An encouter with a Tai Chi Chuan Teacher
Many, many years ago, when the sun would rise early in the morning and then gently descend in the evening. As if it doesn't do that now. I decided to take up the Art of Tai Chi. I was young in my 20s, and exceptionally fit, having seriously jogged and done some half-marathons. If only I was so slim now, I'll never see again. It was probably some time in the 1990s. I took up classes with a Tai Chi teacher called Dan Docherty. It meant travelling from outside of South-East London to Covent Garden. I chose this teacher because I'd read from a martial arts magazine about him and at one point he was an open weight champion. So unlike the soft slow dancing which Tai Chi had been associated with this was practical stuff that could be used. It was from someone who had used it for real and was exceptionally capable. Perhaps some would call him a Master. Although this is something the Chinese would use rather than Westerners. I would like to say I knew him well, but in trut...