Thirteen Dynamics takes its name from the classical framework at the heart of tai chi chuan — eight gates of power, five steps of movement. It's not a metaphor. It's the actual structure behind the practice.
Our tai chi comes from Cheng Tin Hung, the legendary Hong Kong fighting master who developed what he called Wudang tai chi — a style built and tested for genuine combat effectiveness, not just choreography. That tradition was brought to London by Dan Docherty, 1980 South East Asian full-contact heavyweight champion, who taught it for decades in the UK.
Neil Rosiak began training in martial arts at age 12 in praying mantis kung fu, earning a black sash within two years. At 13, in 1988, after reading about Dan Docherty's fighting reputation, he sought him out and began training directly under him.
Wudang tai chi chuan is a fighting tradition — taught properly, with the health benefits as a natural result of correct practice, not the whole point of it.
I believe wholeheartedly in the wide range of benefits Wudang tai chi can bring — physical, mental, and martial — and want to see the real art flourish.
The best way to understand what we do is to experience it. Your first class is free.
Book Your Free Trial →No. Most of our students start with zero martial arts background. Classes are structured so beginners and experienced students train side by side, at your own pace.
Loose, comfortable clothing you can move freely in — leggings, joggers, a t-shirt. No special uniform or equipment needed to start.
Both. It’s a genuine martial art with real physical demands — balance, strength, coordination — but it’s taught at a pace that’s accessible to any fitness level. You’ll build strength and flexibility over time, not from day one.
Not unless you want to. And later, when you have built relevant skills. Pushing hands (a specific class within our schedule) involves controlled, cooperative practice with a partner — it’s about sensitivity and structure, not competitive fighting.
Yes. Classes are taught with attention to each student’s level, and nobody is pushed faster than they’re ready for. If you have any specific health concerns, just mention them when you arrive.
16 Kentish Town Road, Camden Town, London NW1 9NX — two minutes from Camden Town station.
Dedicated to authentic Tai Chi Chuan.
1800 - 2100
1300 - 1500
Closed
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