RIP Dan Docherty, Tai Chi Gladiator

Sadly, yesterday the Tai Chi community lost Dan Docherty, who for a time was without a doubt the biggest name in Tai Chi in the UK. He represented a dynamic, full-contact style of Tai Chi that he learned during his time as a police man in Hong Kong from Grandmaster Chen Tin Hung and his 24 Nei Kung exercises, which he taught alongside his Tai Chi Chuan.

Dan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at age 56. He recently celebrated 50 years in martial arts this September and you can hear the story of his life, and diagnosis, told by the man himself here.

My condolences to family, friends and students. May he rest in peace

9 thoughts on “RIP Dan Docherty, Tai Chi Gladiator

  1. Pingback: Wild Colonial Boy review by Steffan Stringer | The Tai Chi Notebook

  2. I have just learned of Dan’s passing and am so very sorry to hear this. I practiced Tai Chi in UCD (Dublin) in the early 2000s. I travelled with the club to the UK for some competitions (mainly because I was one of the few with a driving license!) and met Dan at those. Definitely was not a man to suffer fools lightly! I hope to return to tai chi now and will always recall Dan and his teachings when doing so. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

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  3. Really sad to hear this. I met Mr Docherty in the early 80’s at the Jubilee Hall Centre in Covent Garden where he taught Tai Chi. He left a big impression, he was a fantastic teacher and Martial Artist. I never forgot his teaching although I did not practice anymore. Rest in Peace Sir, Condolences to his family and friends.

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