News | Essex Tai Chi Academy

Mundon Tai Chi Class Closure 26th January 2026

ETCA Admin2 | December 3, 2025 |

There will be no Tai Chi class at Mundon Village Hall on 26th January 2026 as they will be doing floor maintenance.

Category: Uncategorized

Sword and Sabre Class Dates for 2026

ETCA Admin2 | August 17, 2025 |

These are the dates for the Sword and Sabre classes in 2026

SWORD SABRE

Saturday 10th January Saturday 24th January

Saturday 7th February Saturday 28th February

Saturday 7th March Saturday 23rd March

Saturday 4th April Saturday 18th April

Saturday 2nd May Saturday 23rd May

Saturday 30th May Saturday 13th June

Saturday 27th June Saturday 11th July

Saturday 25th July Saturday 8th August

Saturday 22nd August Saturday 5th September

Saturday 19th September Saturday 3rd October

Saturday 17th October Saturday 31st October

Saturday 14th November Saturday 28th November

Saturday 5th December

Category: Classes

Christmas 2025 Class Closures

ETCA Admin2 | August 16, 2025 |

Birchanger – closed 24th and 31st December

Burnham – closed 22nd December

Chelmsford, Highwood – closed 24th and 31st December

Chelmsford, Melbourne – closed 24th December and 31st December

Chelmsford, Springfield – closed 25th December and 1st January

Clacton – closed 26th December

Colchester, Acorn – closed 24th and 31st December

Great Baddow – closed evening 22nd and 29th December, morning 23rd and 30th December

Mundon – Tai Chi closed 22nd December open 29th December. Lok Hup closed 25th December and 1st January

Wickham Bishops – Lok Hup closed 23rd December. Tai Chi classes as usual.

Category: Classes

New Venue for Sword and Sabre Classes

ETCA Admin2 | June 5, 2025 |

The Sword and Sabre Classes will be moving to a new venue as the St John The Baptist Hall is to small for the classes. The last class there will be held on 28th June 2025.

Starting with the Saturday 12th July 2025 class the new venue will be

The Little Baddow Memorial Hall, North Hill, Little Baddow CM3 4TA

Category: Classes

World Tai Chi Day 2025

ETCA Admin2 | May 3, 2025 |

Clacton

It was mostly clear bright sunny day with a distant haze out at sea which dissipated slowly to reveal the Majestic Wind Farm out in the Estuary.

Upon meeting on the promenade and for car owners free parking along the promenade, we descended the steep steps to the beach.

The sand was soft and a little bumpy in places. So I knew we were in for a bit of a bumpy ride.

A little early for the 10 o’clock start, so we proceed to practise our foundation movements led by Cheryl McIntosah

Then as ten approached Lisa counted us down and we all bowed on the first stroke of 10.

A few wobbles as the variable nature of sand had surprises for us, now and then, leading to some unusual angles. Laughter, then carrying on, ending with a round of applause from us and from some passers by/watchers.

Decided we would walk up the beach to a concrete area in front of the cafe for our second set, plus our planned coffee break. On arrival, a board outside the cafe apologising for the sudden closure due to the account of the owner having an operation..

But being stalwarts we lined our sleeves up on the concrete base and performed our second set.

After which some discussion about the next move led to some going to a cafe in Clacton. Some, to known cafes on the journey home. Some just sat on the benches admiring the beautiful view.

About 30 members attended and a very enjoyable time was had by all. So lucky with the amazing weather.

Judy

Danbury

This year while the main event was held in Clacton there were additional meetings and one was in Danbury.

It’s a great feeling starting a set with fellow members of our Academy when you know that around the world millions of others are sharing the day either just ahead of us or waiting until 10.00 in their time zone. It’s also good to practice outside, the weather being great, warm and sunny, unlike last year where practice required rain coats and thermals and ‘creep low like snake’ could have been considered a ‘dangerous sport’

Following our countdown we started punctually at 10.00 completing two sets followed by a general informal tea, coffee and cake meeting.

A lot of us commented that they felt there was something very special about taking part in this day, of being part of a global community of Tai Chi players putting ring of tai chi around the world.

Nick

Photos by Shirley

Birchanger

In recent years World Tai Chi Day has been celebrated by the Birchanger class on the Petanque pitch at the Social Club because Maldon and Clacton are too far to drive for this western outpost of ETCA. A Baker’s Dozen of us turned up on a grey and slightly chilly morning – at least is didn’t rain like last year. We were joined by our much missed Class Assistant John who has been on Carer’s Duty recently.

The first set was mildly marred by my attempt at a short cut, terminated by a voice from the back reminding us ‘don’t forget the Cock’ which caused a ripple of amusement. Refreshed by coffee and home made bread pudding the second set went smoothly until I forgot the closing bow. Oh, the Joys of Tai Chi, relaxing, calming and forgiving.

Cait Goddard

Class Instructor

Phil was unable to join in with one of our organised sets as he and Linda were organising a weekend of French dance in Suffolk. However, he managed to fit in the first 17 moves whilst setting up his event.

As I was hors de combat I was only able to do a few of the foundation exercises for ten minutes but I was thinking how nice it would have been to do a full set outside. Barrie

Received from a member

WORLD TAI CHI DAY

I joined the Academy six months ago, and what a privilege it has been. In Clacton we are very fortunate that there are three classes close by, Clacton, Little Clacton and Colchester, with wonderful Instructors namely, Cheryl, Bob and Phil, not forgetting Shirley and Frank, who give us corrections so politely.

The icing on the cake was taking part at Holland-On-Sea last Saturday, celebrating with Tai Chi Members, all over the world at 10am. The group gathered at 9.30am on the beach, ‘limbered up’ with some foundation exercises, in readiness for the event on a beautiful sunny morning. Thank you Lisa, and everyone involved in running The Academy, for all your hard work, the Club is amazing.

Category: Events

Date for your Diary

ETCA Admin2 | March 12, 2025 |

We are holding a Tai Chi event for Essex Academy members only on Sunday 15th June at Rickstones School in Witham, more details to follow.

Category: Events

New Beginers Class at Great Baddow

ETCA Admin2 | February 28, 2025 |

There will be a new beginners Tai Chi class at Great Baddow starting Monday 7th April 2025 7.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.

The classes will be held at Park View Room, Millennium Centre, Baddow Road, Great Baddow CM2 9RL

Please contact the instructor, Jean Meadwell by text, mobile 07791 191611 or email jeanm.etca@gmail.c0m for further information.

Category: Classes

2025 AGM and Chinese New Year

ETCA Admin2 | February 10, 2025 |

This years AGM and Chinese New Year celebrations (a few days early) were held at Wickham Bishops village hall with just over 100 members attending.

Following registration and a chance to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones we sat down for the formal AGM. Last year’s minutes were read out and accepted by those members present. The Chair, Lisa and Vice Chair, Judy both provided reports on the status of the Academy and events that had taken place over 2024. These were followed by a presentation of the Accounts by Martin. The accounts were accepted by those members present. Lisa, Judy, Martin and Minutes Secretary Cait were all re-elected for another year. There followed a short Q & A session. Following completion of the AGM tea and cake were available, many thanks to those members that brought the cakes.

Before the Lion Dancers arrived to entertain us there was a session for all of us to go through some of the foundation exercises. Then two Chinese lions performed very energetic and entertaining dances for us and collected money for charity. Following the dancers we all sat down for a Chinese meal from Lians.

After lunch was cleared away two Tai Chi sets were performed. Members also demonstrated other tai chi forms that we practice sword, sabre and Lok Hup to the end the day.

Many thanks must go to the members of the Academy that made it happen.