This past summer, I was fortunate enough to embark on an unforgettable journey across China. One of my favorite stops on my adventure was the historic city of Xi’an. Nestled in western China, Xi’an is the capital of Shaanxi province, a bustling metropolis of about 10 million people. While the name Xi’an might not ring a bell, its most famous treasure undoubtedly will: the awe-inspiring Terracotta Warriors, the life-sized army guarding the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, dating back to 209 BC.

We stayed in the heart of the old city, within the ancient city walls of Xi’an. This area was a treasure trove of sights and sounds, and we spent countless hours exploring its narrow streets. One day, as we wandered around, I stumbled upon a group of women clad in colorful Tai Chi uniforms gracefully practicing their forms. Curious about this group, I paused to watch their practice.

Inspired by the beauty of their practice, I snapped a few photos and shared them on Facebook. Almost immediately, two people commented, recommending that I visit a renowned Tai Chi school in Xi’an led by the esteemed instructor, Zhao Youbin. They provided me with the school’s name and a rough idea of its location. Unsure of what I would find, I discovered that the school was just a short taxi ride away from our hotel, and it was really impressive inside.

When I arrived at the school, Master Zhao Youbin was not there, but a Tai Chi class was in progress. The instructor, Che Laoshi, welcomed me and invited me to join the session. I quickly realized that their style of Yang Tai Chi differed significantly from what I was accustomed to. The form they practiced lacked the rising and sinking motions I had always incorporated, and many of the postures were subtly different. Despite these challenges, the experience was incredibly enriching.

After class, Che Laoshi and I struck up a conversation and discovered a mutual connection: Master Wang Zhi Yong from Lanzhou. This newfound camaraderie led to an invitation to return the following day for what I assumed would be a simple discussion about Tai Chi. To my surprise, it turned into a private lesson.

During this lesson, I grappled with the overwhelming amount of information Che Laoshi shared. Even though I have practiced Tai Chi for many years, I found that absorbing all the details of the first section of movements was daunting. Afterwards, I told her that if I were to take more lessons, I would prefer to focus on mastering one movement at a time over a week or two. This approach, I felt, would allow me to truly remember each technique. This experience of shifting from teacher to student made me re-evaluate my teaching methods and realize that I needed to dedicate more time to teaching each individual movement in the Tai Chi classes I lead for the benefit of my students.

Below is a video of Che Laoshi providing a private lesson to one of her students. It offers a glimpse into her approach to Yang style Tai Chi and the depth of her expertise.