Maria Yuen
I’m Maria Yuen and I am the Instructor and Founder of Ji Siu Tai Chi Chuan. I was born in Australia and have Chinese parents. My Tai Chi teacher is also my father, Master (Sifu) John Yuen. I have over 30 years experience in practising and teaching Tai Chi. I have undertaken initiation in Nei Gung (advanced) training.
I began practising Tai Chi aged 12 at the Blackburn Tai Chi Academy in Melbourne. Training in those days consisted of group classes, outdoor weapons training on weekends, assisting with teaching at the Academy, and tagging along with the seniors in class to try and get a chance to train with them. You could say Tai Chi is in my blood. My mother is an instructor at the Blackburn Tai Chi Academy, my younger sister Karen runs Qilin School of Tai Chi with her husband in Melbourne, and my older sister Selina also teaches in Orbost, a rural town in the Australian state of Victoria.
After I moved to the UK, I started teaching Tai Chi again, initially as a short course with the local college. Buoyed by the enthusiasm of the people who were committed to learning, I started Ji Siu Tai Chi Chuan in 2005. We have been based in Handbridge for nearly 20 years now. Our group has grown and developed, with very committed and energetic members, some who have been around since the very early days.
My professional background is in occupational therapy and I have worked for over 20 years within mental health care.
Tai Chi is important to me as an intrinsic part of my heritage and identity, as well as my respect for it as a martial art with a rich history. I believe Tai Chi can be transformational for enhancing health, wellbeing and self confidence, and it’s fun! Everyone has a unique Tai Chi journey- there is always something new to learn about the art, or to learn about yourself, in the process.
Sifu John Yuen
Master (Sifu) John Yuen is from Hong Kong and now lives in Melbourne, Australia. He began learning Tai Chi as a young man after trying various different martial arts. His dedication to teaching and promoting Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan has become his life’s work. He has been teaching and practising Tai Chi Chuan for more than 40 years, and runs the long-established Blackburn Tai Chi Academy in Melbourne. He continues to tirelessly teach all aspects of Tai Chi Chuan, from students in his academy, to educational institutions and community groups. He has achieved Instructor certificates in all disciplines – Tai Chi forms, Weapons Self Defence, Nei Kung and Push Hands. He is a competition judge for Wushu Tai Chi and Qigong Autralia Inc and is a member of the Hong Kong Tai Chi Institute. He was former president of the Wu Style Tai Chi Federation.
John was taught by Masters Cheng Tin Hung and Ng Kam Kee from Hong Kong.
Ji Siu Tai Chi Chuan is fortunate to have regular visits and workshops in Chester with Sifu John Yuen.
Ji Siu Tai Chi Chuan 