Over time taking Tai Chi, my arthritic knee feels more flexible with less pain. By learning how to breathe deeper, my brain seems clearer with more oxygen.
– Barb Eler
— Shifu Vincent Candela Performing a Wu Style Tai Chi Short Form
A perfect exercise system for Drug-Free Pain Management
– Vincent Candela
Personal Growth from Relationships
A cozy studio, Brookfield Tai Chi caters to students and practitioners looking for a more intimate, personal setting. Our outlook and mission is to create a harmonious space that encourages individual growth and an expanded sense of friendship. Nothing is more important than building bonds with yourself and those around you. It makes for a better, healthier, and more engaged community.
About Sifu Vinny Candela
Vinny Candela was a disciple in Wu Style Tai Chi under Master Wendy Shih for 10 years. His first martial arts experience spans back to his high school days when he practiced wrestling. During this time, he had his eyes open to the ideas of leverage, staying low, and an overall understanding of how to use his body in martial format.
With a passion for more strenuous training and learning, Sifu Vinny then became a dedicated Power Lifter. He continued this training for many years. In the mid-1990s he also pursued martial studies for several years in the Yang style Tai Chi and was introduced to Shaolin Kung-fu and Ba Gua Zhang under the instruction of Master Phil Sant.
In the early 2000’s he was hit with a major setback. As a result of overuse and compression from extreme weightlifting, he was diagnosed with a spinal condition in his cervical and lumbar vertebrae. This news, combined with constant daily pain and the desire to avoid surgery and daily medication, turned his focus toward a more practical, health-minded approach. He found Tai Chi and Chinese Medicine (TCM) in 2007 and Master Wendy (Wen Jing Shih), a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Wu Style Tai Chi Competition Winner and dedicated his life toward learning and strengthening his body and improving his overall health.
Master Wendy’s style of instruction was relentless, diligent, and extremely strict. She was a perfectionist. Each training session was challenged by countless repetition of the most basic components of Wu Style Tai Chi. The strictness was a hallmark of its authenticity. He had found the art he was looking for.
After three years of nonstop practice, he was granted permission to teach alongside master Wendy and began his journey toward showing others how to yield the most from their practice. When Master Wendy closed her studio in 2018, Sifu Vinny continued his pursuit of knowledge and practical training under Qigong Grandmaster Ken Cohen and Master Gerald Sharp and continues to perfect his art.
Sifu Vinny built his home studio in 2012 and began openly accepting new students. He hosts an average of 10 group classes per week in his studio and teaches classes in several surrounding communities. He also offers one-on-one study for those interested in more specialized learning.
With over 20 years of practice and study and a lifetime of knowledge, Sifu Vinny still considers himself to be an eternal student, and endlessly looks to raise his inner spirit and abilities.
For inquiries, please contact Brookfield Tai Chi at (203) 470-4669 or email Sifu Vinny
Balance is the Key
Finding a balance and maintaining it is crucial to personal health. Brookfield Tai Chi opened with the intent of helping people find a balance in life, providing a space and spectrum of classes that promotes a stress free life and allows for a better outlook on the day. Equal importance is placed on helping you find the physical, emotional, and spiritual balance you seek.