SuperAging co-author Larry Wolf explains why, in his 80’s, he has taken up tai chi swordsmanship, of all things.
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art, probably over 2000 years old. Its original purpose was to improve a warrior’s swordsmanship skills so he could excel in battle.
I have been practicing tai chi for over seven years. It has helped me maintain my flexibility and improved my balance. I also find that Tai Chi’s slow meditative movements help reduce stress and improve your sense of well-being.
Tai Chi is very easy for virtually anyone to start practicing at any age. It is not uncommon to see people in their late 80s and 90s practicing tai chi in China.
No matter what your age or physical condition, tai chi probably can be very beneficial. I think the improved balance that can result from tai chi practice can be particularly beneficial to older people in helping prevent falls, a major cause of serious injury and death.
Tai Chi requires a good teacher to lead you through its many moves. It is difficult to practice tai chi on your own if you are not familiar with the practice.
I was fortunate enough to learn Tai Chi from a great Tai Chi Master, the Taoist Monk Yun Rou. I highly recommend Monk Yun Rou’s YouTube channel to anyone interested in learning more about tai chi. Its informative and instructive videos will give you a great sense of what tai chi is all about and what the practice can do for you.
I did not take up tai chi swordsmanship until a couple of years ago, after learning enough of the basic moves to enable me to begin learning the advanced practice of swordsmanship. I find it a challenging, but highly rewarding new learning experience.
