Shizendo Martial Arts – Tai Chi in Kent
Shizendo Martial Arts is one of Kent’s leading associations teaching the Chinese art of Tai Chi. Classes are taught weekly by Steve Martin across all listed venues. Each session is divided into beginner and advanced levels and combines both traditional training and workshop‑style learning. Steve teaches Tai Chi as both a health practice and a martial art, giving students a complete and authentic experience.
Shizendo Martial Arts specialises in the Yang Style 108 Form, one of the most widely practiced Tai Chi styles in the world. This classical sequence consists of continuous, flowing postures linked together in an unbroken, controlled movement pattern. Through regular practice, students develop strength, suppleness, coordination, balance, and overall health.
Tai Chi is increasingly recognised by the National Health Service for its effectiveness in improving balance, mobility, joint function, and general well‑being—particularly for older adults. When combined with correct breathing methods, Tai Chi promotes healthy circulation of oxygen and blood throughout the body.
Benefits of Tai Chi
- A gentle, effective form of exercise
- A system for self‑healing, health, and vitality
- Meditation in movement
- A method of personal growth and development
- Improved coordination, balance, and strength
- Tai Chi Chuan as a traditional martial art
The Yang Style Tradition
The Yang style of Tai Chi Chuan was created over 200 years ago by Master Yang Lu Chan, who mastered the original Chen family system before developing his own approach. For generations, the true traditional Yang style was passed down privately within the Yang family.
It was Yang Lu Chan’s grandson, Yang Cheng Fu, who opened the art to the public and taught thousands of students across China. His openness, clarity, and forward‑thinking approach played a major role in making Tai Chi the globally practiced art it is today.
Shizendo Martial Arts continues this tradition of authenticity, openness, and high‑quality instruction, preserving the essence of Yang style Tai Chi while making it accessible to all.
