Instructors Training Courses

From time to time the Academy runs Instructor training courses which lead eventually certification as an instructor by the International Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan Federation.

There is no instructors course as yet planned for 2026

Requirements for entry to the Course

Students must have reached the intermediate level of training in the Archway Academy, or other Wu's style academy or training center, and been training at that level for at least six months.

The course is specifically about becoming an instructor in Wu's style Tai Chi Chuan as exemplified in the instructional DVD for the 108 movements of Wu style Tai Chi Chuan published by the Wu family

The course comprises:

• Supervised Classroom tuition

Students must complete at least 75 hours (50 classes) of mentored and supervised teaching practice including teaching both ongoing beginners and novices taking an eight week foundation course.

Besides being able to teach the Tai Chi forms accurately student instructors must also be able to demonstrate and teach the rudiments of pushing hands (i.e. up to 4 corners pushing hands) and several Form applications.

• 8x Three hour workshops

These cover various topics e.g. the techniques involved in Teaching Tai Chi Chuan, anatomy and physiology, Interpersonal skills, the history and philosophy behind Tai Chi Chuan, approaches to teaching different ages and abilities, Basic pedagogy and student assessment.

• A viva voce exam lasting about an hour to assess the instructor's learning and level of skill and ability to put across the ideas and practice of Tai Chi Chuan to novices in a micro-teaching session. If the candidate is successful this will lead to certification as a beginner level instructor in the Wu style Tai Chi Chuan Federation.