|
A Special Tai Chi Story – Forging Links Between Israel and Australia |
|
|
In 1993 I started to study Tai Chi in Israel. From the very beginning I felt that it was something that could give me more than just movement itself. I am a Movement Education teacher and I have realised that ever since then Tai Chi has enriched my professional knowledge and has given me a different point of view and another perspective on human movement as well as on the relationship between mind and body.
In Israel I practised Tai Chi with my teacher and I was also happy practising by myself. In 1998 my husband Asher, who has also recently taken up the practice of Tai Chi, and I travelled to Melbourne for an academic sabbatical year. Shortly after arriving, I started learning Tai Chi with Grand Master Eng Chor Khor at the Celestial Tai Chi College of Australia. For me, it was an extraordinary experience. The methodology which he applied in introducing Tai Chi to his students and his personal and professional relationship with them fascinated me. I felt that it was the right place for me to continue studying Tai Chi. Even though I had practised Yang Style in Israel, here I had to learn a different Yang version with Grand Master Eng Chor. This new version challenged and forced me to be more concentrated and aware while practising.
In 2000 I organised a professional tour for Grand Master Eng Chor in Israel. During this tour he conducted Tai Chi workshops at the Department of Physical Education in the biggest Israeli Teachers’ College (I am a member of its academic staff) and at other institutes in different places in Israel. The tour was successful and it was also a great opportunity for my students and other people to study Tai Chi with Grand Master Eng Chor.
As time passes, I have learned more about the background of Tai Chi philosophy. This helps me to understand the meaning of the movements which then enhances my practice of Tai Chi. Asher and I have been in Melbourne two more times and we continue to nurture our professional and personal relationship with Eng Chor.
During our last visit in August 2009, we came up with the idea of translating Eng Chor’s books into Hebrew and publishing them in Israel. I have already started working on the translations.
We would like to thank Eng Chor and his family for their warm hospitality and aslo to the people of Celestial Tai Chi College for the friendly welcome they have shown us during this visit.
Dr Hagit Shkedi, Seminar Hakibbutzim, Teachers’ College
Prof. Dr Asher Shkedi, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
September 2009
|
|
Last Updated ( Monday, 05 October 2009 )
|
