Tai chi is often described as the grandfather of all the martial arts. I remember sitting in class when one of my fellow students asked Mrs. Chow what he should do if someone were to attack him from behind. Mrs. Chow was quiet for a moment, then looked at him with a serious expression as she loudly exclaimed, “You run!”
After our laughter subsided she explained, “We’re not here to learn how to fight. But if you need tai chi for defense, it will be there for you.”
Many years later, one of my fellow classmates came home from work and was letting her three Rottweiler dogs into the house from the backyard. The last dog unexpectedly attacked her. She ended up in the hospital with severe bite wounds on both her arms requiring over 100 stitches.
When I visited her in the hospital, she told me tai chi saved her life. As the dog lunged toward her, he aimed for her throat and chest. Without thinking, she found herself doing “Repulse the Monkey,” a series of steps that involve the constant raising of one’s arms to cover the face and torso area while stepping back. I finally understood the wisdom in Mrs. Chow’s comment all those years before.
To "meet" Mrs. and Mr. Chow and listen to an audio interview, scroll down on right-side and click on their photo.
