Tai Chi appears to be a martial art, yet it is practiced by hundreds of people worldwide who have no interest in fighting whatsoever. Melanie Drury caught up with Glenn Buhagiar to find out more

I have had small glimpses into the art of Tai Chi - while strolling on a beach in Thailand and observing a group of western people moving slowly, in perfect unison, almost as in a dance… or during Yungaburra Folk Festival in Northern Queensland, Australia, where I joined a spontaneous workshop to learn a little about it.

During that workshop, I had learnt one of the basics of Tai Chi, which I have just discovered is called Empty and Solid Stance. It focuses on an awareness of body movement, with special regard to the shifting of weight from one leg to the other, letting it be supported by one leg at a time. With knees slightly bent, I had been told, we are capable of far better control over our body, resulting in better balance.

Interestingly, for months later, whenever I was hiking down a rocky hill or performing some physical feat, I found myself remembering that man’s words, and trying to implement what I had learnt from him. It really did seem to make a difference, being relaxed and moving naturally, aware of my weight and balance.

When I returned to Malta I met Glenn Buhagiar. It was a chance meeting, when I was invited by a mutual friend for a harbour cruise organised by Glenn’s group of Tai Chi students. We joked as I asked whether Glenn was a Sensei or the like, but when he declined formalities I took to calling him “Maestro”, which seemed to stick! I certainly thought he deserved it, when I heard that he also practices Ninjutsu as well as Tai Chi, and that his interest in martial arts had taken him to Japan.

He began with Spirit Combat, which he practiced for three years. After the first year, he began Tai Chi practice in the same dojo, which he continued even after swapping Spirit Combat for Ninjutsu. He has now been practicing Tai Chi for over seven years and gives classes in Mosta.

Eventually we met for an informal interview, which was only a little different from a casual meeting between friends one evening. Four of us sat together at a table in a wine-bar in Valletta: Mark, the mutual friend, and Ruth, another friend of theirs and also Tai Chi student, were also present. Questions were coming from all sides in-between jokes and laughter, as interest sparked in Mark, and I had a tough job holding him down from striking off at a tangent. Somehow I gathered the information that would finally satisfy my curiosity about this fascinating art. Better still, I was invited to attend a class!

Glenn explained that Empty and Solid Stance is one of the 10 essentials of Tai Chi – one that forms part of the Yin Yang principle that dominates much of the Tai Chi philosophy. Most of us are familiar with the Yin Yang symbol – a circle half-black and half-white, with a white dot in the black segment and a black dot in the white segment. Yin, the dark part, represents the feminine, receptive and passive force. Yang, the bright part, represents the masculine, creative force. They are descriptions of complementary opposites rather than absolutes, hence the dots.

He said: “In practice, when a forceful blow, which we could consider Yang energy, is received, it is better to counteract it with yield, or Yin energy, rather than oppose it with the same force. Hard is met with soft. If it is opposed with the same force, much energy is spent. By yielding, that energy is received, and that in turn can be transformed and used as outgoing Yang force at the right time.

“The less you use force, the more you have strength! It is not the muscle that gives strength, but how force and yield are combined. There are also techniques on how to use whole body movement to exert the force.”

On another occasion, while living on a desolate island for a while during a visit to the Andaman islands, I was on the beach at sunrise one morning practicing Hatha yoga, when I noticed a few feet from me a young man performing those elegant movements that I recognised as Tai Chi. Later we chatted briefly, and I discovered his reasons for practicing Tai Chi were the same as mine for practicing yoga. I had always thought that martial arts were meant for self-defence or combat, certainly not for well-being and inner fulfillment. Then again, Tai Chi had always fascinated me because it looked different from the others, so graceful and beautiful and… peaceful!

Glenn explained: “Tai Chi originated from Wudang boxing, which was practiced in the Chinese mountains. It was developed by the Chen family, hence the Chen style of Tai Chi. The movements have been modified and developed by others into four other styles since. We practice the Yang style, which was developed by Yang Lu Chan, a person who posed as a servant of that family to learn the methods. Then it was used for combat but we practice for relaxation and healing purposes. Yoga and Tai Chi could be perceived as different means to a similar end.”

So what is Tai Chi then? It appears to be a martial art, yet it is practiced by hundreds of people worldwide who have no interest in fighting whatsoever. It looks like a slow dance practiced as a health and fitness programme. It can be perceived as a moving meditation used by many as a spiritual practice.

“Tai Chi has nothing to do with religion – a follower of any religion can practice Tai Chi, which actually means the Grand Ultimate or Supreme Energy, whereas the original name Tai Chi Chuan means Grand Supreme Ultimate Fist. It is essentially a martial art – incorporating combat as well as healing and relaxation – but because of its eastern origins and the nature of its philosophy and practice, it is also used as a process of self-discovery.

“Spirituality is where the human mind cannot reach; some use chants, others may use movement – there are many ways. Tai Chi is like a moving meditation. I think many people make the spiritual connection due to the meditation involved, while the philosophy focuses on the power of now: being fully in the present moment.”

Life rolls by very quickly and we often barely notice it passing us by. It seems forever since I was travelling and had my first impressions of Tai Chi, to this moment when I was sitting having this discussion between four friends. I was impressed that it was commonly practice by people of different cultures in different parts of the world, even here in Malta. What was it that made it so attractive?

“A lot of people from western cultures are seeking in the East that which they find missing in their own culture. They have found a natural method for relaxation, when they live in stressful environments. They have found a natural way of boosting the immune system, when they are in contact with so many harmful chemicals in their daily lives.

“People find that the side-effects of practicing Tai Chi are positive: stronger immunity, quicker recovery and healing of wounds, improved inner and outer balance, fitness. What is more, even older people can begin to practice it, because of the low impact on joints and absence of strenuous activity.”

Ruth, who has known Glenn for many years, said: “When Glenn had a life-threatening car accident, spending four days in the ITU in a coma, the doctors were convinced that there was definitely something extraordinary that helped him recover so quickly!” Glenn is rather shy and it is hard to get such details out of him.

He continued: “Moreover, practitioners experience the ability to focus on the present moment, resulting in more precision and efficiency, and better control of the mind – leading to less worries and dramatisation of situations. All the benefits result in increased self-confidence, which in turn affects all aspects of life. Of course, there are also those who are initially attracted simply because it looks cool!” he smiles.

The Ten Essentials

of Tai Chi:

1. Empty, Lively, Pushing Up and Energetic – straightening the head;

2. Hold in the Chest and Pull Up the Back – concave shape;

3. Relax the Waist – no robotic movements;

4. Empty and Solid Stance – shifting weight from leg to leg;

5. Sink the Shoulders and Droop the Elbows – relax;

6. Use Intent rather than Force – use the mind to stay always relaxed and control limb movement from the waist;

7. Synchronise Upper and Lower Body – the whole should move as one;

8. Match Up Inner and Outer – body, mind and spirit open and close together;

9. Importance of Continuity – one movement flows to the next;

10. Seek Quiescence within Movement – move slowly and without too much thought

Classes are held in Mosta every Thursday between 7pm and 8.30pm. For more details contact Glenn Buhagiar on 7920-1680 or email [email protected]