| Tai Chi is the most misunderstood martial art in | | | | slow motion so students can develop the body |
| the world. Millions of people practice tai chi, but | | | | mechanics and structure to deliver the |
| very few understand that every movement is a | | | | self-defense techniques powerfully. To the |
| powerful self-defense technique. | | | | average observer, tai chi appears relaxed and |
| I was taller and heavier than the little tai chi | | | | fluid. Underneath, the body structure gives it an |
| master who stood in front of me in my | | | | iron-like strength. |
| basement. He held out his right hand. I did the | | | | I studied tai chi for a decade before being |
| same and our wrists touched. But when I took a | | | | introduced to the real art, and I was stunned at |
| step at him, I suddenly was thrown to the | | | | its power. In the years since I began studying the |
| floor--hard. We both laughed. | | | | Chen style, as my skill has increased, I've met |
| I stood up and we touched wrists again. I stepped | | | | many tai chi students who have been in the art |
| at him and again found myself on the floor, | | | | for over 20 years but they don't know the |
| looking at my carpet in a whole new way. | | | | proper way to move. Most teachers don't |
| I was on the receiving end of a tai chi master's | | | | understand the "secrets" of the art. As a result, |
| skill and power. | | | | students don't learn real tai chi. |
| Centuries ago, Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing's | | | | The power of tai chi and other "internal" arts has |
| ancestor created tai chi. He visited my home for | | | | nothing to do with "chi": these are physical skills |
| a week and I spent quality time finding out | | | | that take years to develop. Too many teachers |
| first-hand why so many people misunderstand this | | | | focus on developing "chi," a mysterious energy |
| powerful martial art. | | | | they claim is circulating through the body. The |
| Tai Chi was not intended to be used in | | | | more that students focus on developing chi, the |
| slow-motion by elderly people all over the world. | | | | more they miss the skills that will make them |
| Tai Chi is known as a "soft" martial art, but in | | | | powerful. |
| reality, there is nothing soft about it. Every | | | | This lesson was driven home to me in my |
| movement in tai chi is a self-defense technique. | | | | basement as Grandmaster Chen kept throwing |
| The art was created in the 15th Century by Chen | | | | me to the floor while he remained relaxed. I |
| Wangting, a retired warrior in Henan Province, | | | | began to realize what he was doing, and the |
| China. His family still practices it as a martial art. | | | | subtle way he was making me lose just enough |
| They say you have to "eat bitter" to develop tai | | | | of my balance that I could be easily thrown. It |
| chi skill. Real tai chi training, especially with the | | | | was a valuable lesson. After he left my home, I |
| Chen family, involves pain. | | | | was more determined than ever to keep |
| The idea of tai chi is to break your attacker | | | | practicing so I could develop higher-level skill in this |
| quickly and end the fight. Tai Chi is practiced in | | | | very hard "soft" art. |