Newcastle
Tai Chi

1975
Sifu Waller's interest in martial arts began with the 1972 TV series Kung Fu (starring David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine). He was intrigued by the quiet, contemplative way of life, the polite manners, ancient philosophies... and of course the martial arts. His lessons began in 1975.

1983
In 1983 the TV documentary The Way of the Warrior introduced Sifu to taijiquan, inspiring him to seek out instruction with the best instructor in the region.

A lot of practice
During the 1980's and 1990's Sifu attended up to five different martial arts lessons a week, sometimes travelling over 40 miles for tuition. He also attended a considerable number of workshops around the UK.

Unbroken practice
Sifu has trained martial arts each day for over 50 years.

Martial arts experience
As a boy and a young man, Sifu trained judo, karate, ju jitsu, wing chun, aikido, iaido, pencat silat, tangsoodo, shuai jiao, chin na, pak mei, yiquan, xingyiquan, baguazhang and various styles of taijiquan. Sifu ultimately focused on the advanced version of the old Yang style taijiquan.

Peter Southwood 
For 25 years Sifu was the lineage student of the renowned taijiquan instructor Peter Southwood. The bai shi and tea ceremony took place in 1990. Sifu had more than 500 private lessons with Peter, along with weekly classes and workshops.

Sifu Waller's teaching experience
Instructor for Bradford Yang Style Association 1995-1999.
Instructor for Dynamic Balancing Boxing 1999-2004.
Instructor for Newcastle Tai Chi 2004-present day. 
Instructor with The World Taiji Boxing Association 1997-2004.
Advanced-level instructor with The Tai Chi Union for Great Britain 2002-2023.

Qualified teacher
In 1996, Sifu obtained a post-graduate professional teaching qualification from The University of Leeds.

Proven results
Sifu taught our qigong and tai chi exercises to the over 50's for 7 years at Age Concern in Newcastle and Age Concern North Tyneside. The students had a variety of health conditions. We had referrals from Freeman Hospital, medical students visited the class regularly and the classes were featured in the local newspapers.

Body work
Sifu studied Iyengar yoga weekly (with Lillian Biggs and Beryl Howarth) starting in 1982. He explored Taoist Yoga with Peter Southwood. His Alexander Technique lessons (with Heather Gretton, Eileen Armstrong & Ann Massey-Lynch) took place every week between 1995 - 2010. Pilates weekly private lessons took place between 2004 - 2009. 
 

His lessons
Sifu's sessions are stimulating, fun and non-macho. He has been teaching tai chi for over 30 years and has been committed to full-time teaching and practice since 2004.