What to Expect
Training at Long Tou Shan is designed to be both structured and flexible, allowing each student to develop at their own pace while being supported in a consistent daily rhythm.
Whether you are completely new to Tai Chi or have years of experience, you will be met where you are.
Who The School Is For
Students arrive with a wide range of backgrounds:
- complete beginners with no prior experience
- practitioners looking to deepen their understanding
- long-term students committed to ongoing training
You do not need to be fit, flexible, or experienced to begin. What matters most is consistency and willingness to learn.
How You Will Learn
Classes are intentionally kept small, allowing for individual guidance and adjustment throughout training.
There are no fixed start dates, and students may arrive at any time of the year.
Rather than following a rigid curriculum, instruction is adapted to:
- your level
- your pace
- the length of your stay
This allows learning to feel personal rather than standardized.
The Training Experience
Training takes place six days per week, with approximately 4–5 hours of guided practice each day.
Rather than focusing only on memorizing forms, teaching emphasizes:
- how the body is structured and connected
- the integration of joints and movement
- internal awareness and coordination
- developing strength without tension
Over time, students move from learning shapes to understanding how the body works.
Daily Life
Life at the school follows a steady rhythm:
- morning training and foundational work
- midday Tai Chi practice
- afternoons for rest, exploration, or self-practice
- shared meals and quiet evenings
The schedule is consistent, but not rigid. There is space to rest, reflect, and integrate what is being learned.
The Environment
The school is located in a quiet rural setting, surrounded by southern China’s famous karst mountains, citrus orchards, and the legendary Li River.
This environment is not separate from the training. Rather, it supports it. Many students find that the simplicity of daily life allows them to focus more deeply than they expected.
Flexibility of Stay
Students are welcome to stay for:
- one week
- several weeks
- or longer-term training
There is no fixed program length. Your experience can evolve over time. Some begin with daily training and later choose to deepen their practice through intensive courses or workshops.
A Different Kind of Training
Many approaches to Tai Chi focus on learning sequences of movement. At Long Tou Shan, the emphasis is on building a body that can express the art. This means:
- learning through feeling, not imitation
- developing internal connection over time
- allowing understanding to unfold naturally