True Tai Chi

"Tried calling and contacting this place through the website. No response. *Response: Like I said, I tried calling several times and never got anyone to answer nor did I get a call back for the voicemail I left. But I'll give you 2 stars for responding to this review. Though it's sad that I had to leave a negative review just to get a response."

"I found True Tai Chi eight years ago when I decided to re-boot my fitness regime in my late-40s. I had an injury that had ended my running routine and I was looking for something intense but low-impact. Put simply, Stephan's training has changed my life. Within just a few classes, my legs were stronger and I started seeing improvement in every aspect of life - from climbing the stairs at home to using the elliptical and bike at the gym. After a year of classes, the old hip/knee injury resolved and I was able to run again. I am now stronger than I have ever been and I consider tai chi an indispensable part of my fitness. The classes are a mix of athletes, fit people of all ages, and rank beginners. The atmosphere is friendly, supportive and everybody progresses at their own pace. Even as a beginner I always felt I belonged - this is a judgment-free space! Stephan's True Tai Chi program is the most unique discipline I have ever encountered: you can use it simply to get and stay fit or you can use it to improve your performance as a serious athlete. Highly recommend."

"Folks in the DC region have a rare opportunity to train with Stephan Berwick at True Tai Chi. If you’re interested in martial arts, this can be your graduate school, as it is for many very experienced people. If you’re just looking to not fall apart before you reach sixty (like me), True Tai Chi is also a wonderful place to be. Steph's martial arts expertise , his lineage of training with the founding family of Tai Chi and his natural ability as a teacher create a rich environment where everyone benefits tremendously."

"I began Tai Chi again with Stefan Berwick after a pause of several years. My classes had previously been more choreography than martial art but I did not know that at the time. It was a pleasant way to get some gentle exercise with others. I have come to understand through Stefan that Chen Tai Chi is a path toward wellness and healing for your life. It is not a simple or an easy path, nor is it a quick fix. To really develop within this discipline, one must practice under the guidance of a good, patient teacher who has mastered the form completely. This is certainly true of Stefan. Stefan is a virtuoso as a martial artist, as first a student under the great masters of Chen Tai Chi, including in Chen Village in China, later as an actor in Hong Kong action films. He was able to use his experience as an actor to develop training programs and to perform, write and narrate instructional martial arts videos. He is also knowledgeable and proficient in explaining the healing power of tai chi executed properly. In short, you can’t find a better path to fitness and wellness anywhere."

"I’ve been training at True Tai Chi for the past year and a half. Its helped me recover and strengthen from some injuries that I’ve developed over the years. Stephan Berwick, the head instructor is a wealth of knowledge and experience in this particular Martial art. Although I’m only scratching the surface of Chen style tai chi, I look forward to continuing my training here, in such a positive and encouraging atmosphere."