Explore the art of mindful movement with Chiriquí Wushu Connection. Discover tai chi for children, adults, and seniors, and find the class that fits your goals.
All class times are local Panama time.
Other locations and venues are available. Contact us for more information.
Traditional Chinese martial arts provide grounded principles that adapt naturally, whether you are introducing a child to movement or establishing a steady personal practice.
An introduction to mindful movement, coordination, attention, and learning through practice.
An opportunity to explore balance, comfortable movement, and a regular practice at an appropriate pace.
Tai chi gives children a chance to slow down, notice how their bodies move, and learn something new one step at a time. Flowing movements and simple sequences offer a different kind of activity, one built around practice, patience, and discovery.
Ages: 5 and up
Venue: Boquete Paddleball Club (local Panama time)
Tuition: $12.50 / class
Other locations and venues are available. Contact us for more information.
We present tai chi as an engaging, movement-based learning opportunity. These ten aspects highlight how gentle martial sequences encourage physical and mental engagement:
Watching demonstrations and following movements give children a concrete task to focus on.
Children practice connecting movements of the arms, legs, and torso.
Gentle changes in posture help children notice how their bodies move through space.
Controlled stepping and weight shifts provide opportunities to work on steadiness.
Slow movement and comfortable breathing offer a setting for practicing calm.
Repeating a sequence introduces the experience of gradual progress.
Classes offer an engaging movement-based activity.
Tai chi can provide an alternative to activities centered on competition and winning.
Group practice creates opportunities to listen, take turns, and share an activity.
Children are introduced to the traditions and history behind tai chi in an age-appropriate way.
Research on children is more limited than research on adults. We present these classes as learning opportunities, not guaranteed medical or academic outcomes. We do not claim tai chi treats ADHD, autism, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities, or obesity, and we do not promise better grades, higher IQ, or improved sleep.
The class structure is designed to keep children engaged while respecting their stage of physical development:
Simple joint rotations, gentle balance games, and breathing exercises to transition from the school week into class.
Learning foundational stepping patterns and arm motions with easy-to-follow demonstrations.
Linking two or three movements together into short routines that cultivate patience and confidence.
Tuition for children is $12.50 per class. Sibling rates and registration arrangements can be coordinated directly with Shifu Eddie on WhatsApp or by email.
Children’s classes are for ages 5 and up.
No previous experience is needed. Classes are designed for complete beginners and emphasize gentle progress and patient discovery.
Comfortable, loose clothing (such as jogging pants and a t-shirt) and clean, flat-soled athletic shoes.
Guidelines for parents watching or taking part are shared on arrival at Boquete Paddleball Club, to keep the class focused and safe.
Children ages 5 and up meet every Saturday at 10:00 AM at Boquete Paddleball Club. For more details or other locations, message us on WhatsApp at +1 (473) 535-9280.
Whether you want a more active routine or a gentle introduction to movement, tai chi offers a place to begin. Its flowing sequences combine controlled movement, attention, and breathing. The goal is steady practice that fits your starting point.
Venue: Boquete Paddleball Club (local Panama time)
Tuition: $15.00 / class
Other locations and venues are available. Contact us for more information.
Tai chi offers an engaging way to maintain mobility, steadiness, and clarity at any age:
Deliberate transitions from foot to foot cultivate stability, leg strength, and grounded balance.
Gentle upright alignment eases tension through the spine and shoulders while improving body awareness.
Remembering and coordinating flowing patterns keeps the mind actively engaged throughout every session.
Setting aside everyday distractions for quiet, intentional movement creates a dedicated space to breathe and recharge.
An accessible, low-impact discipline that provides a sustainable foundation for long-term functional mobility.
Practice alongside others in an atmosphere of mutual encouragement and respect, free from competition.
We do not assume older students are frail or have medical conditions. Many people join simply for the joy of graceful movement and the study of traditional martial arts. Thinking about tai chi for a specific health reason? See Health & Research for an honest summary of what studies have found.
Tai chi brings movement and attention together. Researchers have studied its effects on several aspects of health, but benefits depend on the person, the program, and consistent practice. This guide explains where research is encouraging and where important questions remain.
Tai chi is a movement practice, not a substitute for medical care. If you have a health condition, recent surgery, or concerns about falling, ask your healthcare professional about an appropriate starting point.
The studies below often used specially designed programs. Our classes are not promised to reproduce clinical trial results. Tai chi does not cure or prevent cancer, reverse diabetes, prevent dementia, detoxify the body, or remove the need for medication. This page is educational.
Structured tai chi training improves balance and reduces falls among older adults. A major randomized clinical trial in JAMA Internal Medicine found that a therapeutic Tai Ji Quan program reduced falls more than a conventional multimodal exercise program.
A randomized trial in the Annals of Internal Medicine found 12 weeks of tai chi gave pain relief and physical function improvements comparable to standard physical therapy. Tai chi does not repair cartilage or replace individual care.
A randomized controlled trial in The BMJ found tai chi led to similar or greater symptom improvement than supervised aerobic exercise for adults with fibromyalgia, practiced consistently over 24 weeks. Results vary between individuals.
A clinical trial in JAMA Network Open found regular tai chi practice supported modest improvements in sleep quality in older adults with insomnia.
A randomized trial in JAMA Network Open studied adults with prehypertension and found greater blood pressure reductions over 12 months with tai chi than with aerobic exercise. These findings should not be applied to every heart or circulation condition.
Research in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that a specially adapted tai chi program improved balance and reduced falls in people with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease. General classes are not a substitute for clinical rehabilitation.
In an Annals of Internal Medicine trial, an enhanced tai ji quan program that added cognitive challenges supported thinking skills in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Ordinary classes are not presented as preventing dementia.
Some research suggests possible improvements in pain and everyday function, but the overall evidence is still limited.
Reviews of mind-body practices for young people point to possible benefits for coordination and attention. A trial in children with developmental coordination disorder reported positive motor results.
Classes offer a chance to slow down and enjoy a shared activity. We do not market classes as treatment for depression, anxiety, or loneliness.
Two decades of experience. A new chapter in Chiriquí.
Shifu Eddie Wang Sen brings two decades of experience with the Grenada Tai Chi Connection to a new chapter in Chiriquí, Panama. Having trained, taught, and promoted Traditional Chinese Martial Arts in Grenada, he is now bringing his knowledge, skill, and passion for these traditions to the Chiriquí community.
His background includes Kung Fu and Taiji Quan, commonly known as tai chi, with an emphasis on the structure, training methods, traditional concepts of energy, and martial applications that give these arts their depth. His work reflects an approach to learning that recognizes the different needs and goals people bring at each stage of life.
For children and families, his introduction to tai chi offers a way to explore mindful movement, coordination, patience, and the satisfaction of learning a new skill. For adults and seniors, it offers an opportunity to discover a movement practice centered on attention, balance, and steady progress.
Eddie’s commitment extends beyond martial arts technique. His work with the Grenada Tai Chi Connection has included encouraging healthier, more active communities. He now brings that same sense of purpose to Chiriquí: sharing the traditions he has spent two decades practicing and teaching, and welcoming a new community to discover them.
He has performed a traditional Taiji Quan demonstration at the 10th Anniversary Celebration Gala of the Confucius Institute at T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) in Grenada.
In traditional martial arts, concepts of internal energy are taught as part of the tradition and cultural heritage, not as scientifically established medical mechanisms.
Our emblem brings together the dragon and crane traditions of Chinese martial arts with the volcanic peak and radiant sun of Chiriquí. While the traditional artwork honors a dynamic martial heritage, our community classes for adults and seniors emphasize gentle, grounded balance, walking, and mindful breathing.
We welcome inquiries from prospective students, parents, and community members in Chiriquí. Message us on WhatsApp or by email to reserve your spot.
All times are local Panama time. Other locations and venues are available. Contact us for more information.
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Beginners are welcome. No previous experience is needed. Message Shifu Eddie to ask a question or save your spot.
