| When the small tai chi master from China threw | | | | mechanics and structure to deliver the |
| me to my basement floor, I realized the real | | | | self-defense techniques powerfully. To the |
| power behind this misunderstood martial art. I | | | | average observer, tai chi appears relaxed and |
| laughed at how easily he threw me down. He | | | | fluid. Underneath, the body structure gives it an |
| laughed, too. | | | | iron-like strength. |
| I stood up and we touched wrists again. I stepped | | | | I studied tai chi for a decade before being |
| at him and again found myself on the floor, | | | | introduced to the real art, and I was stunned at |
| looking at my carpet in a whole new way. | | | | its power. In the years since I began studying the |
| I was on the receiving end of a tai chi master's | | | | Chen style, as my skill has increased, I've met |
| skill and power. | | | | many tai chi students who have been in the art |
| Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing (pronounced | | | | for over 20 years but they don't know the |
| "shou-shing") is a direct descendant of the man | | | | proper way to move. Most teachers don't |
| who created tai chi. He visited my home for a | | | | understand the "secrets" of the art. As a result, |
| week and I spent quality time finding out | | | | students don't learn real tai chi. |
| first-hand why so many people misunderstand this | | | | The real secret of tai chi and the "internal" arts of |
| powerful martial art. | | | | China is simple: these are physical skills that take |
| Around the world, tai chi is used as a slow-motion | | | | years to develop. Too many teachers focus on |
| exercise for health and meditation, but that's not | | | | developing "chi," a mysterious energy they claim is |
| why it was created. Many martial artists call tai chi | | | | circulating through the body. Their students focus |
| a "soft" art, but that's because real tai chi is rare | | | | on chi and miss the body mechanics that can |
| in the United States. Every movement in tai chi is | | | | make them powerful. |
| a self-defense technique. | | | | This lesson was driven home to me in my |
| The art was created in the 15th Century by Chen | | | | basement as Grandmaster Chen kept throwing |
| Wangting, a retired warrior in Henan Province, | | | | me to the floor while he remained relaxed. I |
| China. His family still practices it as a martial art. | | | | began to realize what he was doing, and the |
| They say you have to "eat bitter" to develop tai | | | | subtle way he was making me lose just enough |
| chi skill. Real tai chi training, especially with the | | | | of my balance that I could be easily thrown. It |
| Chen family, involves pain. | | | | was a valuable lesson. After he left my home, I |
| The idea of tai chi is to break your attacker | | | | was more determined than ever to keep |
| quickly and end the fight. Tai Chi is practiced in | | | | practicing so I could develop higher-level skill in this |
| slow motion so students can develop the body | | | | very hard "soft" art. |