Debbie hastings: instructor in training

My Tai Chi journey began in 1992 when I became a student of the Wudang Tai Chi style (interchangeable with Practical Tai Chi Chuan). This style is heavily rooted in the lineage of the late  Sifu Cheng Tin – Hung and his student, the late Sifu Dan Docherty,with earlier links to the Chen, Wu and Yang family styles. The Wudang style focuses on martial applications, hard stance work, pushing hands (Tui Shou) and is combat focused.
 
I have trained in all five components of Tai Chi Chuan – hand form, competitive pushing hands, self defence, internal strength (Nei gong) and weapons, as well as Four Directions, Seven Stars, Nine Castles  and Da Lu, which are traditional Chinese martial arts pushing hands and footwork training drills, taught within specific Tai Chi lineages (such as Wudang and Practical Tai Chi Chuan).  
 
Around 2021 I came across a San Feng Pai training club where I have been able to continue to learn and pick up new skills within a different and welcoming community. In 2023 I went to China to train with my teacher’s teacher up in the mountains and in 2025 I was recognised at a national level, winning a gold medal for Tui Shou.
 
As well as a student in the internal arts I have an honours degree in Medical Herbalism (1999), I’m a deep tissue and holistic body worker, a dedicated yoga practitioner and will soon be a certified Thai Yoga Massage therapist.
 
 
 

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