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Mark Peters - Tai Chi Biography
My first introduction to the Martial arts (except the usual Kung Fu Movies) was in 1988 when I attended a few Aikido classes at a local community Centre. I really enjoyed them (who doesn’t love Steven Segal) but wanted something my wife could also be involved with and due to her bad back, we had to rule this out. Next I tried ‘Kung Fu’ only to fund the teacher wasn’t actually that good and had combined a little Karate and Wing Chun.
Disheartened, I looked everywhere I could think, even night school classes. Never really fancied Karate and that seemed to be all that was on offer at the time…. Jenny noticed Tai Chi popping up in the night schools a lot but knew nothing about it. Rather than just sign up this time we read Danny Conner’s book on Tai Chi. THIS IS IT..!! Wow… Tai Chi seemed to offer everything I had hoped from a martial art… Now came the search…..
As Yang Cheng Fu said “Not all Tai Chi is the real Tai Chi”. I was amazed at what was out there purporting to be this wondrous art I was looking for. Of all the schools I investigated, only Richards Farmers Rising Dragon school came anywhere close, but did not offer the martial aspects I had hoped for. I even phone Earl Montague in Australia a few times. I wrote to and read all the martial mags I could find and eventually there it was … Nigel Sutton’s Zhong Ding Taiji Association.
Nigel was teaching once per month, at the time, at his club branch in Manchester. This was run by John Higginson. I attended an introduction to Tai Chi, Hsing I and Bagua and was instantly hooked; this was it….. 1990 and at last I’m on my way… Oh and of course not forgetting the all-important fact that Jenny could be involved as well.
After that I attended every course I could with Nigel and trained with John in Manchester at least once per month (well it was nearly a 200 mile round trip). I soon became Johns best student (OK OK I’m blowing my own trumpet) rising through the ranks.. I even competed the day after my wedding and came back with a black eye (my wife was very understanding). In 1991 I was invited to train in Malaysia and Singapore. Completing my discipleship with Nigel and John opened many doors for me as I was now accepted into the ‘family’ in the traditional Chinese way. In 1991, and my subsequent yearly visits, I trained intensively with Tan Ching Ngee in Singapore, Ko Ah Tee in KL, Malaysia, Wu Chiang Hsing in BP, Malaysia, Liang He Ching in Muar, Malaysia and Tan Seow Theng in JB. Malaysia.
Nigel and John asked me to open a class in Birmingham in 1992. Although I did not feel my standard was yet good enough I did so; on the plus side it meant that they both had a venue to teach workshops in Birmingham and I had the opportunity for extra training. From mid ’93 to ’95 I was acting head of Zhong Ding (while Nigel was out of the country). We held regular meetings and ran a camp in Torquay, which was very successful.
I competed in most national events and won many medals/trophies for my forms and push-hands. In 1994 I was invited to be part of the British team and competed at the World Championships in Orlando, Florida. This was a great opportunity and I got to meet many highly respected master and students alike. There were three of us in the team from Zhong Ding, which was a pretty high percentage considering the total team was only ten. Steve Burns, Garry Clarke and myself caught the eye of William CC Chen and were invited for a meal (this upset a few who had been trying to get his attentions). He was intrigued to know our lineage and complemented Steve on his gusto in the Full contact as he was the only Tai Chi man taking part. These were fantastic times and I whole heartedly loved the art I was practicing……
Unfortunately things never stay the same, this is the nature of the world… In 1995 I split with Zhong Ding following personal difference with John Higginson. Although the split was a painful thing, Nigel gave me his permission to keep teaching, this is when we set up the ‘Kai Ming Association for Taijiquan’. Kai Ming means open-minded and that was our mission statement. We do not want to teach other martial arts only Tai Chi (taiji) and would explore any avenues open to use to get to the essence of our art and evolve. Due to my discipleship I still have links to our teachers in Asia and have bought Master Tan Ching Ngee to the UK on a number of occasions.
We compiled a curriculum for Kai Ming and were accepted as full members of the BCCMA. I have subsequently been given the post of regional officer for the BCCMA and the TCUGB. We follow traditional values and still keep to the discipleship system, although a little less dogmatic.
In 1998 I was invited to head the British Team and compete in Taiwan. That year I had also arranged a training trip to China; Garry Clarke headed this due to my Taiwan commitment. We had a great time, won many medals and were introduced to many of Cheng Man Ching’s Disciples. Tan Ching Ngee formally introduced me to William CC Chen, which served to reinforce our previous meeting. I was invited to the World Tai Chi Federation meeting and introduced to many dignitaries. But the biggest surprise was when I was asked to be vice-president alongside William Chen. As I was the only non-Chinese this was a great honour for our association and me.
Following a successful career both competing and judging Tai Chi nationally and internationally, I decided to stop for a while and focus my efforts purely on the development of Kai Ming and my understanding of our art. I have subsequently trained with a number of teachers of which I count Peter Ralston and Willie Lim as the most influential. We have written articles for most of the martial arts and Tai Chi journals in the UK and US and have produced a series of videos/DVDs that sell successfully nationwide. We also have a book currently in editing.
I have taught workshops at a number of other Tai Chi groups and the Kai Ming Association has grown to include two of these groups. As my research into the art and understanding of body/mind work has grown, I have developed a ‘Tai Chi for falls prevention’ program. This has been successfully delivered to a number of Primary Care Trusts (PCT’s) across the Midlands. Following this I was asked to give a talk and demonstration, at the NHS AGM in Birmingham, by the Director of Public Health. I have also been asked to lead a workshop for Tai Chi Forum for Special Needs. We have appeared on a number of TV programs including Doctors, which is a BBC daytime series (filmed at Pebblemill).
As you can see Kai Ming and I have evolved, as is the nature of things. This natural ebb and flow prevents any stagnation and is essential for future development. Many students/instructors have been with me since the beginning and have helped the association develop immensely. As the general publics awareness of Tai Chi Chuan increases I see it flowing into more and more of our daily lives. We are fortunately to be involved in these critical years. When I started training little was know or easily accessible to the general public. The internet, cheaper international travel and the media have opened up the world. There are still a number of people out there teaching an infinite number of systems purporting to be real Tai Chi but we now have the information available to be more discerning. I intend to keep developing my art, not to stand still; I will further my training in Asia and my exploration of tai Chi’s many facets. Watch this space…..
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