tai-chi-one.com

“Tai-chi ch’uan means grand ultimate fisting,” the Professor informed his students to their amusement. He spoke in a soft sometimes hesitant tone. “In the following weeks we’ll try to cover the first section, the basic principles of tai-chi ch’uan, and some of its marshal arts applications.” I had no idea what he was talking about.
The first hour long class we were taught the swinging arms exercise or the Twist, the Beginning, a few basic principles of tai-chi and about breathing through the nose. Compared to everything the Professor did in his opening dance it was like learning a new language and learning to say hello. It did get my attention for whatever reason—the self defense applications, the breathing, the dancing or just something new to learn that was off the beaten track. Trying to keep the sacrum plumb erect was definitely a plus after carrying around heavy bottles all day.
What was most intriguing is the focus it took to listen and attempt to do something new properly. It temporarily took me away from the mundane grunt work and helped fill the space between creative projects—it was a creative project that I assumed would help my general well being.

After Polka Motion by the Ocean I received in the mail a flyer for continuing adult education, a flyer for tai-chi ch’uan instruction at Salisbury State University one evening a week for six weeks in the Autumn of 1989. The price seemed reasonable enough, forty dollars. I didn’t really understand what tai-chi ch’uan was except that it was a moving meditation, a dance of sorts. Being a self taught uneducated lout I was ignorant of most things until I inadvertently bumped into them by coincidence or casual guidance and otherwise not paying attention it had to be coordinated with some sort of self serving need—then came the obsession. My bad back and manic, impulsive nature combined with constant self reflection and panic struck a chord that vibrated me to the tai-chi class at the college in the dance studio where the floor was shiny hardwood and three walls were mirrored from ceiling to floor reflecting the twenty odd people gathered together for the dance. People removed their shoes and began swinging their arms with feet in place as though they were doing the Twist without passion or music or muscle tone. I joined in without knowing who I was supposed to dance with.
The teacher was a short, balding, older Italian man with a hawkish nose and large hands and he seemed to have a method to his dance. After a short time he turned around and bowed, said a few words, then very gracefully demonstrated the Yang Classical Style short form which is taught in five section and sold for a very reasonable price at: http://www.mayopia.com/TAI-CHI-ONE/tai-chi-one.html