Teri’s travel report

Teri Dee from UK sharing her experience training at the Yuntai Mountain School in China.

I first came to the school in 2015 to study Shaolin Kung Fu. I had a great time, and the training was demanding. I stayed for 6 weeks during the summer. Just before I left the school, I remember seeing a Tai Chi Shifu training, and I was mesmerized by the way he moved; it was so dynamic yet soft, something I had never seen before, even though I had been to China for training multiple times. I decided that when the time was right, I would return to Yuntai to learn this style of Tai Chi.

In 2023, it was time to return, and I wasn’t disappointed. The training was everything I had hoped for, and my teacher, Dong, was just as inspiring as the Shifu I had seen back in 2015. I stayed for a month and trained hard, but Tai Chi presented different challenges compared to Shaolin Kung Fu. Nonetheless, I was able to learn a hand form and sword form during this time to a level that is good enough for me to take away and practice.

When I returned, it was also great to see that Yuan Shifu was still there, and he made me feel welcomed and a part of the community. It was very easy to talk with him about anything I needed help with.

The rich cultural experience, the opportunity to train alongside Chinese students, and the great martial arts are why I chose Yuntai.