MARTIAL arts tutor Sue Johnson is back home with a bonus after teaching Tai Chi in China.

Astley-based Sue was awarded a teacher's certificate to recognise her position as a Tai Chi coach and consultant to the Manlian Tai Chi club of Lianyungang.

A delighted Sue said: "It is a great honour to be deemed of high enough standard to teach in China and to teach the Chinese their own cultural heritage.

"As I have been teaching Tai Chi in Britain for almost 10 years this recognition from the Chinese is very important to me."

Annually British student go to China with Sue to take part in workshops with Chinese Tai Chi practitioners. Language difficulties don't prevent participants building a rapport based on mutual interest in Tai Chi.

This year a group of Sue's students performed the Sabre form in the Wushu exhibition and jointly performed with Chinese students to illustrate Tai Chi is the same no matter what nationality you are.

Sue, who teaches at The Han Shen Centre in Tyldesley and also at Haydock said: "Tai Chi is a complete martial art focusing on the soft overcoming the hard, relying on relaxation in all of the movements. As a complete system it has weapons including sword, sabre, spear and halberd.

Beginners focus us on health and well-being and learning the basic foundation movements to strengthen the legs and back, relax the body and improve suppleness and flexibility. Her youngest student is 15 and her oldest is 82.

Sue says Tai Chi is ideal for arthritis sufferers and can reduce blood pressure, improve lung function and relieve stress.

Class details from 01942 703909.