Luke Shepherd
Born in 1961, Luke has walked a path that blends personal experience, martial tradition, and mindfulness.
Through Open Palm Tai Chi, he shares the philosophy and practice that continue to shape his life and teaching.
My Tai Chi Journey
I began Tai Chi training in 1981—without even knowing what it was. A friend gifted me classes, and from the very first session I was captivated.
My first teacher, Jay Jones, embodied a calm centeredness that showed me the simple truth: being myself was the path towards the qualities I sought.
After moving to London, I trained with Adrian Murray, whose lively classes taught me precision and mechanics. Returning to Cardiff, I studied for 13 years with Richard Farmer, founder of Rising Dragon Tai Chi. Richard emphasized meditation and the art of letting go while staying grounded, weaving Buddhist practice into Tai Chi’s daily-life applications.
In 1991, I began teaching in New Zealand and spent two years living in India, studying with HWL Poonja.
Between 1995 and 1999, I led Rising Dragon’s Cardiff branch, teaching 12 weekly classes to over 150 students. During this time, I also trained in Qigong and BuQi with Dr. Shen Hong Xun.
A turning point came in 1997, when I met Patrick Kelly and Wee Kee Jin—both direct students of Master Huang Shen Shyan. Within minutes, Patrick answered long-held questions about Tai Chi as a spiritual martial art, uniting wisdom and functionality. His teaching expanded my understanding from two dimensions to three and beyond. I trained exclusively with Patrick till 2018, for over 20 years.
In 1999, I founded Open Palm Tai Chi in Devon, where I continue to refine the internal aspects of body and mind with Wee Kee Jin as my teacher. Open Palm Taiji became both a place for my own growth and a community for dedicated students.
Today, I divide my time between teaching, personal practice, and sculpture and my lifelong hobby electric guitar. My latest project, i-Chi, offers authentic Tai Chi training online. I also teach weekly classes in Ashburton, run workshops, and guide students worldwide through Zoom.