Tai Chi Classes in Spring Hill, FL
Flowing movement, deep balance, and internal calm — guided by Dr. Juan Otero, Hanshi, in Spring Hill, FL.
Tai Chi at Owaza — and who teaches it
Our Tai Chi program is taught by Dr. Juan Otero Jr., Hanshi — Grandmaster of Okinawan Goju Goshin-Ryu Karate-Do with over 58 years of martial arts experience and a practicing psychoanalyst and behavioral health specialist. Dr. Otero joined Owaza as Senior Advisor and Instructor in 2025 and brings the internal discipline of his Goju lineage into every Tai Chi session. Classes are intentionally small, movement-focused, and held in the same private dojo as all Owaza programs — no large fitness crowds, no background noise.
What Tai Chi training involves
Tai Chi at Owaza follows traditional slow-form practice emphasizing balance, postural alignment, and the smooth transfer of weight through each movement. Students work through standing postures, joint-loosening warm-ups, and continuous-flow sequences that develop coordination and internal calm over time. The emphasis is on quality of movement rather than speed or repetition. Dr. Otero ties the internal principles — relaxation, root, and intent — directly to the Goju-Ryu concepts of go (hard) and ju (soft), giving students a martial arts framework that makes the internal work tangible rather than abstract.
Who this class is for
Tai Chi at Owaza is structured for adults and seniors who want a low-impact, high-benefit practice — people managing joint stress, working on fall prevention, seeking stress reduction, or simply drawn to a moving meditation with a real martial arts lineage behind it. No prior martial arts experience is required. Newcomers are welcome at any point in the curriculum because the slow, deliberate pace of Tai Chi means you learn by doing from the first class.
Schedule and how to start
Tai Chi classes run Monday through Thursday mornings and Saturday afternoons. Like all Owaza programs, classes are appointment-only and kept small so Dr. Otero can give individual attention to every student. The right first step is a phone call — Hanshi Jim Rivera or Dr. Otero will answer your questions about the curriculum, the schedule window that fits your week, and what to wear and bring for a first class.