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About your Tai Chi Chuan guide: 
Phil Mansfield took up learning tai chi chuan in 1993. He had suffered from arthritis in his knees brought on by years of working on ladders and on his knees in lofts and attics as an electrician. Doctors told him that little could be done other than to take pain reducing medicines and take some form of exercise. Yoga and swimming were tried but both caused discomfort so Tai Chi classes which were advertised locally were attended.
The classes in Bangor were run by Steve Morris who was attached to the China Bridge Tai Chi Club in Penrhyn Bay,North Wales This club is run by Peter Newton a very experienced Tai Chi practitioner and author of excellent books on Tai Chi and Qigong.
Phil trained with Steve and found that over a few months the discomfort in his knees began to subside as the muscles in his legs became stronger and more flexible. His interest in tai chi developed and he studied many books, videos and DVD’s to see the scope of this discipline.
He also attended workshops with Dr Yang Jwing Ming when he was in this country from America.
Training continued with one of Peter Newton’s senior students, Celia Brown from Harlech and he also joined John Ding’s Martial Art Academy in London and attended workshops and retreats with Master Ding learning the skills of posture testing in some depth.
In 2001 he went to Oxford University where he trained with Dr Paul LAM learning the condensed Sun form for arthritis sufferers and on returning to his home on Anglesey, North Wales started running Tai Chi classes for people with arthritis in addition to the classes that he already ran for people learning the Yang form and qigong.
He is also a member of the Tai Chi and Qigong Forum for Special Needs and has trained with them in Manchester and Birmingham.
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He currently runs classes on Anglesey as detailed and gives talks and workshops on a regular basis. He has an enduring interest in traditional Chinese medicine and uses the information learned to widen his knowledge of the role of chi and meridian theory in his classes.
He is a qualified Reflexologist and a member of the Association of Reflexologists, a Reiki healer and a qualified Spiritual healer with the Surrey Spiritual Healers Association.
In addition to his work with Tai Chi and healing he also runs a thriving horticultural undertaking with his wife, Rowena with a focus on growing hydroponically and aquaponically. (see www.herbsfromwales.co.uk).
Phil has a severe hearing disability which prevents him from assimilating sounds and conversations however with lip reading and sign language he manages to run classes, workshops and talks – with a few mix ups along the way which usually cause lots of laughter.
Recommended reading and viewing list
The following books, videos and DVD’s we have read and found very helpful in our studies of Tai Chi Chuan.
Books.
1. The Way of Qigong by Kenneth S Cohen ISBN NO 0-345-42109-4.
2. The Complete System of Self Healing by Dr Stephen T Chang
ISBN 0-942196-06-6
3 .The Dao of Taijiquan by Jou Tsung Hwa ISBN0-8048-1357-4
4 .The Body Electric by Dr Robert O Becker ISBN 0-688-06971
5.Tai Chi- The ultimate Beginners Guide by Peter Newton ISBN 0-9533204-1-3
6 .The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal medicine translated by Ilza Veith ISBN No 0-520-02158-4
7 .The Tao of Meditation by Jou Tsung Hwa ISBN 0-8048-1465-1
8. Overcoming Arthritis by Dr Paul LKam and Judith Horstman
ISBN No 0-7513-3979-2
9. 15 minute Tai Chi by Master John Ding ISBN No 0-00-714592-6
10 .Idiot’s Guide to Tai Chi and Qigong by Bill Douglas.
Read any book written by Dr Yang Jwing Ming as they are all very good.
These are just some of the books that we own and recommend to anyone who wishes to explore the rich history and practice of Tai Chi Chuan.
DVD’s and Videos.
1. Qigong – beginning practice by Francesco and Daisy Lee Garripoli (Brilliant)
2. Qigong by Ken Cohen
3. Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan parts I,2 and 3 by Master John Ding ( a must for learners of the long form)
4. Tai Chi for Arthritis -1 and 2 by Paul Lam .Dr Lam has produced many DVD’s and can be seen on www.taichiproductions.com.
5. Any DVD’s by Dr Yang Jwing Ming – all widely available on Amazon.
A sample of the DVD’s etc that we have viewed, bought and gone back to time and again. There are many others by the same authors as above and new producers that time and, more importantly, money have prevented us from viewing but as the Tai Chi journey is very long we will no doubt get round to them all eventually.
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