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TRAINING Daily training tai chi brings balance and harmony to body and soul. Memory and concentration are strengthened, breathing becomes deep and even, and the muscles return to a natural relaxation. The main principle is to have the body and the senses to function as a unity. With soft and slow movements one creates a serene, meditative state which is important not only for self-defence, but also for coping with stress and other problems in daily life. Regular training brings with it enduring health, a deeper awareness of oneself and techniques for effective self-defence. One learns to maintain an even temperament, even when confronting a violent person. The strategy is to meet hard with soft like bamboo in a storm. Bamboo prevails by bending and yielding to the wind, while a stiff tree is uprooted and knocked over. Eventually a ”tai chi practitioner” finds that the real adversary is within oneself – all the bad habits that we carry with us through life. |