Nick Osipczak

I spent 5 amazing days in Goa with Nick training. It was the first time I'd trained with him and tracked him down on the recommendation of a martial artist (and fellow student) in London. During the 5 days we covered many aspects of the tai chi system including:

- qigong
- tai chi form
- meditation
- breathing exercises
- nigong
- martial application
- push-hands

I have been practising tai chi regularly for 18 months with Barry McGinley in London and have been practising yoga for almost 4 years. In 5 days with Nick, I got a new awareness of my body that has alluded me in my purely yogic practises. Nick's very application focused teaching style allowed me to internalise key tai chi principles in a way that purely drilling the form didn't allow me to. The format of the sessions was such that we covered core foundational movements that are easy to miss during form-work but are key to mastering it. By fusing careful attention to detail, and foundational drills with intensity during martial training Nick created incredibly fertile ground for learning. The pace of the classes built up as the 5 days progress and the learning rate was incredibly high throughout. What I learned has become the core of my morning training and is arranged in such a way that I feel I need to do very little else to keep my progression up. Needless to say, I'll be attending all of Nick's future workshops I can manage and recommend that anyone interested in pushing their physical limits does the same!

I train Martial Arts since 1999 and I`ve a background in the traditional styles Wing Chun and Karate. Also I am a kickboxing competitor. My biggest success was the vice world champion title in kickboxing (WKU) in Albir / Spain in 2015. I´ve met a lot of teachers since I began to train. But one of the most impressive teachers I´ve ever met is Nick Osipczak.

He is a professional MMA fighter and a Tai Chi teacher. He is bridging the gap between the Internal Arts and the modern MMA. Where else can you find a teacher who combines this? He teaches you not just to get a better fighter, he teaches you how to get a better mover. And through these skills you will become a better fighter. But maybe the most important point is his human quality. You can feel his calm aura from the first second on. If you want to find a way to get a better mover or if you want to be a better fighter, than Nick is for sure the person you have to contact! I will train with him as often as possible and I am really looking forward to meet him again in April and on our seminar in September!

'My name is Jack Nolan. I consider myself a Mixed Martial artist and train at the New Wave Academy Training Center in East Croydon – I have a dream of revolutionising the MMA game using the Internal Martial Arts, specifically Taijichaun, as my engine. I have studied a small array of disciplines, ranging from Shotokan Karate, Wing Chun Kuen and have settled with Taijichaun as my chosen pathway; this due to a few reasons. Taijichaun has principles that can be applied to COMBAT and DAILY life. Softness overcomes hardness the art itself is HOLISTIC and promotes growth in areas other that combat e.g. spiritual, psychological growth, mental – encourages growth of VIRTUES (discipline, patience), as does MMA.

Indirectly, it points the practictioner to RESEARCH and DELVE into it's routes, opening up gateways for the practicioner. Is something that can be practiced for life. I believe Taijichaun in combination with modern MMA methods has the potential to change the game given what is required to take it up. Nick Osipczak is the first I know of to embody this philosophy and merge it into MMA. He is on a mountain-top of his own and ONLY person who has fought professionally, it is unheard of Taijichaun folk to enter BIG MMA comps, vice versa. Nicks MMA calibre combined with his indepth understanding of Tai Chi makes him the man if you A) want to learn Tai Chi B) want to learn MMA C) want to learn how to combine them both for competition, daily life or even self defence. Being the only one who has fought in high level competition makes him the go-to-guy for learning to fuse the two. A big misconception is that Tai Chi is a slow moving, 'health art' and that you must move in a certain manner – that is simply FANTASY.

Tai Chi is a system of exercise, philosophies and principles – the big misconception most fighting Westerners have is that Taiji is a flowery martial art, this is simply due to lack of understanding of Tai Chi principles. Nick teaches Tai Chi the way it is meant to be, MARTIAL. “When the student is ready, the master will appear.” Once my fascination with the Internal Martial Arts began to develop, I started Youtubing and doing as much research as I could on the topic – eventually settling at the search result “Tai Chi in UFC” (Nick had appeared! Out of all TCMAS, Nick is the only to represent Tai Chi in professional competition – not many people in competitions such as the UFC seek out alternative fighting methods. Upon discovering Nick on Youtube, I knew instantaneously that he would be the chap to show me along the path.

A few things cause people to take up Tai Chi, but what I have realised after tuition is that it takes PATIENCE to cultivate – Nick, as a teacher; possesses this. He has a deep understanding of the human skeletal structure, biomechanics and most importantly – psyche. Nick helped me realise over the five day course that I possess abilities/qualities within that I thought I did not have! - I needed a hint of encouragement, a tad like coaxing a turtle out of its shell. Me being an amatuer, there is much to learn from observing a professional. For example: I was made to climb a gigantic tree and to delve into freezing cold water – I have never done this before. Doing this has helped me understand FEAR more, teaching me how to overcome it. The advice being shouted out from below me made sense “If you are balanced at the beginning branches there is no reason to hesitate on the higher branches! You are still perched and balanced fine. Remain cool and THINK.”. I was taught how to fend off against my own FEAR.

I have been training with Nick on-and-off for over a year, from the beginning of my journey I have grown morals, virtues, combat experience and most importantly a wealth of knowledge regarding the Internal arts / MMA. Like previously said, Nick is in a league of his own – as well as a Sifu, Nick is an excellent mentor. At an instant of seeing the video I could hear destiny calling – Nick being the first to mix up MMA with Tai Chi, I recognised his potential to be the person to guide me down the path & that he is sat at the top of his own LINEAGE. I share this passion to revolutionise combat using Tai Chi and there is no better person to learn from than the one who has already achieved this & put the hours in. Nick has successfully intergrated Tai Chi into his weapons arsenal, accompanied with the spiritual/philosophical aspects that come with it, which very so often lead to a new way of life.

Nick leads by example and it is evident that the path he walks & the labour he has put in has come to fruition. I know this, how? Because I follow the same path under his instruction! There is no other way to truly convey a message across without DIRECT experience. Nick embodies the teachings of Taijichaun and Daoism to the utmost max. Taiji is an untapped potential awaiting exploitation! I recommend this course to every martial artist. With Nicks philosphies, teaching methods, ideas, combat experience and eye for fighting – you are guaranteed to flourish.

Tai Chi and TCMAS are overlooked in every day MMA circles for reasons unknown to me, a lack of understanding most certainly. Nick is ONE of FEW who have 'walked the talk' and see the potnetial, Nick embodies the entire Taijichaun philosophy and lives it – it is evident in the way he conducts himself that he has a live passion for Tai Chi and the art of combat. He is the man with the plan and the only individual whom I know who has managed to blend Tai Chi principles into MMA. Being in a league of his own makes him THE man! Want to discover your potential? Give Nick a try.

I came to Nick proceeding a year long stay in Wudangshan, where I studied Xuan Wu Pai gong fu in a small group school environment. My hope was to bridge some of the gaps contained in a more traditional style of training. I quickly learned that Nick's was a refreshing, hands on martial approach to the tutelage and is wonderfully effective while still being steeped in traditional knowledge. A few short weeks saw my understanding and capability as an IMA practitioner grow in ways I hadn't expected or hoped for under the insightful guidance of one of the most gifted teachers that Ive had the pleasure to know.

Just finished an amazing Martial Arts Camp with Nick Osipczak. I have been practicing martial arts for around 7 years, both Chinese martial Arts Styles (Kung Fu, San Da and Tai Chi), and the Sports styles, MMA, BJJ and Muay Thai. I have 3 amateur San Da fights and 1 Muay Thai fight. I have been to training camps in China and Thailand and this was by far the best camp I have ever done.

Nick balances his professional MMA fighting experience with a very technical and sophisticated understanding of the Chinese Internal Martial Arts. I don't believe there anyone else who can combine both of these aspects the way he does. His course is perfect for traditional martial artists wishing to learn more practical techniques and learn more about real fighting.

Also for competing fighters and Sports martial artists to refine their techniques and movements, learn to become more efficient, healthy and holistic in their approach to training. For the Martial Artist who wants to balance the traditional and the practical, this is the perfect training camp. I can't recommend Nick enough.

My name is David Greeves, I work as a martial arts choreographer, wire work and harness trainer and teach movement for actors for productions from Opera to Bollywood www.djgreeves.com

I've trained in various Martial Arts for many years, with particular interest in the internal martial arts training, and having traveled to the country of origin for intensive study. I came across Nick when I was researching for teachers/practitioners who apply internal martial arts training to the art of fighting. There are many teachers who work with applications of techniques but not necessarily with an in depth understanding of fighting at speed and with power as in MMA and with the experience that Nick has gained.

I first trained with Nick earlier this year for 2 days. I learned more in those 2 days than I have with regular training in external martial arts over a much longer period. The recent course Nick is currently running was an exceptional experience of learning, awareness and realisation. There are many aspects to this training that you have to be cognizant of and be patient with. You have to understand your body in movement, space and time, its effort and flow, its biomechanical processes and the energetic framework.

If you are new to these aspects they will evolve through the instruction and exercises given. Nick is a knowledgeable martial artist who explains and instructs with a clear and patient manner and knows when to allow the participant to discover and find how to apply the developing skill. He works with a clear concise method and framework, from physical to energetic, with attention to body and mind. Internal work takes time to grow and to manifest in the body.

The training course that is offered with close one to one instruction gives the participant an opportunity to delve deeply into their learning and acquiring processes I highly recommend to all martial artists who wish to understand the art involved in fighting and the process of self discovery of a greater method of awareness and being. In the years of my training I have not found anyone quite like Nick, he is a unique individual and I will be continuing my journey of discovery under his guidance in the coming years as and when I can train with him.

Best Regards