FAQ - Twin Cities T'ai-Chi Ch'uan

Anyone may visit any of our T'ai-Chi Solo Form classes. The first class is free so you can see the studio, meet the instructors, and experience what we teach.

You should actually take the class if you can. We liken it to watching someone eat—by only watching, you can't really taste the food. There is no need to call ahead or make arrangements, just show up.

Beginners can come to our any of our T'ai-Chi Solo Form classes which are open to all levels on Monday, Thursday, Saturday at 12:30 pm and Wednesday, Thursday (this class is the TC Short Form) at 6 pm. We also have a class for beginners through people who have not completed the solo form on Monday at 6 pm. Drop in at any of these times and take a free sample class. After the first class, you will be in small groups with the other people learning the first section. Then, as you progress (at your own pace), you will move through the entire three sections. Once you finish the Solo Form and complete the requirements, you are eligible to attend our T’ai-Chi Solo Form Review and Practice Class, which is Saturday at 11:30 am or our Solo Form Refinement Class on Tuesday at 6:00 pm.

A rare few have learned the entire 150-movement form in one month, but most take several months. It all depends on how your body learns, how much your mind can retain, and how much you practice outside of class.

T'ai-Chi is an art consisting of four categories: health, self-defense, philosophy and meditation. We teach all four aspects equally throughout the schedule.

After you finish the Solo Form, you are eligible to take our advanced classes, which include include T’ai-Chi Solo Form Refinement, T'ai-Chi weapons and two-person work (the Two-Person Dance and Pushing-Hands).

Our membership fees are $75 per month for unlimited classes (i.e., everything we teach on our entire schedule), or $55 per month to attend one day per week. We also have a rate of $55 per month for senior citizens (65 years or older) and students currently enrolled in a school (college, university, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, etc.). We also have a household rate, which is $125 per month for two people, or $170 per month for three. Lastly, we have a junior/senior high rate of $30 per month.

We have no uniform. Wear loose, comfortable clothing such as jeans, sweats, or shorts—you won't look out of place. Also, practitioners of the Chinese styles wear shoes (some students don't, but most do). Sneakers are fine. We have men's and women's changing rooms.

We teach a variety of Chinese Martial Art styles. The entire class schedule is listed on this site. Our schedule changes on January 15, June 15, and September 15 of each year, but the T'ai-Chi Solo Form classes are always held at the same times.

See Map. We are at 2242 University Ave W, St. Paul. We are near highway 280, which is the border between Minneapolis and St. Paul. Take 94 to 280 north, get off on University Avenue, turn right, and take University three lights east to Hampden Avenue. We are on the southeast corner of that intersection, second floor, room 207. Our door is on the Hampden side of the building.

There is free, curbside parking along Hampden Avenue, plus a very small lot in back of the building. Parking directly in front of the building on University Avenue is restricted to 15 minutes during the day, but unlimited in the evening. There is usually no difficulty in finding parking adjacent to the building in the evening.

The 16 bus from either downtown area stops at the University/Hampden corner. The driver does not always announce Hampden, but often announces the streets just before Hampden, which are Franklin Avenue from the West and Cretin Avenue from the East.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to email us or call 651-767-0267.