Tai Chi master teaches for health, not defense
By Kelvin Wee
Of tlto Emerald
A class in Tai Chi. a martial
art rich in the cultural expres
sion of the Chinese, will be of
fered at the University this sum
mer by the Innovative Educa
tion Development office.
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese
martial art form fast gaining
popularity in the Western
world, and is still a popular
form of exercise in China.
And while most other martial
arts require the person to exert
force and violence. Tai Chi only
involves breathing and mental
concentration, as well as
graceful, controlled body mo
tions. said Sik Hung Chan, who
will be conducting the course
and has practiced Tai Chi for
more than 40 years.
Chan added it is the required
concentration and grace which
can be beneficial to a person's
health.
Chan originally is from China
and has taught Tai Chi and
other Chinese martial arts there
for the lest 30 years.
He immigrated to the United
States with his family a year ago
and has been learning English
since then. "The culture and
language here is very different. >
but I like it better because the
people are more friendly."
Chan said.
Chan began learning martial
arts when he was eight years
old. "I started learning Shaolin
Rung Fu as a boy. and began
taking Tai Chi classes when I
was 20." Since than. Chan has
taught martial arts in the South
China Agricultural University
for more than .'10 years, and has
been a board member of the
Canton Martial Arts Association
since 1960, he added.
"Tai Chi can also improve a
person's health by reducing
stress levels.” Chan said.
"Many scientists believe that a
person who practices Tai Chi
regularly will have a more effi
cient circulatory, respiratory.
Sik Hung Chan
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digestive and central nervous
system. Tai Chi can also la*
beneficial to those who cannot
take strenuous exert: iae because
of high blood pressure and
other chronic heart diseases "
Chan will la* teaching a com
bination of the best movements
from the various forms of Tai
Chi. “There are over eight dif
ferent forms of Tai Chi. the most
popular of which an; the 'Yang'
and the 'Wu\ However, then; is
a lot of repetition in many of
them and I have worked to com
bine the 24 finest movements
from all these forms and will la*
teaching them In the class."
Chan addeti.
Chan also plans to teach
breathing exercises and other
luisic hung Fu motions in the
class. “I will not teach Tai Chi
for it to la* used as a weapon."
Chan said. "However. I will
demonstrate that if one were to
spaed up the motions in Tai
Chi. it could turn into a
dangerous martial art "
Chan said his main reason for
offering this class is to share
this ancient cultural art from
China, and he hopes it will help
some people here.
"I would also like to learn
more about the American p«x>
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pic. their culture and language
I hope that this class will help
me learn more about America as
much as I hope that I can help
others learn and understand
mow altoul China and the
Chinese culture.” Chan added
Chan said he believes
language will not be a problem
for him while conducting the
class "Tai Chi is an art of
movement and concentration "
he said. "My aim is to teach tin*
art and develop the skills of my
students."
Chan's Knglish tutor, kohi
Miller, has taken classes in Tai
Chi for the last six months
Miller said that it is the chance
of a lifetime for someone to have
the opportunity to study this art
with a teacher who originally is
from China
"Chan is not just a teacher of
Tai Chi. he is a master of the art.
lie brings with him the
knowledge and tradition of Tai
Chi which is not clearly
understood hy many of the
teachers without t h a t
background " Miller said
"In fact. Chan is not just a
master in Tai Chi. He is a high
master of this art in China, but
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VOL
ht! is too modest about it. There
are many hidden secrets in Tai
Chi and other Chinese martial
arts, but Chan is not afraid to
sham them with his students.
I Its abilities as a teachur of the
arts has impressed many pimple
who are studying under him
now." her atided Miller also
will be assisting Chan in con
ducting the classes.
The class will liegin June 23
and ends Aug. 13. The class
meets every Tuesday and
Thursday from 3:30 p m to
5:30 p m., and them is a $25 fee
for the non-credit Innovative
Education class. Interested peo
ple may register for the class at
EMU Room 110. or call
Wtti-4305 for mom information
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24
Hours
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