Steve is a Commercial Manager in construction and has been studying Tai Chi for 8-10 years.

Prior to taking up Tai Chi, he studied Karate in his youth for self defence.  He completed a few gradings but lost interest after that as he felt the syllabus was limited for his requirements.

Steve continued with fitness training and particularly weight training but encountered injuries from this and was advised to stop by his doctor.  He was looking for something to replace this that would keep him healthy, but was also a martial art that wasn’t just an empty hand style.  He happened to meet Dave Porter at a New Years Eve party who was already a member of Zhong Ding.  Dave suggested that he take a class, so Steve joined a class in Rainworth with Don Harradine and hasn’t stopped training since then.  Steve has continued to train with Don and became one of his "inside the door" students about four years ago.

Steve started with Tai Chi and the empty hand form but has since expanded his study to take in, broadsword and straight sword forms, Baguazang, Xingyiquan and Lian Padukan Silat.

He attends four classes a week and recently had the opportunity to start his own class.  He has been teaching for about a year now and feels that teaching others helps him improve his own art.  He likes to make teaching fun and uses the skills gained in his teacher training qualification to assist with this.

He continues to practice all aspects of the art but his current focus is about going back to the beginning like a fresh piece of paper and observing what happens when using the art in different ways and testing the outcomes.

Steve feels that Tai Chi is a good art to study as it tests you all the time and expands your mind.  When he looks at his generation and sees illness, poor mobility and reduced mental awareness, in comparison to himself, he thanks his art for health.