Information about Paul

Paul Brecher began training in the martial arts at the age of ten in 1977 and has been teaching Chinese Internal Martial Arts in London since 1988.

His training began with many hard/external styles and then he met his first internal martial arts teacher in Singapore, Mr Tan Choo Seng, who was taught by not only Chen Xiaowang and Yang Chen So but also Venerable Abbott Shi Gaocan (Sek Koh Sum), a legend in south east asia. From Mr Tan, Paul learnt The Old Chen Style of Tai Chi Chuan with a heavy emphasis on the martial applications, pushing hands, sticking hands and many internal principles of movement and combat such as the Chen families famouse silk reeling spiralling power and fa jin explosive strikes. From him Paul also learnt the New Yang Style Long Form as well as Five Element Chi Kung. From Tan Choo Seng, Paul was also fortunate to have been taught the 13 Postures of the Chen Style and The 13 Postures of The Yang Style, these are the foundation movements of Tai Chi.

Pauls next teacher was Mr Chen Fei in Sydney Austrailia, who was taught by Chiang Yu Kuen and Tung Ying Chieh, from Mr Chen, Paul learnt another version of the New Yang Style Long Form, Single and Double Pushing Hands, Da Lu and The New Yang Style Two Person Large San Sau. Mr Chen also taught him separate silk reeling excersices and Yang Style Chi Kung.

From variouse other Tai Chi teachers in London UK Paul learnt many weapons forms, The New Yang Style Tai Chi Long Pole Form, The New Yang Style Broadsword Form and The Tai Chi Walking Stick Form and a Double Broadsword Form and Chinese Double Short Swords.

Pauls next teacher was Mr Erle Montaigue, from him Paul learnt The Old Yang Style of Tai Chi, Pa Kua Chang and Wutang Shan Nei Jia Chuan. It is these three styles that Paul now teaches in his London Classes, for more information please click here

Pauls also trained in mainland China with many great teachers:

1. Mr C.S.Tang who was a student of the famous Pa Kua Chang teacher, Ho Ho Choi. 

2. Mr Zhao Xian Ping the head instructor of Tai Chi in Yong Nian, his lineage goes back to Li Yi Yu who was a student of Wu Yu Xiang who learnt from both Yang Lu Chan and and Chen Ching Ping. Also Mr Zhao Xian Ping interestingly learnt from Zhai Wen Zhang who was a student of Yang Zhao Ling the son of Yang Feng Hou, the oldest son of Yang Lu Chan.

3. Mr Han Hui Ming who teaches Tai Chi in the courtyard of Yang Lu Chan s house, he was a student of Li Wan Chang who was the student of Yang Ban Hou who was Yang Lu Chans son.  

4. Mr Yang Zheng Guo the son of Yang Chen Fu, who was Yang Lu Chans grandson.

5. Mr Wang Chang Xing, his teacher was Bai Gong Xian who was a student of Yang Ban Hou.  

6. Mr Lu who was a student of Fu Zhong Wen the top student of Yang Cheng Fu. Also many years ago Mr Lu had been in Peking ( Beijing ) and there had learnt the First and Second Old Frame Long Forms of Chen Fa Ke (1887 -1957 ). Chen Fa Kes great grand father was Chen Chang Xing who taught Yang Lu Chan. I did a demonstration of the sequence called Sleeves Dancing like Plum Blossom from the Old Yang Style Long Form and Mr Lu said that this section was part of the Chen Fa Ke Second Old Frame Long Form.

7. Mr Shen, the head of the Emei Mountain Martial Arts School an expert in Emei Shan Five Animals Chuan. 

8. Mr Gao Yen Tao, his father was from Wudang Shan and his grand father from Shaolin, Mr Gao is unequaled in his skill !

One by one I am putting up my movies of these great teachers here Movies.

Paul is now the Chief Instructor of The College of Chinese Martial Arts, to find out more information please click here

Whilst he was furthering his ability in the Chinese martial arts Paul was also developing his skill in the Chinese healing arts and after completing a four year training course in June 1996 he qualified from The Fook Sang Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Practioners Training College where he was taught by the famous Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Bernard Kai Lam Lee from Canton in China.

Paul Brecher BA FAcS MPCHM is now the Principal of The College of Chinese Medicine.
To find out more about courses offered by the college please click here

Paul treats patients with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for a wide variety of conditions at his clinic in North London, to find out more please click here

Books Published:
Principles of Tai Chi - Published by Thorsons in 1997.                                                
Way of The Spiritual Warrior - Published by Thorsons in 1998.
Tai Chi Directions - Published by Thorsons in 2000.
Secrets Of Energy Work - Published by Dorling Kindersley in 2001.
Tai Chi Fighting and Healing - Published by Jedzac Books 2002.
The Principles of Bagua - Published by Jedzac Books 2006
* New Book
The College of Chinese Martial Arts Training Manual

Instructional DVDS:

The 26 Postures of Tai Chi
The Tai Chi Double Broadsword Form
The Tai Chi Long Pole Form
The Tai Chi Walking Stick Form
The Martial Applications of The Tai Chi Walking Stick Form
Chinese Double Short Sword Training and Fighting Methods
Fingertip Healing Volume One
Fingertip Healing Volume Two

Documentary DVDS:
A Martial Arts Journey Part One South East Asia
A Martial Arts Journey Part Two China

Articles:
Interviewed by the Express Newspaper (15 April 1997) full colour double page spread with photos of my dynamic Tai Chi style.

Featured in Insight Magazine and Health and Fitness Magazine and Shape Magazine in 1999, Elle Magazine in 2000 and Here's Health Magazine 2001.

Editor of the English language version of the Chinese governments famous health promoting Chi Kung book Knocking at the Gate of Life in 2000. 

Wrote the sections on Chinese Martial Arts, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine for The Rough Guide to China Travel Book 2000.

Articles about the Chinese martial and healing arts have been regularly published in
Combat and Healing Magazine and in Combat Magazines since 1997.

Radio:
Interviewed by Greater London Radio in 1998
Interviewed by LBC Radio on 9 July 2004
Interviewed by Nick Ferrari on LBC Radio 11 Feb 2010

TV:
Demonstrated Tai Chi on Live TV in May 1996
Demonstrated Tai Chi on UK Gold in April 1997 and December 1997.
Short Tai Chi film for Discovery Channel in September 2000.
Interviewed by Sky TV News on 9 July 2004 to help explain to the public more about Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Interviewed by BBC Lunchtime News on 21 December 2004 and demonstrated advanced Acupuncture techniques.

Paul Brecher BA FAcS MPCHM sees patients at his clinic in North London
The North London Clinic

Copywrite 2010 paul brecher