Watching the documentary, “The Professor: Tai Chi’s Journey West”, I realized that Tai Chi came to America at perhaps the perfect time. As was mentioned in the film, the 1960s and 1970s were quite a turbulent time filled with experimentation and questioning traditional western values. For many Americans, the new perspective which was provided by Tai Chi was exactly what the new times called for. “The Professor”, Cheng Man-Ching, also seems to have been the perfect teacher for the task of bring Tai Chi to America. Hearing the interviews of former students of Cheng Man-Ching shows that he had a way about him which completely mesmerized his students.
I have never tried Tai Chi, and never knew much about it until watching this film. To me Tai Chi seems more than a simple martial art, it has aspects which apply to everyday life and health. Tai Chi’s tenants to never be violent but to deflect and return violence acted against you is an interesting life philosophy. In a way it combines non-violence with a means of self-defense. Likewise it teaches you how to avoid brute strength which is costly and destructive, and to rather use your head to find a solution. The film gave a good representation of what Tai Chi is while also providing a history of its introduction to America.
Hi Michael,
I appreciate the background information you provided about the documentary. Prior to these posts, I had very limited knowledge about Tai Chi, but through the post of yours and others, it truly seems like an activity that enriches all aspects of life. The way you phrased the fact that Tai Chi combines non-violence with a means of self-defense is particularly interesting, as it seems like it would be contradictory but in fact, it’s not.