T'ai Chi!
I learned it, too. The first time I closely saw it practiced was during a
break on an early Ch'an retreat in NY when our Sheng Yen's translator practiced
it privately indoors during a break. I happened to see him. This was many
days into the retreat, and it made a big impression. I knew I'd have to learn
that.
At home, I found that the old man who lived three floors above me, and who
walked with a cane, was a T'ai Chi master, named Da Liu.
I made a deal with him, or he with me, and I cleaned his floors and apartment;
in return he gave me private half-hour lessons for a few months.
He taught some people privately, but also taught at the Cathedral, two blocks
away, sometimes outdoors in their garden, sometimes inside the Cathedral
School. It's easier to learn when you are surrounded by others practicing the
same form, as you probably found in China.
Da Liu also taught on weekends at Columbia Teacher's College, up on 120th
Street and Broadway. He has many books in print, and has made many videos of
instruction over the years. He taught for "Health and Longevity", not so much
for fighting, but he did teach applications like the Ta Lu, and push-hands, and
Sword form.
He lived 1902-2000. He was a shining example of the efficacy of his art. I
marvel at all the events and changes he must have seen during his long life.
When the United Nations was early up and running, he was a translator in the
Mandarin section there. He had a strong interest in History. He was a Daoist,
and knew the use of the I-Ching compass: people used to engage him to help them
site new temples or other buildings on grounds in various parts of the country.
He taught people about Feng Shui decades before it became popular in the west.
I don't practice t'ai chi every day now, but I can't go long without it. We
learned the Yang family short form. I never did learn the long form, but of
course I know pieces of it from the short form ;-)
--Joe
> Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote:
>
> .. i practise tai chi these days...whence in china in 2005/06/08...the parks
> and town squares in the early morning there were  groups of folks.."tai
> chi'ing.."..
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