Philip Larsson Profile
 Philip is an Instructor Member of the Chinese Internal Arts Association and the Tai Chi Union for Great Britain and is insured through the British Council for Chinese Martial Arts.
He is a practitioner of Chen and Yang styles of Tai Chi Chuan, both empty-hand and weapons forms (Broadsword, Double-edged Sword, Staff, and Halberd).
He originally learned the Yang Short Form under Eva Koskuba, before going on to study the Long Form and applications with Karel Koskuba who has been his mentor since 1989. Philip has also studied Chin Na (joint locks and subjugation techniques) with Master Yang Zwing-ming and Chen-style Master Du Xian-ming (Beijing), in addition to Wild Goose Chi Kung under Master Ji Jian-cheng (Huangzhou). He has also attended Internal Power seminars with Mike Sigman, an internationally regarded figure in Tai Chi circles, based in Denver (Colorado).
Philip also studies the original Chen style (Lao Jia and Pao Chui, or Cannon Fist) with Karel Koskuba, and is now concentrating on this style of Tai Chi.
He has been particularly fortunate to have the opportunity of studying various aspects of Chen-style Tai Chi - notably the form, pushing hands, silk reeling, spear shaking, and Chin Na applications - under the guidance of Grandmaster Chen Xiao-wang himself. Grand master Chen is a three-times all China Martial Arts champion and undisputed head of the Chen Tai Chi family (19th generation). In 2005 Philip was fortunate enough to spend time training under Grandmaster Chen in Chenjiagou village (Henan province), the birthplace of Chen style Tai Chi.
Philip is a regular instructor at various venues throughout the Royal County with main centres in Reading, Bracknell Forest, Wokingham and West Berkshire. In keeping with traditional Taoist principles, he is keen to ensure that Tai Chi Chuan is taught in a balanced way, with equal emphasis being placed on the martial and the health aspects of Tai Chi.
He has designed and run in-house health and relaxation programmes for commercial organisations such as Nortel Networks, Boehringer Ingelheim, Symantec, John Lewis Partnership, BG Group and Henley Management College (now Henley Business School), as well as therapeutic classes for students with physical and mental health problems. In addition, he has taught on corporate programmes throughout the United Kingdom. Previous clients include Blue Dragon Foods and VW.
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Grandmaster Chen Xiao-wang is not only one of the greatest living Tai Chi masters, but he is also an inspirational teacher. Born in 1946 in Chenjiagou Village, Wenxian County, in the province of Henan, Grandmaster Chen is the grandson of the legendary Chen Fa-ke, nephew of Grandmaster Chen Zhao-kui, and 19th generation head of Chen style Tai Chi Chuan. Since childhood, he has demonstrated an exemplary dedication to the art of Tai Chi, allegedly making it a rule – even as a schoolboy - to complete twenty forms a day, come rain or shine. His perseverance helped him to make rapid progress and he is now considered by many to be the greatest Tai Chi exponent of his generation.