Jiangbao International College for Taijiquan is a school for higher education (vocational education), fully dedicated to taijiquan. We provide a unique study program that gives you the opportunity to follow one of the major family’s in their transmission.
Times are changing, therefore we adjusted the traditional method of transmission to the needs of modern-day society. As such, we aim to provide a platform for the practice of taijiquan. In order to realize this, an educational program has been developed to study this fascinating discipline. You will find that studying taijiquan, in theory and practice, is not just the memorialization of a particular set of postures, it also gives you every opportunity to develop yourself. However, in our view it is equally necessary to become aware of the cultural differences, to unlock the intricacies of the Chinese concepts utilized in taijiquan. In our college we primarily study Wu style taijiquan in accordance with late master Ma Jiangbao through a modularly structured study program. Characteristic of the entire program is the theoretical substantiation and the ability to test the validity of the assumed postures during practice. However, all is in service of obtaining practical skills. Therefor frequent self-study is a prerequisite for a successful study and the frequent practice will gradually develop skill and insight needed to become a taijiquan instructor.
Click here to go to the Taijiquan Basic Education page.
Our college consists of two departments, the department Basic Education and the department Professional Education. Our part-time training program to Wu style Taijiquan Instructor is set-up in a modularly fashion. Our training program starts with a two-year Taijiquan Basic Education course (TBE). This course is not style specific and accessible to anyone interested, including those who already have been trained in one of the other style variants of taijiquan. After completing this course, you will receive a certificate of participation. This certification grants you access to our Professional Education program.
The first module (Module A Long Form) of our part-time Professional Education program takes another two years. Although this first module is part of our Professional Education program, we still consider its content as the acquisition of basic skills. The only difference in comparison with the Taijiquan Basic Education (TBE) is it’s style specific nature. The content of the Professional Education program is fully committed to the Wu style according to late master Ma Jiangbao, both in theory and practice. The completion this course is rewarded with a certificate: Wu style Taijiquan Instructor - Level A.
This first module is followed by a series of specialization modules. Specialization possibilities are: Saber (Module B), Spear (Module C), Fast Form (Module D) and Sword (Module E). Each specialization module currently has a duration of one year. They are arranged in alphabetical order, in which each module grants you access to the successive module. This hierarchical structure is a conscious choice. It guarantees the integrity of personal development in conjunction with the acquired skills. Completing a specialization module is rewarded with a certificate instructor (plus the letter corresponding with relevant module).
The only specialization module not bound to the hierarchical order is the module Pushing Hands (Module F). You can start with this module at any time, with the only criterion of a certificate Wu style Taijiquan Instructor – Level A. This specialization module also has a duration of one year.
Only after completion of all available specialization modules can you obtain a degree Wu style Taijiquan Teacher.
All classes are taught by experienced teachers. The emphasis of the lessons is on developing understanding and skills regarding taijiquan in general and Wu style in particular. The student is expected to thoroughly prepare himself/herself before stepping into the classroom, individually or together with other students. For this reason we formulated learning goals, which are included in the lesson material, to instruct the student. In addition, the student can check whether his/her preparation was sufficient through the self-test questions, which are also included in the lesson material. In this way, we hope to raise the level, thus creating more time for personal understanding, insight and feedback during the contact-hours. The literature, we refer to in the lesson material, and the lesson material itself form the basis for self-study. We are committed to transmit knowledge as effectively as possible and take into account different learning styles. Therefore, we make use of various teaching methods, such as lecture-, coaching-, activity-, group-, and hybrid style teaching and action orientated learning, aiming to expose the various levels of understanding
The intention of the Student In-service Days is to integrate the acquired knowledge, understanding, experience and skill. To integrate all these aspects is not an easy task. In addition, what is encountered in reality is sometimes different from a school setting. One of the most important skills of a good instructor is the ability to give the correct and relevant instructions. On the one hand to remain faithful to the discipline, on the other hand to meet the individual needs of the person(s) in front of you. To develop these skills, we organize the Student In-service Days. To complete the TBE or one of the specialization modules, the attendance of at least two Student In-Service Days per year is required. However, in our view it is desirable for each student to attend more than the required In-service days.
During these Student In-service Days, three cases studies are being handled. These cases studies are provided by the students themselves and should be relevant in the context of our educational program.
The nature of these cases can vary from practical-skill refreshment, considerations concerning transmission, set-up of approach, integration of theory and practice, wellness-aspects, and self-cultivation aspects etc. The teacher shares his experiences as well as his considerations in relation to the case and, if necessary, clarifies certain theoretical aspects or starts practicing on the spot. The purpose of these days is the development of practical competence, therefor active participation of all students is expected!
Click here to go to the Student In-service Day
In recent years, taijiquan slowly finds its way in all areas of our Western culture. Nevertheless, taijiquan as a profession still is in its infancy (according to Western standards) and needs a lot of promotion and development to be taken seriously. Our college recognizes this and wishes to contribute to this process on a permanent and well-founded basis. Unfortunately, this does not happen overnight, but every journey starts by taking the first step. In our view, this first step entails explaining taijiquan from its own (Chinese) cultural perspective. This alone is difficult enough, given their totally different outlook on life. By offering specialized and comprehensive training courses, relevant to students, professional practitioners and therapists, we hope to bridge the gap between the Western and Chinese culture, to elucidate taijiquan on its own merits. With this in mind, we aim to provide Supplementary Training courses that increase specialized skills and knowledge, and it goes without saying that only highly skilled and competent teachers are invited to achieve this goal.
All our Supplementary Training activities will be announced in the relevant page of our website. This page is kept up to date and new courses will be added regularly. In addition to our regular training program, each student is bound to follow a number of Supplementary Training courses annually. For students of the Taijiquan Basic Education (TBE) at least one is required and for students of our Professional Education program at least two are required.
Click here to go to the Supplementary Training
We monitor the students’ progress by way of examination. This is done twice a year, and is applicable for all courses. With the aid of a theoretical exam, we test the students’ comprehension, insight, and application skills. The practical exam consists of a demonstration. This demonstration will be assessed on things like: sequence, coordination, timing, concentration, etc. In order to pass an exam, the student must obtain a minimum of six out of ten point for both.
For all Professional Education exams (modules A to F) applies that the basic knowledge, as given in the Taijiquan Basic Education (TBE), is constantly re-evaluated. For all practical exams of modules B to F applies that the Long Form, as taught in the Professional Education Module A, is a standard part of the test.
In addition, to qualify for a degree Wu style Taijiquan Teacher the student is obliged to write a thesis on a topic of his/her choice, which relates to taijiquan.
During any exam, a representative of a professional association may be present.
For all exams there is the possibility of a second chance (additional cost € 90).
For most courses, an annual average of 100 contact hours, or classroom hours, is required. The number of contact-hours is not sufficient for a successful study. Obviously, the time needed to obtain the required skills and knowledge depends on many factors, like motivation, age, preliminary training, level of education etc. In our experience, you should take into account three to four times the number of contact-hours for self-study. Nevertheless, some students need much more time and others achieve the same result in a much shorter time-frame.
Our college consists of two divisions: a theoretical- and a practical section. To each section a senior lecturer is appointed. The senior lecturer is responsible for, and supervises the guidance of students during their studies. The student can consult the senior lecturer on study planning, study related questions, and advise in relation to specialization.
