Welcome to our U3A Tai Chi & Shibashi website.

Our Tai Chi and Shibashi classes are two of many courses offered by U3A (University of the Third Age) Bundaberg. The classes are  held every Wednesday (except during the school holidays). Shibashi : 8.30 - 9.30 am, Tai Chi : 9.30 - 10.30 am.

To attend our classes, you must be a member of the U3A Bundaberg.

Once you are a U3A member, you can join our classes by providing your contact details on our Tai Chi Join Us page on this site, or by scanning the Attendance QR code in the hall.  
(Please let us know if you need any help.)                                               

You are very welcome to come to the Avenell Heights Hall to meet us and see if our classes are right for you before joining the U3A. 

Our classes are free, except for a gold coin donation per class to help cover hall hire costs.

The difference between Tai Chi and Shibashi can be best understood by realising that Shibashi is a specific set of Qigong exercises that incorporates elements of Tai Chi.

Here is a breakdown of the key differences:

  Shibashi (Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi)

• Primary Identity: Shibashi is a modern set of Qigong exercises (pronounced chee-gong), which is an ancient health system focused on cultivating Qi through breathing, movement, and meditation.
  
  

• Form and Simplicity: Our routine has sets of 18 specific, gentle, and flowing movements (Shibashi literally means "eighteen"). Each movement is typically repeated a set number of times (like 4, 6, or 8).
  
  

• Basis: It was created in 1979 by Professor Lin Hou-Sheng by extracting and simplifying the best movements and philosophy from the Yang style of Tai Chi and combining them with deep Qigong breathing.
  
  

• Emphasis: The focus is on general health and well-being, synchronising the gentle movement with deep abdominal breathing, and feeling the flow of Qi.
  
  

• Learning Curve: It is much easier and faster to learn than a full Tai Chi form, making it highly accessible for all ages and fitness levels, including those with physical limitations (it can even be practised seated).

Shibashi is adaptable and suitable for people of varying fitness levels. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced practitioner, the gentle nature of Shibashi makes it accessible to nearly everyone. So, consider giving it a try!

Tai Chi is more challenging than Shibashi and requires more commitment to learn. We recommend that most beginners try Shibashi before moving on to Tai Chi.

Our Shibashi page includes 2 videos of Gary Khor teaching 18 movements of Shibashi each. Shibashi and Tai-Chi practised at a slow and even speed, are widely acknowledged to help calm emotions, focus the mind, and strengthen the immune system. It promotes relaxation, proper breathing, straight posture, and balance. It also helps us stay more flexible as we grow older, thus making an outstanding contribution to our overall health and well-being.

🥋 Tai Chi (Taijiquan)

• Primary Identity: Tai Chi is traditionally a martial art (often translated as "Supreme Ultimate Fist") that uses soft, internal, and flowing movements for self-defence and health.
  
  

• Form and Complexity: It typically involves a long, continuous sequence of flowing movements (a "form") that can take months to years to memorise. The Yang Chengfu form we practice consists of 108 moves.
  
  

• Emphasis: The focus is on perfecting the specific form, posture, and stances (like weight shifting and stepping), as well as cultivating Qi (life energy) through the complex sequence.
  
  

• Learning Curve: Generally considered more complex and demanding in terms of memorisation, balance, and coordination.
  
  

Our Tai-Chi page includes Videos of Master Zhao Youbin performing the Yang Chengfu form.

Information on how to join is on the Join Us page on this website.

You can direct any questions you may have to the Contact Us page.                                                                                                                                               
Remember, every journey starts with the first step!