I sincerely hope anyone who has had any interest in the martial arts attended the Tai Chi and Kung Fu demonstration by the Dragon-Tiger-Eagle school. I left impressed by the skill and devotion of each member of the school. It's not very often at RU that you can attend a demonstration that offers a taste of the exotic and a fresh perspective on life.

Well, what is Tai Chi? To start to understand the term you must first understand what Chi is. Chi is the word used to describe the life force that exists in every organic thing. It is the internal energy that maintains the body and mind. Tai Chi is an action or set of exercises which are designed to heighten the awareness of Chi in an individual. The main goal is to develop the mind/body by learning to feel the flow of Chi and seeking the harmony within. Tai Chi practitioners gain many physical and mental benefits. The physical benefits include improved flexibility, balance, and coordination. The mental aspects are stress relief, relaxation, improved levels of concentration, and increased energy levels. Who wouldn't want any of these things for themselves?

Although Tai Chi is based on fluid and gentle dance like steps, it can be powerfully applied. Grandmaster Simon Kwong showed this during the demonstration by allowing his assistants to punch and kick him, choke him, and even bite him on the arms. All of these attacks left no marks and were laughed off, literally! In each demonstration there was nothing held back, but he was able to channel his Chi to effectively ward off injury.

There also were other incredible acts such as a breaking demonstration in which Sensei James Houston broke three layers of concrete slabs. Every practitioner of the school applied his/her Chi to their Kung Fu displays to add control, speed and power. Control was definitely needed because of the limited space of the room. Several weapons displays were in your face, especially Mr. Paul Pallante's Bo staff that was at least 6 feet in length. I am glad I wasn't one of the lucky ones in the front row!

The turnout was larger than I expected, with almost 90 people in attendance. This was surprising to me because there has always seemed to be a lack of interest from students regarding martial arts. The presentation was exciting and beautiful showing there is more to marital arts than butt kicking. Tai Chi really does have something for everyone and can be learned by all ages. After all, if the Chinese have been doing it for centuries to improve their quality of living, then maybe everyone should look into it.