About Our School

Rising Moon Tai Chi School is a Mornington based business whose specialist Tai Chi, Qigong and Shibashi classes are suitable for beginners through to advanced practitioners.  Chief instructor, Jenny Harrison is qualified and experienced in personal training, group exercise and Tai Chi, offering a range of proven methods to reduce stress, develop coordination, aerobic capacity, balance and improve cognitive function. Rising Moon Tai Chi School offers accredited courses in Foundations in Teaching, offered to fitness professionals and tai chi practitioners.  Courses run throughout the year.  For more information, click here.

Our Aims and Philosophy

To promote holistic health and well-being within the community through the mindful, accessible practice of Tai Chi and Qigong, fostering physical vitality, mental clarity, and inner calm.RMTC will 

  • Encourage patience and acceptance, embracing our faults and frailties as part of the learning journey, while promoting wellness, vitality, and self-compassion.

  • Welcome each member as an individual, recognising and respecting the unique contributions and experiences they bring to the group.

  • Instil a sense of wonder and delight in the learning process, fostering curiosity, creativity, and a love of discovery.

  • Value the opportunity to grow, developing our understanding of new concepts and skills with openness and commitment.

  • Practice sound, student-centred teaching, where enjoyment, camaraderie, and connection are central to the experience.

  • Ensure an inclusive and productive environment, where everyone feels supported, encouraged, and empowered to flourish.

The Rising Moon Name and Logo

Rooted in the principles of Yin and Yang, our logo tells a story of harmony, transformation, and resilience. The moon, Yin in nature, symbolises the feminine, rising gently from the earth to meet its opposing force - sunlight, spirit, or sky - uniting opposites to create energy, harmony, and wholeness, creating balance, energy, and wholeness.

At the heart of the design, the flowing form of the koi fish captures the essence of continuous change and adaptability. Their circular motion, inspired by the eternal dance of Yin and Yang, reflects the interconnectedness of all things.

Each koi carries its own symbolic weight:

  • The black koi represents the strength to overcome adversity, drawing power from hardship and courage through challenge.

  • The red koi represents steadfast love, courage and unwavering strength, embodying bravery, loyalty, and compassion.

Together, the name and logo reflect the values at the core of Rising Moon Tai Chi School:

  • Balance in motion

  • Growth through challenge

  • Harmony with nature and self

  • Connection to tradition and community

It visually expresses the philosophical foundations of Tai Chi while honouring our school’s commitment to both inner cultivation and outward expression.

The Legend of the Koi Fish

In Chinese mythology, the koi fish is much more than a symbol of beauty and grace—it represents determination, perseverance, and the transformative power of effort.

According to legend, a school of golden koi once swam up the Yellow River in China, battling strong currents and leaping through waterfalls. After traveling for hundreds of years, they reached a great waterfall at the end of the river. Many of the koi gave up, letting the flow carry them back downstream. The remaining koi refused to give up. Leaping from the depths of the river, they attempted to reach the top of the waterfall to no avail.

Their efforts caught the attention of local demons, who mocked their efforts and heightened the waterfall out of malice. After a hundred years of jumping, one koi was determined and it continued the struggle, leaping again and again, refusing to surrender to the crashing waters, finally reached the top of the waterfall.

The gods took notice of this small fish’s courage, perseverance, determination and endurance. As a reward for its persistence, they transformed the koi into a magnificent golden dragon - a symbol of power and wisdom in Chinese culture. From that day on, the koi came to represent not only perseverance, but also the ability to rise above challenges and achieve greatness.

This legend is often used as a metaphor for personal growth, especially in practices like Tai Chi. Just as the koi swims upstream against the current, practitioners of Tai Chi learn to move with intention, facing obstacles, and transforming through discipline and patience.

At Rising Moon Tai Chi School, the koi in our logo reminds us that transformation is always possible - no matter the struggle, no matter how strong the current. Like the koi becoming the dragon, we rise through dedication, guided by balance, harmony, and the flow of qi.