Interview with Tai Chi Instructor Matthew Rochford

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By Pete Mills, on 20-03-2008 14:59

Martial Edge is pleased to speak to Matthew Rochford, author of “Total Tai Chi” and founder of Tai Chi Nation and The Devon School of Tai Chi. With over 17 years experience in the internal arts and several credits to his name, Matthew is fast becoming one of the most talked about instructors in the UK. As well as his first book “Total Tai Chi”, Matthew has also and released two instructional DVDs.

On Martial Roots…

Martial Edge: Tell us a little about your beginnings in Tai Chi. What/who inspired you?

Matthew Rochford: I first saw tai chi when I was at University in the late 80’s. It seemed very abstract to me at the time. A couple of years later I developed an interest in meditation and Buddhism, having always had an interest in the mind. In 1991 I met a man called Alan Higgins, who was a Tai Chi teacher and former Tae Kwon Do black belt. I went to his classes for three or four years and became friends with him. I was very lucky, at times attending up to three classes a week and often doing push hands in the evenings or at weekends. My downstairs neighbour had introduced me to Alan. He was also a very keen martial artist, and very happy to pass on what he knew to me. Both these people where also very much into the Spiritual aspect, which was where my main interest was. In 1992 I was able to train with Peter Warr for the first time and also met Master Huang Jifu, Peters Tai Chi brother.

I think my early interest in Tai Chi was born out of a desire to feel more balanced in myself and with others, rather than to fight or win competitions.

Martial Edge: You’ve had the pleasure of learning from some of the nation’s foremost figures on Tai Chi (including the great Peter Warr), which ones in particular left a serious impact on you as a practitioner?

Matthew Rochford: Peter Warr is a great martial artist and his background is that of a very powerful fighter, rather than a spiritual type. I trained with him for many years and learnt a lot from him. Through Peter I was once able to train with Master Huang Jifu. Master Huang said some important things to us in that Seminar, including that we needed to be flexible in our lives and that we needed to understand “why” things are, as they are, in Tai Chi. I remember pushing hands with Master Huang and him being very “empty at the point of contact”. He was a very high level practitioner.

In more recent years I have been working with another teacher, Luke Shepherd (a student of Patrick Kelly), who’s input has really taken my interest and understanding to a deeper level. Luke has definitely re-ignited the fire of my interest in the more subtle, yet essential aspects of Tai Chi.

Martial Edge: What are your current goals as a teacher, entrepreneur, and general Tai Chi practitioner?

Matthew Rochford: Good question. As a teacher- to inspire and help others benefit as fully as possible from Tai Chi. As an entrepreneur- to engage with as many people as possible, in as many ways (through our courses and holidays, through our online communities, through our clothing). As a Practitioner- to practice and stay centred and live with more humility.

On Martial Achievements…

Martial Edge: In 1999 you founded the Devon School of Tai Chi, which offers instruction in both Tai Chi (Yang style, Jian and Chen Man Ching style) and Qigong, how has the School grown in it’s nine year lifetime?

Matthew Rochford: The School has grown a lot - we regularly teach over 300 people each week from originally having just one class of 20 people. A lot of things have helped with the growth of the School- hard work, help from the Princes Trust, help from other teachers (Peter Warr, Luke Shepherd, Chris Waters, Joe Salmon, Helen Holden), committed and enthusiastic students. We recently started working closely with Luke Shepherds Open Palm Tai Ji School which has been great and we have forged a good partnership.

Next year is the tenth anniversary year, which is really nice. I think a party will be in order.

Demand has grown a lot over the years as people recognise the good qualities of Tai Chi and the benefits match with their needs. The internet has also been a big factor with over 6000 unique monthly visitors to our website and about 50 000 views on our YouTube site. For a provincial school we are doing very well, attracting a lot of people from around the UK and Europe. We also train teachers, which has been a big personal project of mine.

Martial Edge: You’ve released a book and several DVD’s on the subject of Tai Chi and Chi Kung, these include: “Total Tai Chi”, “Tai Chi forms and Chi Kung (DVD)”, and “Qi Gong (DVD)”, - How has the experience of releasing your own work affected your personal development as a teacher?

Matthew Rochford: The book was a real surprise, I was contacted and asked to write it back in 2003 and given a very tight deadline. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I have always been very grateful for the opportunity. It was published in the USA, the UK, Spain and Hungary. The thing about writing a book is that it forces you to get really clear about what you really know, in a different way to teaching. However, as understanding changes all the time, when I look back at what I wrote in 2003 it seems almost foreign to me. I would like to write another but maybe in a few years time.

The DVDs have sold very well, particularly the Qi Gong one. Making them was hard work, but again gave me the opportunity to have a look at where I was as a practitioner and teacher. Primarily though, I wanted to offer something of use to my students and people in general. The Qi Gong DVD I made as accessible as possible, I know that the benefits of Qi Gong are really needed in this day and age and for many people these arts really help.

Martial Edge: Can you tell us a little bit about “Tai Chi Nation”?

Matthew Rochford: Yes, it is my latest and potentially biggest project to date. Having made my Tai Chi School the biggest in the region, the next level was to create something that was not provincial and was free from any politics- something contemporary and relevant. Most people have no interest in what style of tai chi you do, what organisation you belong to or what lineage you have, they just want something accessible and useful, no strings attached. There is a real lack of marketing nouce within the tai chi world, and at times the perception is that the tai chi world is abstract, cliquey, too traditional, “anoraky” and out of step with the mainstream- which explains why it is lagging way behind arts such as Yoga and Pilates in terms of popularity.

Tai Chi Nation is there to fill that void and to do it in a different, interesting, relevant and contemporary way. We even have a range of designer clothing, offer holidays in Europe and are beginning to take advantage of the unique strengths of the internet. With the project as a whole I really wanted to do something that hadn't been done before and was keen to avoid silk pyjamas and Chinese slippers, as culturally they are not appropriate for a western audience.

I have two partners in this project (three if you include our customers): one is the founder of two digital marketing agencies based in London and the other is a long time friend and fellow tai chi practitioner. We all work very well together. For the last 6 weeks I have been working very closely with the web designers, a photographer and film maker. It has been enourmous fun.

Martial Edge: What other projects can we expect to see from you in the coming months?

Matthew Rochford: I am currently working on our revised Instructor Training course which begins this summer. This is a challenge, as it involves a lot of thought, writing and working closely with other practitioners. Although I have written and run such a course before, I am improving and adding to it. I am really looking forwards to beginning this new training in June of this year.

Martial Edge: You’re also working on a clothing brand, what can you tell about that?

Matthew Rochford: Initially we have done a range of T-shirts, using bamboo fabric which is really light and soft. We only use organic or environmentally friendly fabric. The shirts are really nice- inspired by some well known tai chi moves and the concept of Qi. They where designed by an Israeli fashion designer called Bella Gonshorivitz. The clothing brand will also expand and evolve later on this year.

Martial Edge: The Devon School of Tai Chi involves itself in a lot of community projects, from schools to sheltered housing to even prisons. What inspired you to take tai chi and put it out there in all of these aspects of the community?

Matthew Rochford: Both myself and my fellow teachers from the School and Tai Chi Nation are basically compassionate martial artists so naturally we want to benefit others. We have worked with kids with behavioural problems, people who are homeless, elderly people and groups with learning disabilities. I guess we just want to work with people who will benefit, whoever they are.

Martial Edge: You even took tai chi into the corporate setting (an area known for its high levels of stress) such as offices and advertising agencies – How was Tai Chi received in that environment? Were people welcoming of it, or dismissive?

Matthew Rochford: Essentially our work in corporate settings has been well received with some good relationships now beginning to flourish. Selling the ideas can take longer in the Corporate World but once you get in there and manage to get then into a receptive state it is no different from anywhere else really.

On Martial Philosophy…

Martial Edge: You teach alongside Chris Crudelli, The Barefoot Doctor and Qigong Master Bisong Guo on “The Hill that Breathes” Masters Programme in Italy. What can you tell us about the facility, its teachers, and its benefits?

Matthew Rochford: I have had a connection with John and Gaia (who run “The Hill”) for a few years now and they invited me on to their Masters Programme for this year. I was a bit surprised to be honest, little me “up there” with some big names, but really honoured to have the opportunity.

The place is really something special – acres of woodland, superb food and just an amazing vibe. I really respect them for what they are doing there.

The programme runs on a weekly basis and staying there is real fun for everyone, a real spiritual holiday.

Martial Edge: What would you define as the most important aspect of Tai Chi?

Matthew Rochford: Without doubt training the mind/body connection, after 17 years I am beginning to realise how important it is to go beyond just good physical movement and relaxation into the world of deep internal sensation and listening (known as Ting Jing). In a nutshell: Genuine enquiry into the internal sensations and the use of mind.

Martial Edge: What would you say the most rewarding aspect of Tai Chi is for you?

Matthew Rochford: Just feeling focussed and happy.

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Martial Edge: What is your opinion on the adaptation of Tai Chi to suit combative needs?

Matthew Rochford: I guess I don’t see it that way, more other way round. Tai Chi, in my view, is an internal martial art that has been adapted to suit the very human needs of relaxation, inner peace and prevention of illness. If Tai Chi hadn’t adapted and changed with each generation and with relevance to the culture it is in it would have died out or remained an elusive, obscure art.

Tai Chi can be used as an external martial art, in much the same way as all the others, and there is nothing at all wrong with that, I think though that the most subtle aspects of internal refinement (which I am only beginning to realise are possible) can be left behind or rather pushed out in the name of combat or competition and seen as “weak” when in actual fact are the most noble.

Someone I know who had been training in some of these more sublte aspects for about 10 years went to a big tai chi event and pushed hands with some practitioners who had been practising for about 20-30 years (important figures in the tai chi world). He was able to uproot them very easily, without reply. They argued that he was “too soft”. I guess this illustrates a lack of humility on the side of the "more experienced" practitioners. It also shows that the deeper aspects of tai chi really work, if you are prepared to “invest in loss” as Cheng Man Ching kept going on about.

Personally I am not much of a fighter, I am too much of a Buddhist.

Martial Edge: How important is it in your opinion to try and incorporate Tai Chi and Qi Gong into all aspects of a person’s lifestyle?

Matthew Rochford: This is something a person can only do for themselves, as a teacher you can encourage this through your example as best you can. If you can teach someone to get into a relaxed, connected state the benefits will sell themselves and the person may well bring it more fully into their lives. As a teacher your role is to be there alongside the student, to support them on the journey. Whether they learn lots of Tai Chi or just a little, it doesn't matter as the main thing is how it works for them/how it benefits them.

Matthew founded Tai Chi Nation in 2007 and The Devon School Of Tai Chi in 1999. He lives in South Devon with his wife Ali and dog Ben.

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