Heron has been studying meditation, internal martial arts, and the philosophical teachings of the Far East since his late teens. His work and research spans over thirty-five years in a variety of countries. In particular, he has studied in Britain, the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Taiwan where he lived for twenty years. Amid an odyssey of teachers and teachings, Heron has trained close and in-depth with high level practitioners in a variety of art forms. His key interests are in qigong for core health, self cultivation through classical Taoist teachings, and the practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan and its related survival techniques as a form of living philosophy.
Qigong (also romanised C’hi Kung) translates simply as energy work. It is the cultivation of intrinsic energy, an impalpable essence forming the fabric of all life as seen by Chinese philosophers, healers, and mystics. Drawing on this energy from within and around us, we are able to boost and invigorate mind, body and spirit. The forms and styles of Qigong are myriad and beyond the scope of this brief introduction, but there are essentially four main categories of practice: nèi gōng 內功 (inner work); wài gōng 外公 (outer work); dǎo yǐn nèi gōng 導引內功 (guiding inner work); and dǎo yǐn wài gōng 導引外公 (guiding outer work) – terms that describe different configurations of movement and stillness in Qigong development. Development in Qigong also assists internal martial arts training and Taoist and Buddhist cultivation practice. A selection of some of the Qigong methods that Heron teaches are as follows:
Taoist philosophy’s two most pivotal works are the Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) and the Book of Chuangtzu (Zhuangzi). The teachings in these two seminal texts pervade all of the Chinese arts in one fashion or another and influence Chinese thinking in general. Composed during periods of political turmoil in ancient China, they serve as guides for survival in chaotic and dangerous times, providing blueprints for coping with the pressures of human society. The principles when applied do not change that reality; they simply show us how to transcend the struggles of existence without cutting off from what is splendorous in life itself.
Centred around Lao Tzu’s teaching that softness overcomes hardness, Taiji Quan (T’ai Chi Ch’uan) is a training of body, mind and spirit conducted through a martial framework. Ancient practitioners began with individual martial applications that were in time joined together to become a long flowing chain of interlinking postures. This, they discovered, served as a unique method of cultivating energy. The art draws from areas of Han Chinese culture as diverse as classical Taoism, Chinese medicine, Qigong, shamanism, and the Chinese martial arts. Greater than the sum of its parts, Taiji Quan is a tool for self cultivation, physical protection, health preservation, and the capacity to free the mind from the stresses of modern living.
Based on the metaphysics of the Yijing, Bagua Zhang, or Pa Kua Chang (lit. eight trigram palm), is a late 19th century martial art that develops strength, balance, and lightness. Renowned for its use by Qing dynasty era bodyguards, its earliest roots can be found in the Taoist religious practice of circle walking, an activity in which priests would tread circles and maintain quiet focus while reciting sacred religious texts. Bagua practitioners employ complex, flowing martial applications that operate out of circles and spirals.
Xingyi Quan (Hsing I Ch’uan) is the oldest of the internal styles attributed to the Song dynasty general Yue Fei. Its structure and style were developed from the core training of Chinese lancers – the constrains of which allowed only a limited range of movement. The art hones a purity and conciseness that concentrates the power of the practitioner. That power is applied through hand movements based on five element theory and the movements of animals, between ten and twelve depending on the system. Not only is Xingyi Quan a martial art, it is also the training of mind and energy, a natural form of Qigong and a way of being effective in life generally.
Seated meditation shows us what is really there in the mind and allows us to understand the nature of our own consciousness. There are many forms of meditation, the highest of which has no form. Some are examples are xuán gōng 玄功 (mystery work) clearing meditation, Taoist water wheel meditation, and quiet sitting.
Heron began his studies with his father, Paul Beecham, who introduced esoteric teachings and martial concepts to him during childhood. In the mid 1980s, through a family friend, he encountered Dr John Kells, the founder of the British T’ai Chi Ch’uan Association. Heron studied at the BTTCA for ten years where he underwent teacher training and eventually taught advanced classes for Dr Kells. In 1997 he began exploring other areas of the martial arts throughout the UK and over in the United States to broaden his understanding. And then, in 1998, he moved to Taiwan where he researched ancient Chinese art forms and the traditional Chinese culture on the island for the best part of two decades. During this time Heron also made trips over to the Chinese mainland where he explored martial arts and religious Taoism. This was combined with further research in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and other parts of Asia. From 1999 onwards, after a fortuitous meeting in North America, Heron began making regular visits to Vancouver, Canada to study privately with the renowned Shaolin and Internal martial arts master, Sam Tam.
In Taiwan, Heron’s most influential teachers have been:
Professor Lin Chang Li, a disciple of Wang Shu Jin with whom he learnt Qigong, meditation, Bagua Zhang, Taiji Quan, and Xingyi Quan.
Professor Tang Yi Nan, his teacher in Lao-Zhuang philosophy — the philosophical Taoism of the Warring States period. Professor Tang was mentored by the famed Chinese philosopher Mo Zong San. She was a world class specialist in the writings and teachings of Zhuangzi.
Master Wang Chin Shi, a disciple of Cheng Man Ching with whom he studied privately in Cheng style Taiji. He also received further teacher training through Master Wang’s Taiwan, Republic of China Taiji association.
Master Shi Kong Ming, a healer and Chan meditation master who teaches a system known as Xuan Gong (lit. mystery work) from whom Heron learnt both Xuan Gong teachings and Chan Buddhist meditation. Heron has translated several of Master Kong Ming's meditation texts.
Master Zhao Fu Lin, with whom Heron studied Shaolin Qigong and a rare style of Taiji called Bagua Taiji Quan, a form devised at the famed Nanjing Academy in the 1930s. Heron is the co-translator of Zhao's Fu Lin's 2011 publication Bagua Taiji Quan.
Master Guan Feng Zheng, the youngest disciple of Chiang Kai Shek’s famed bodyguard, Liu Yun Chiao, with whom he studied the Yin Style of Bagua Zhang.
Dr. Wu Wen Hsien, with whom Heron studied Qigong, Taiji, Shaolin boxing, meditation, and traditional Chinese medical theory.
During his studies in the East, Heron has published, translated and/or edited works on the Chinese martial arts as well as texts on Buddhist sutras and Chan meditation. He is currently writing a book of Chinese martial and philosophical idioms.
Benefits of Study
Classes are adapted to individual student needs.
Long term study of Taoist philosophy, Qigong, and the internal martial arts has a variety of benefits. These include:
* Groundedness
* Inner peace
* Stronger health & vitality
* Psychological and physical self-defence
* Equanimity through ancient philosophical teachings
* Harmonisation with life and nature (Dao)
Private Classes
Heron teaches one-to-one classes, weekends in Taipei & weekdays in Tainan City. For further information please contact: lotus_chen@yahoo.com, or contact Heron directly using the form below.
Online classes are also available.
Group Classes and Workshops
Heron has taught group classes and workshops for a variety of organisations. Please provide details if you are interested in booking Heron for private group classes or to facilitate workshops.
Heron has run classes and workshops for the following charities:
.jpg)
To learn more about classes, availability, or any other general enquiries please use the form to the right.
You can also contact Heron directly at hbeecham@yahoo.com or for more general queries contact Lotus via the following email: lotus_chen@yahoo.com
