La Voz

Media Credit: Martha Njai A P.E. 2Q student practices steps in a pose called searching for a needle in the bottom of the sea.

Maybe you have seen Tai Chi Devil Dragons, or the Tai Chi Master. If not, you should take Tai Chi. De Anza College offers beginning and intermediate Tai Chi, and it's a great form of exercise and building body strength. Professor Chi-Hsiu D. Weng, also a professor at San Jose State University and a 9th Degree Black Belt recipient, teaches one of these courses on Tuesday and Thursdays at 7 p.m.

"Tai Chi is a very good class. It requires a lot of energy, and many students return even after four quarters of learning it," said Weng. Tai Chi requires a process of learning from one level to the next, because all of the moves cannot be learned in one quarter.

Tai Chi is one of the cosmic laws of China, and can be thought of as a moving form of yoga and meditation combined. Tai Chi fosters the circulation of this 'chi' within the body.

The class introduces students to short forms consisting of 24 postures. Principles such as unity, centering, balance, alignment, mind intent, the "yin and yang" relationships and the development of Chi are taught. Tai Chi enhances the fundamentals of strength development and flexibility. It also examines the global and historical aspect of the Taoist philosophy. Students taking the class say they love the fact that it takes only 10 minutes to start sweating. Some feel honored to be able to do the moves they see in movies.

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