Join me in the woods for a long weekend of fitness, meditation and martial arts August 13-15th

This is for you if:

• you want to get away from the city 
  
• You want to develop your body, balance and coordination 
  
• you need reflection time 
  
• you enjoy intelligent company that goes beyond superficial social trivia
  

We will stay on a green, wooded property which we share with deer, foxes, wild boar, rabbits, hare owls and many other animals.

Each day we will practise:

• Meditation – seated or standing 
  
• Qigong – for health and body conditioning 
  
• Bagua circular and linear forms 
  
• Partner exercises – to understand angle, distance and application of power and sparring
  
• Natural movement – awaken your animal vitality 
  
• Sensory awareness exercises – clean your city blunted senses 
  

and have time to just enjoy the woods. None of these activities is obligatory – if you need to simply rest, or concentrate one one of these areas you have that option.

You can come for just one day, or for all three days: The price for a single day is €70, and for €180 for all three.

Accomodation: 
There is a large house with a number of bedrooms on the property. I will sleep in the woods, and people are welcome to join me (if you are not used to camping I have some spare equipment and can help you set up).

Food: 
We will eat simply. Cooking and cleaning will be communal. Some cooking will be in the kitchen, but we will also use a campfire. I will supply vegetarian food. If you have special dietary requirements please let me know, you are welcome to bring your own food and treats too (in moderation). Remember this is a retreat so this is not about luxurious food, or alcohol

There will also be some good wild foraging, and ripening fruit on the trees in August.

You responsibilities: 
This will take place in a private property. While we are there it is our job to look after it and clean up after ourselves.

Getting there: 
The property is near the village of Betz in Picardie about one hour from Paris. The closest train station is Crepy-en-valois, from which you can take a taxi. there are regular trains to Crepy-en-valois from gare du nord. Train tickets cost about €40 return, and taxi is about €20. We can arrange taxi sharing if you arrive at the same time. I can send a map in case you want to come by car.

You can arrive on Thursday 12th, set up and settle in so that we can start on Friday morning.

If you have any questions you can call me 06 80 28 86 39.  Call or e-mail to book your place.

I will be in the woods before and after the retreat, so I may not be contactable by e-mail.

The dates for Luo laoshi's seminars in Europe and the US are confirmed. It will be a little time before the contents of the seminars are decided, but in most places you can expect a long weekend of teaching that will cover an interesting mix of Bagua and Xingyi.

For people new to Luo laoshi's teaching there are usually sessions that are easy entry points for people without much previous experience.

Paris 17-23rd June

Switzerland 23rd-30th June

Brittany/Rennes 30th June-7th July

Manchester England, 7th-14th July

London England, 17th-21st July

Israel 21st-28th July 

then off to the US

DC 29th July-7th August

Denver 14th-21st August

SF 21st-30th August

then back to Taipei on the 30th.

I will post more information as soon as I have it, including contact details for seminar organisers.

My schedule will probably let me join in with Switzerland and London – as well as Paris, naturally.

Luo laoshi will teach a seminar in Paris towards the end of June this year. I will keep you updated as we decide what Luo laoshi will cover and exactly when he will be here.

You know that whatever he teaches it will there will be an immense amount to learn.

I'll find some more video to post here as a teaser…

Friday, 19th, 7 – 10pm: Bagua Sanshou – also known as roushou we will concentrate on fluid use of prototype techniques.

Saturday, 20th – 10 – 1pm : 2.30 – 5.30pm: Xingyi linked fists, partner exercises applications concepts and drills.

Sunday, 21st, 11.30 – 2pm : 3 – 5.30: Gao style bagua kicking methods – we will cover a mix of forms, along with setups from different ranges and drills to make the techniques applicable on a reflex level.

messing around with Matt on Hampstead Heath