The film “The Professor: Tai Chi’s Journey West” provided some insightful information concerning the practice of Tai Chi and spread of the art. The professor, Cheng Man-Ching, managed to overcome certain barriers required to spread his ideas beyond China and into America during a time where the U.S was more receptive to spiritual learning. Cheng Man-Ching’s impact on his pupils was impressive as many of them continued the school even after his passing and would relate stories of his teachings or lessons. The film managed to capture this growing society of Tai Chi practitioners and the bonds created, which is really the essence of art, but also gave some considerably distorted views of the capabilities Tai Chi.

I don’t expect everyone who viewed the film to believe the small, aging  Professor was able to launch grown men and women 4 or 5  feet, and even in the film it was stated that the participants in Tai Chi sparring didn’t resist losing, but even then it was exaggerated. I don’t particularly agree with portraying Tai Chi or any martial arts as bestowing some sort of super-human capabilities. I’m reminded of a recent bout in China between an MMA fighter and a Wu Shu master practicing the “Thunder Style” Tai Chi which ended in roughly ten seconds. The result of the fight was as expected and shown in numerous fights before where the brutal form of mixed martial arts with its ground combat aspect typically beats out the grace of martial arts. What was more revealing in that fight was the nation’s response to the display. Multiple news outlets and citizens through social media lambasted the MMA fighter, calling him crazy and denouncing the fight. The picture of the aggressive young fighter ground pounding the master deeply offended the Chinese people because Tai Chi and other martial arts are essential to Chinese culture. This sort of recognition of the historical significance and the respect for the artistic style is what I believe should be the emphasis when discussing martial arts that the film could have focused on.

The film explained the spiritual purpose of Tai Chi as a way to relax and act as a sort of guiding lifestyle where you flow past adversity instead of directly opposing it. If the film could have made more of a mention as to the significance of Tai Chi and martial arts beyond a sort of yoga without implying that it was physically empowering, I believe the film could have steered away from the overly devout clan vibe it was giving off when hippies were being thrown an unreasonable distance.