Coming up this autumn we have the 8 Powers – 8 Trigrams: The Pairs course. The Eight Tai Chi Powers are known as of Ward-Off, Roll Back, Squeeze, Press Down, Pluck, Split, Elbow and Barge, they represent fundamental ways power moves; for example, a circle that expands outwards, or a point that condenses and goes into the ground and so on. Every style of Tai Chi uses the eight powers, and one power can be expressed by many movements. In the Wudang style, powers are grown inside the body through solo practice before they are used martially; each has its own specific sensation.
The first text on Tai Chi in existence is known as the Tai Chi Classics, and it says that the Eight Tai Chi powers correspond with the Eight Trigrams of the I Ching (AKA The Book of Changes). The Eight Trigrams are Taoist archetypes; fundamental forces of nature made by combining yin and yang in different ways. They are called Heaven, Earth, Water, Fire, Lake, Thunder, Wind and Mountain.
The Eight Trigrams of the I Ching are then paired in all possible ways to make 64 Hexagrams, which represent 64 crucial life situations, each with six different stages. They represent birth, death , courtship, marriage, struggle, revolution and more; all fundamental aspects of human life that persist through the ages. As such, the I Ching is a 3000-year-old guide to life from the Taoist perspective. It can be read from cover to cover, or it can be consulted using coins or yarrow stalks in a process is known as divination.
In this course we will learn how the Eight Trigrams represent the Eight Powers, and illuminate this connection using the natural pairs. Just as Heaven and Earth Trigrams go together, so do the Powers of Ward-Off and Rollback. These are pairs of complementary opposites, like yin and yang, that allow us to learn more about opposing elements by looking at how they define each other.
All classes will be half theory, half Tai Chi practice, and will include: a guide on how to decode the Trigrams to make the Powers, the individual Trigram meanings, how Trigram pairs work, how Power pairs work, basic skills practice to build the conditions needed to grow the powers, and also one Tai Chi move per power. In addition, there will be one class where we learn how to consult the I Ching. Whether one believes in divination or not, consulting the I Ching with a question in mind gives the opportunity for these ancient words be clothed in the familiar format of everyday life.
The course is online, and runs for 12 weeks from Thursday 18th September 2025 from 6-7.30pm. The cost is £216, if cash flow is an issue, students are welcome to pay in two installments. Booking is here. Beginners, professionals and open-minded sceptics are welcome. If anyone has any questions, please get in touch.