I know the teacher at this school, John Gifford, is a true Grandmaster. He is Andy Blackcranes teacher who is also an incredible martial artist and becoming very renowned and popular in Los Angeles. This is the best place to learn Tai Chi in Colorado. The setting is intimate and the lessons really break down things in an understandable way. The lineage is choice. This is the rare authentic Tai Chi right here.

Master John Gifford is brilliant and Tai Chi has made him amazingly strong. John and his teacher Master Dave Mishlove are two of the greatest teachers of authentic Tai Chi Chuan in America. I know this from extensive research. The bad review left here was by a person who owed John and several people at the school money and left on very bad terms. I know that student, they should be ashamed. John is a hidden gem in this world and he deserves real disciples who would do anything to be as strong and dynamic as he is. I, myself, have become a very successful teacher in the Los Angeles area. I owe it to my teacher Master John Gifford and his expertise in both Yang and Chen style. He is the best teacher your going to find. He is a kind and good man!

I spent nearly seven years there--its first seven years. The first six were awesome, and I learned a lot from the schools teacher. But then in year seven I was suddenly an outcast. I was treated like garbage. And when I went homeless for a month the teacher drove right by me and did not bother to stop and help.I moved to California. Once here, I had a chance to teach wealthy San Diegans tai chi. But I needed a certificate to be able to start. I wrote the teacher. He didnt write back for two months, and when he did he refused to help me out. Two of the students in his academy had helped me out financially; the certificate wouldve been sufficient to give me a tai chi teaching job that wouldve allowed me to pay both back within weeks. That was my plan.I dont know what I did to earn the hate that came my way that last year (2001). Ive thought about it for thirteen years now and still cant come up with anything. But the teacher--John Gifford--did that to people on a regular basis. He likes you--and then he hates you. I saw it happen to others. I never thought, being his number one student, that it would ever happen to me. But it did.To his dismay (should he read this), Ive stuck with tai chi all these years. I never let it go. I practice it regularly. I practice by the sea and I occasionally think back on those days, and sometimes I smile. Sometimes. Not often. Six good years should easily eclipse one bad one, right? But they dont. I went through real hell that last year, and I thought I had friends at that school whod stand by me and understand and support me. But when the chips were down, they all laughed in my face and pushed me out the door.I see now that the school is closed. Thats a good thing. I dont know what caused its demise, but I can easily guess. If you live in northern Colorado, avoid John Gifford. Hes an amazing martial artist, thats true. But hes too much of a jerk like his own teacher, who runs Fort Collins Tai Chi Academy. Youll be lucky if you dont get marginalized or dumped like I was. Its simply not worth your time. Find another art and, better yet, find better teachers. Thats not easy to do, thats true. But the alternative ... well, take it from me. Its not pleasant.