Bringing Tai Chi to Westerners
By Enid Chen
Photos by Yao Fan

As an important part of our cultural heritage, Tai Chi is not only honored by Chinese people, but is also highly praised by most Westerners. Mr. Yang Aimin is known as the only teacher in Xiamen who teaches Tai Chi in English, thereby bringing more and more Westerners to the wonderful world of Tai Chi. 只要和旅居厦门的老外说起太极拳, 不少人都会提及杨爱民, 因为从师于他的老外已有两百余人. 从认识屈指可数的几个英文单词, 到流利地用英语和老外交流太极拳, 杨爱民付出了辛勤的汗水. 然而, 杨说这一切都是值得的, 因为越来越多老外通过他, 认识了中国博大精深的太极文化.

Teaching Tai Chi in English

After graduation from Henan Normal University, majoring in Chinese Martial Arts, Yang Aimin went to Quanzhou's Yang-En University where he worked as a physical education teacher in 1996. Yang started a Tai Chi association at the university, where fans of Tai Chi often gathered to practice the art and compare notes with each other. It was at this time that Yang had his first foreign student, who was also a teacher at Yang-En University. He began to learn Tai Chi from Yang and in return he taught Yang English.

At first, communication between Yang and his foreign student about Tai Chi was not an easy task, given the fact that Yang's English was poor. "I could only speak a few English words at that time, and we could hardly communicate in English. We had to have an interpreter. However, when it came to some terms concerning Tai Chi, the interpreter could not help either. That motivated me to learn English, just to save the trouble of having an interpreter."



Later, more and more foreign teachers at the university joined up to be Yang's students. "Teaching them how to practice Tai Chi in my spare time was great fun. The foreigners showed great interest and curiosity in Tai Chi and became fascinated by this mysterious Chinese practice. I enjoyed presenting them the magic art of Tai Chi and meanwhile learned English from them." As the maxim aptly puts it: "Constant effort brings success." Yang is able to speak fluent English now: "I could feel the progress that I kept making day by day through untiring practice."

The combination of English and Tai Chi produced a turning point in Yang's life, as he decided to quit his job at the university and move to Xiamen in 2001. Teaching foreigners Tai Chi became his full-time job here. He started by teaching just a few foreigners. Afterwards, more and more heard of Yang Aimin and came to learn from him out of admiration and fascination. By now, Yang has taught more than 200 foreigners in Xiamen. Through him they have discovered the graceful beauty and subtle power of the exotic art.



A patient teacher and friend

Rome was not built in a day, nor is Tai Chi proficiency gained in a short period. It requires diligence, untiring practice, and the guidance of a good teacher. Yang said he was quite touched when some of his students cried when they were not able to acquire a particular movement after trying conscientiously. "In this case, the teacher should show his patience and care for the students to gradually build up their confidence again."

Karin Faulkner, Yang's student for four years, said, "He is an absolutely excellent Tai Chi teacher, who is patient, careful, funny, and able to work in my language. He is not only able to teach the actions of Tai Chi but also the underlying principles of Yin and Yang and other influences which lie deep within China's history and culture."



Yang is more than a teacher to his foreign students. "He is a fine, strong friend as well." Karin remarked. Yang often acts as her translator when she goes shopping and lends a hand whenever she is in need of help. Just before his interview with Common Talk, Yang received a call from Karin, seeking help since her door was locked from the inside. Yang immediately went to her assistance. During the past few years, he has made friends with many of his students due to this sincerity as a teacher and friend. He is invited occasionally to attend their family parties and to go traveling with them on weekends.

Practicing Tai Chi has become an integral part of Yang's routine. He practices 360 days throughout the year. He has discovered a genuine path for health and inner peace, which Tai Chi is noted for.

"I personally benefit a lot from Tai Chi, which has worked wonders for me. Hence, I would like to share it with more people, especially those foreigners who admire Chinese philosophy and the culture lying behind it," Yang concluded.

My Xiamen
Artilce & photo by Sammy



Bill from America, is teaching at a school in Xiamen. Bill is planning to travel across China, including Beijing, Xi'an and Urumchi.

1. How long have you been in Xiamen?
I have been here for five months.

2. What do you like best about life here?
The people and the food. The people are very friendly and the food is quite delicious.

3. What's your job here? How do you like it?
I am teaching English, and I spend as much time as possible with my Chinese students to share experiences with them. They study very hard and are pleasant to be with.

4. How do you spend your spare time in Xiamen?
I spend a lot of time walking around the campus and studying the game of Go(围棋).

5. If there was one thing that you could change about Xiamen, what would that be?
I would like to see more English newspapers and international TV channels, such as CNN and MSNBC.

6. What is your favorite dish?
Qie Zi Bao (eggplant with shrimps).

7. What's the last great book you read?
The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephson.

8. What is your favorite quotation or piece of advice?
The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking which created them.

Vocabulary
motivate 激发
maxim 格言
proficiency 熟练
conscientiously 认真地
integral 必备的
genuine 真正的