Meet your trainer
Old school beginnings
Robert Joyce started training with his Instructor July 2000 in traditional Shaolin Gung Fu. As the 'internal' syllabus was selected, the major form studied was Chen Tai Chi as well as Qi Gong, Chin Na, Shaolin Yoga and Weapons amongst other martial disciplines.
Achieving Black Sash
Training was tough and traditional, with the standard ten years to reach Black Sash, which culminated in passing a 24hr Black Sash Final fitness exam. This was followed by a further 2 years learning how to teach.
In 25 years of The Shaolin Society, only 8 people made it through to Black Sash.
Elemental Tai Chi
Having secretly been added to a list of suppliers to Care Homes by his instructor, while working the corporate job, Robert started to get calls to teach seated Tai Chi. This culminated in quitting as Head of Projects in an IT company to explore Tai Chi further and teach full time and Elemental Tai Chi was born in 2012.
Currently, Robert teaches over 70 students a week in the Tai Chi School. He has run trials with the NHS, been the Tai Chi instructor for the local councils Adult Skills and Learning, as well as delivering lectures at hospitals on how Tai Chi can improve balance and prevent falls.
Robert's experience in the business world and no nonsense approach has led to running resilience workshops for many organisations such as Coca Cola, Shell Oil and Otsuka Pharmaceutical.
A unique syllabus
Beginning in 2016, Robert and his instructor worked for 3.5 years developing the Elemental Tai Chi syllabus it is today: a prescribed process developed to start externally and work inwards - changing the body, the sinews and the fascia while learning Qi Gong and the Tai Chi form, specifically for health.
The success of this syllabus has been fantastic and is helping students get fitter, calmer and more connected into their bodies.
Please see the Testimonials page for student feedback on the system.
“With Elemental Tai Chi, I have found balance and calm at the busiest moments in my day, a mindful experience for all that practice.”
“I have been training with Robert for several years and the Elemental Tai Chi syllabus has given me a solid foundation on which to develop and refine the patterns we are learning.
Over time I have noticed several benefits, I feel calmer and more connected to my body and my flexibility, balance, strength and coordination have improved.”
— J. Wild