What spoke to me most about the movie was the cultural influence that the Tai-chi master had on his students, which I don’t think is exclusive to learning Tai-chi. Towards the end of the documentary most of them had changed their interpretation of Tai-chi from a mere martial art to something relating to health or a new lifestyle. Their lives were changed, not because of learning a form of self defense but rather the new state of self-consciousness about their bodies that the master had encouraged. They stated in the video that when the master died, the students separated into groups, between those that wanted more emphasis on the physical aspects of Tai-chi and those who wanted to learn more about their own well-being.

I had a similar experience in when I practiced Tae-Kwon-Do. I was interested in learning it as a form of self-defense and found myself learning more about how to take care of my body and staying safe, using the energy and strength I already have in a strategic manner. Yet physical contact and fighting did not seem to me to be the primary focus of martial arts after that experience. It was a way of teaching preventive action and awareness of your surroundings more than it was about how to hit and block. However, I have come to believe that this emphasis on other aspects of life when learning a martial art comes from instructors with a deeper understanding about how martial arts tie in practically into our lives. My brothers had previous instructors who taught more on the basis of fighting strategy, but those tended to be larger classes.

I had never really discussed my own martial arts experiences with anyone. Watching this documentary helped me to interpret my own experiences in a new light. Ultimately, I think what made the experience of the people in the video so powerful was the wisdom and knowledge that the Tai-chi master was willing to share with those who had never experienced his culture or passion.