in Sportschuur Ten Dries, Populierenlaan 20, 1861 Wolvertem. Both days from 12 to 5pm. All aspects of traditional Tai Chi Chuan will be covered. Open to all styles, beginner and advanced.

Fee non-members : € 45/one day ; € 80/both days (members : € 40/one day ; € 70/both days).

Registration through Chinese Boxing Club :
tel. ++ 32 (0)59-517469 or info@chineseboxingclub.com .
Accommodation in Ostend : info and booking www.toerisme-oostende.be

[26.6.2005] Starting the end of September we'll be offering traditional Wudang style tai chi chuan classes again in Oostende, Brugge, Diksmuide and Gent.  Our class shedule for 2005-2006 is already online (click on "courses").  Signing up is only possible by returning our special registration form (Dutch language only) before September 30th. Motivated students will be given the chance to follow a professional teacher training course as well through weekly classes, workshops and seminars.  Contact us for further details : info@chineseboxingclub.com

[8.5.2005] We just received the sad news that our grandmaster Cheng Tin-hung has passed away on May 7th in his birthplace San Xiang (Guangdong province, China). Cheng Tin-hung devoted his life completely to tai chi chuan. He set up the Hong Kong Tai Chi Association and became very famous for his complete tai chi chuan. We will do our utmost to keep Cheng Tin-hung's tradition alive in Belgium! This photo was taken in San Xiang in September 2004. From left to right : Geert Van Loo, Andy Benfield, ?, Cheng Tin-hung, Janbean Cheng and Dan Docherty.

[23.4.2005] The tv-special (Dutch language - sorry, no English subtitles!) about Wudang tai chi chuan with CBC's chief instructor Geert Van Loo (broadcast on March 11th, 2005) can now be seen in our
"Photo & Film" section.

[16.4.2005] The 17th British Open Tai Chi Championships held in Oxford last Sunday, turned out very successful for Geert Van Loo's Belgian team. Rini Moeyaert (66kg) won bronze in moving step pushing hands. In fixed step pushing hands Sebastien Ferdinand (64kg) took silver.

Timothy Verhaeghe (83kg) convincingly won gold in the moving step cate-gory and won bronze as well in fixed step pushing hands! Finally, Livia Szigeti won silver in the open ladies tai chi hand forms division. On the photo the Belgian team is posing with Practical Tai Chi Chuan International chief instructor Dan Docherty and their British friend Cliff Cox. From left to right : Rini Moeyaert, Rudy Rys, Hans Saelens, Dan Docherty, Antonio Cornelis, Timothy Verhaeghe, Geert Van Loo, Sebastien Ferdinand, Cliff Cox and Livia Szigeti.

[8.3.2005] Look out for the tv-report about tai chi chuan on the Flemish local channel WTV-FOCUS this Friday, March 11th.  Viewers from other countries can watch it on the channel's website www.focustv.be . Click on "streaming" and move on to the program "Sportpas". 

[12.1.2005] YOUNG TURCS!!!  In October Hilde Maréchal (27) started training in our club in Bruges.  Of course, like every other good student she practices a bit at home during the week.  Apparently Amber, her 3-year old daughter, observes mum very well. She already starts imitating the moves without any form of instruction at all!  Hilde sent us this spontaneous film(15MB) of Amber.

[6.11.2004]
St-Petersburg, Russia

TIMOTHY VERHAEGHE : 4th at EUROPEAN
TAI CHI CHUAN CHAMPIONSHIPS


The 3rd official European Tai Chi Chuan Championships were held in St-Petersburg over the last weekend. Around 400 (!) athletes from 17 countries competed in both "forms" and "pushing hands (tui shou)" events.

Belgium was represented only by Timothy Verhaeghe (29) and Rini Moeyaert (30), both from Bruges and both members of Chinese Boxing Club. They competed in the "pushing hands" event.

In the -73kg class Moeyaert beat the Estonian Tonis Kimmel in the qualifications but couldn't manage to get to the finals.

Verhaeghe (right on the photo) convincingly won the qualifications in the -90kg class (restricted step) on Saturday. 3 of the 4 fights were in his favour and he easily qualified for the finals. A foot injury he got during the qualifications slowed him down on Sunday. He persisted but due to his injury the Russian Anton Kalabin eventually took the bronze medal after winning the fight by a short head. Silver in this weight class was for Andrei Veretenikov, also from Russia. Thomas Persson from Sweden (winner of the 2002 championships) took the gold.

Chinese Boxing Club wishes Timothy (his foot is in a cast) a quick recovery!

[4.10.2004] On November 20/21 we will be hosting another seminar with Practical Tai Chi Chuan International chief instructor Dan Docherty. Saturday 20th November : Sint-Andreasinstituut, Steensedijk 151, 8400 Oostende from 12 to 5pm. Sunday 21st November 2004 : Sportschuur Ten Dries, Populierenlaan 20, 1861 Wolvertem from 12 to 5pm. All aspects of traditional Tai Chi Chuan will be covered. Open to all styles, beginner and advanced.

Fee non-members : € 45/one day ; € 80/both days (members : € 40/one day ; € 70/both days).

Registration through Chinese Boxing Club :
tel. ++ 32 (0)59-517469 or info@chineseboxingclub.com.
Accommodation in Ostend : info and booking www.toerisme-oostende.be.

[4.09.2004] New (and old) photos have been added to both the "Tai Chi Chuan" and "Photo & Film" pages!
We are currently working on a Hungarian version of our website as well.

[18.08.2004] New Wudang style tai chi chuan classes will be starting in Kortemark from September. Venue : Gemeenteschool, Hospitaalstraat, 8610 Kortemark. The beginners long form course will be taught on Thursdays from 8.15pm-9.15pm. From January a tui shou and fighting applications class will be offered there as well. Instructor will be Hans Saelens who has been a student of Geert Van Loo since 1990. Further information : hanssaelens@hotmail.com.

[18.08.2004] Our office will be closed from August 30th until September 15th. I will be travelling with my teacher Dan Docherty to Hong Kong and Wudang mountain in Hubei province, China, the birthplace of tai chi chuan. In the meantime Chinese Boxing Club members Timothy Verhaeghe and Rini Moeyaert are preparing for the third official European Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan) Championships in St. Petersburg, Russia, at the end of October. They will be competing in the fixed and moving step pushing hands divisions. Our group classes will recommence from September 28th (see training shedule). Zai jian - Geert.

[18.08.2004] During the "Miss Seapearl 2004" final on September 18th, Joanna Van Wassenhove (Nieuwpoort) will be demonstrating tai chi chuan. She will be coached by Chinese Boxing Club. Voting for Joanna is possible on www.misszeeparel.be (click on "finalistes", then choose Joanna and "Bevestig hier uw keuze"). Or visit Joanna's personal website : www.joanna.be.

[21.06.2004] Starting from October 2004 Wudang style tai chi chuan instruction will be available in Ghent too.  More info will appear on our new training shedule soon.

[23.02.2004] EXCLUSIVE!!! Geert has recently recovered a 30 year old magazine from under the dust. It's an issue (volume 1, number 4) of the Hong Kong published magazine "Secrets of Kung Fu" with a 7-page article by grandmaster Cheng Tin-hung, titled "Tai Kic Kung Fu and Inner Potentiality". The article contains some beautiful colour photos of Cheng Tin-hung demonstrating the applications of "Slap the Face" and "Repulse Monkey". Webmaster Wolf will make an effort to recycle these photos on our site.

[4.01.2004] Geert Van Loo's successful book is also available in Hungary now. The book is titled
Tai Chi Chuan - Harmónia, Egészség, Harcmüvészet and was published by Print-X Kiadó in Budapest. It sells for 2500 Ft. Info : taichi@print-x.hu

[25.10.2003] TAI CHI CHUAN SEMINAR
WITH DAN DOCHERTY,

chief instructor of Practical Tai Chi Chuan International. Saturday 13th December in Ravelingen, Zeedijk 290, 8400 Oostende and Sunday 14th December 2003 in Sportschuur Ten Dries, Populierenlaan 20, 1861 Wolvertem. Both days from 12 to 5pm. All aspects of traditional Tai Chi Chuan will be covered. Open to all styles,
beginner and advanced.

Fee non-members : € 45/one day ; € 80/both days (members : € 40/one day ; € 70/both days).

Registration through Chinese Boxing Club :
tel. ++ 32 (0)59-517469 or info@chineseboxingclub.com.
Accommodation in Ostend : info and booking www.toerisme-oostende.be.

[6.09.2003] Our new courses start in October (see training shedule). Next to the weekly classes we also organize tai chi chuan lessons in conjunction with

Fitnessclub Co-Active (Wednesday 06.00pm-08.00pm) info : fitness@co-active.be,
Sportdienst Oostende (Friday 10.00am-11.00am) info : oostende@sport-west-vlaanderen.be,
VOVO age 50+ (Wednesday 02.30pm-03.30pm) info : tel. ++ 32 (0)59-508480,
Taal- en Instructiecentrum Torhout (Monday 08.00pm-09.00pm) info : tic@unicall.be.

Within the courses of these organizations the health aspect of tai chi chuan is focused. Exception is Torhout where the martial side will be stressed!

[21.07.2003] Our website was recently listed on the linkpage of www.taichichuan.co.uk, the site of Practical Tai Chi Chuan International. Cheers, John!
This professional website has been given a new look. It contains loads of interesting texts, information, video clips and links about our style. Highly recommended!

[21.07.2003] Geert's book is being translated into Hungarian.
A Hungarian publisher has decided to release the Magyar version of the book somewhere in autumn.
Livia Szigeti has accepted the difficult task of doing the translating from Dutch to Hungarian.
Köszönöm, Livia!

[21.07.2003] The 2003-2004 training shedule has just been added. Click on "courses" for a complete overview.