We offer courses to train interested people to become capable Tai Chi teachers, who know exactly not only what to teach but also how to teach it, so students can easily grasp and practice what they need to know for their further development. In addition to form training our courses enable teachers to detect sources of mistakes, both in their own as well as their students' exercises, to make form adjustments, to foster inner and outer harmony, and to help students develop their strengths and manage their weaknesses. We wish to train them to become great teachers of the kind that we have learnt from, the ones we had the luck to meet and receive instructions from.  All training courses always comprise the latest knowledge we have gained from our teachers and own practice without runarounds or secretiveness about certain contents or techniques.

In addition, our "large" training courses are a good preparation to apply for joining the ISSA as a certified school, which you can do during one of the courses Master Boyd offers in Germany.

Below you find a short overview of our different training programs.

If you have any questions regarding the teacher training programs, please feel free to write to Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spambots geschützt! Sie müssen JavaScript aktivieren, damit Sie sie sehen können. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and ask away.

If you are already a teacher yourself and "just" want to learn the Snake Style to join the ISSA, you can also contact me to arrange and negotiate for a set of private lessons and seminars to learn the basic skills to accomplish that

Intensive on-site training programs at the academy:

Teacher for the 24-posture form

This program requires 2 years of continuous studying at our academy and ends with a final examination.

Lessons comprise the 24-posture form (Beijing form) and a weapon form (saber, sword or staff), both based on the principles of the snake style system. They include theoretical as well as practical training and enable students to conduct their own classes on their own account. To reach this goal, participants complete at least 400 hours of training as students and assistant teachers [500 and more hours are possible]. In addition to the two forms, the training also includes instructions on teaching methods, didactics and motivation, a variety of warm-up and supportive exercises, Qi Gong and Nei Gong exercises, extensive explanations for a better understanding, more precise practice and better correction of the forms, as well as basic knowledge on the martial aspect of each motion.  Another important part of the training deals with legal questions regarding self-defense, defense of others and battery (based on German law), complemented by basic teachings on meridians, and explanations on the meaning, analysis and internalization of the classic Tai Chi texts (as opposed to simply reciting them without understanding ...).

The monthly fee for this course is € 136.

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Teacher for the 24-posture and the Ip family form:

This program requires 3 years of continuous studying at our academy and ends with a final examination.

In addition to the 24-posture form this training program comprises the Ip family Tai Chi Chuan form, push hands, fighting/self-defense, saber, sword and spear classes, all based on the snake style system. They include theoretical as well as practical training and enable students to conduct their own genuine Tai Chi Chuan classes on the forms and techniques listed above. To reach this goal, participants complete at least 1500 hours of training as students and assistant teachers within 36 months.  The training includes instructions on teaching methods, self-defense and fighting, a variety of warm-up and supportive exercises, Qi Gong and Nei Gong exercises, as well as extensive explanations for a better understanding, more precise practice and better correction of the forms. Another important part of the training deals with legal questions regarding self-defense, defense of others and battery (based on German law), complemented by basic teachings on meridians, methods for analyzing and correcting students' motions, and explanations on the meaning and internalization of the classic Tai Chi texts (as opposed to simply reciting them without understanding ...).

The monthly fee for this course is € 148.

After the first half of the program, all teachers in training take an intermediate examination that covers the learnt contents, group management, etc. On passing this examination they gain the status of a trainer.

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Distance study training program

6-years training with distance studying and on-site elements in three stages

1.-2. year: Basic knowledge for trainer exam

2.-3. year: Advanced training for 24-posture form teacher exam

4.-6. year: Advanced training for full Snake Style Tai Chi teacher exam

Prerequisites: General fitness for sports, no background knowledge required

Minimum on-site training hours: 230 seminar hours, 46 teacher training hours, 300 hours training assistance

The monthly fee for this course is € 100.

1.    year

6 seminars (2 x 24-posture form, form principles, Qi Gong, self-defense, Tui Shou)

6 teacher training hours (incl. medical knowledge) after the seminars

2 weeks training assistance, correction of one form video per quarter of the year

Your own individual email address Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spambots geschützt! Sie müssen JavaScript aktivieren, damit Sie sie sehen können. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for the time of the training program, and afterwards, if you stay joined to the academy.

2.    year

7 seminars (24-posture form, Ip family form I, form principles, principles of application of the form, self-defense, Tui Shou, saber form)

7 teacher training hours (incl. knowledge on medical and legal matters and training for children) after the seminars

2 weeks training assistance, correction of one form video per quarter of the year

Trainer exam at the end of the year (duration: 2.5 hours)

3.    year

8 seminars (Ip Family form I & II, form principles, principles of application of the form, self-defense, Tui Shou, Qi Gong, saber form)

8 teacher training hours (incl. knowledge on medical and legal matters and training for children) after the seminars

2 weeks training assistance, correction of one form video per quarter of the year

4.    year

8 seminars (Ip Family form II - III, form principles, principles of application of the form, self-defense, Tui Shou, Qi Gong, spear form)

8 teacher training hours (incl. knowledge on medical and legal matters and training for children) after the seminars

2 weeks training assistance, correction of one form video per quarter of the year

Teacher exam for 24-posture form and saber at the end of the year (duration: 3.5 hours)

5.    year

8 seminars (Ip Family form II & III, form principles, principles of application of the form, self-defense, Tui Shou, Qi Gong, sword form)

8 teacher training hours (incl. knowledge on medical and legal matters and training for children) after the seminars

3 weeks training assistance, correction of one form video per quarter of the year

6.    year

9 seminars (24-posture form, Ip Family form III, form principles, principles of application of the form, self-defense, Tui Shou, Qi Gong, sword form, saber form)

9 teacher training hours (incl. knowledge on medical and legal matters and training for children) after the seminars

3 weeks training assistance, correction of one form video per quarter of the year

Full teacher exam (duration: 5 hours)

Ask us for more training programs (e.g. snake style for established Tai Chi teachers, 24-posture form teacher training, 24-posture form plus one weapon, etc.) We can also create an individual program to fit with your requirements.

All prices including the German VAT of 19 %.

The above gives a short overview of the training programs. There is no way to get along without daily intense practice. Please ask us for further details as well as information on possible prerequisites for the different training programs. We will be happy to provide all necessary information in a personal interview.

Or contact our teachers and teachers in training by email to ask for their experiences with our training programs.