Tai Chi Classics – A Three-Day Intensive with Paul Fretter

When: October 23-25th 2026
Where: Ashburton Arts Centre (Not Town Hall)
Time: Friday 11:30am – 5:30pm Sat 10:30am – 4:30pm Sun 10:30am – 4:30pm
Cost: £220
Here is early notification of this date.
£50 deposit reserves your place.
Luke Shepherd
Nat West Personal Account
35558407 51 61 18

Many will know Paul and his love of the mechanics of forces in push hands. For those who don’t you’re in for a treat.

Now our main teacher Wee Kee Jin has retired from coming to Europe, training with Paul gives us a great chance to continue training in this lineage as he holds a wealth of knowledge. The Tai Chi Classics point us clearly toward the destination… yet often leave the method concealed. The inner mechanics—the subtle transformations of movement, the arising and dissolving of force—are rarely made explicit.

This workshop is an opportunity to step into that gap.I’m delighted to welcome Paul Fretter to Ashburton for three days of focused, in-depth study. With over 40 years of martial experience and more than 35 years of taiji and 30 within the Huang lineage, Paul’s teaching stands among the most respected in Europe.

Drawing on his background as a professional engineer, he brings a rare clarity to the art—cutting through vagueness and complexity to reveal practical, trainable principles. What can often feel elusive becomes tangible, something you can test, refine, and develop with confidence. If you’ve ever felt that the methods were just out of reach, this approach may shift things. Paul offers direct, engaging training that not only deepens understanding but leaves you with material to work on long after the workshop ends. Over the three days, you’ll explore ways to cultivate balance and calmness—not as abstract ideas, but as embodied skills that can begin to inform everyday life.