The graceful art of tai chi can be seen every morning in most of Hong Kong's parks and public places. To the casual observer, it may seem simply to be a hobby that old folks follow in order to keep healthy, but there are two sides to tai chi, and students can learn it for its health benefits or as a martial art, or both.
Keeping a straight spine, he says, can stimulate the nervous system and is good for keeping the immune system in shape. Tai chi also offers a low impact form of exercise, so there is little stress on joints, unlike when running or jogging. There are different styles of tai chi, but the underlying theory between them is similar.
There are plenty of places to start learning tai chi here, but finding the right teacher is not always easy. '[Prospective students] can wander around the park and talk to teachers and those practising tai chi to find out how to join a class. They may be able to try it out and join a class for free, but it's difficult for them to tell if their instructor is any good. Of course, the majority of teachers will be good, but it's best to seek recommendations from friends or other students before starting.'
Brooks, who is a certified tai chi instructor from the Tai Chi Union of Great Britain, explains that there is no certifying body for tai chi instructors in Hong Kong, but some teachers may have certificates of one form or another that demonstrate their proficiency in teaching the art to the public.
'Most people will be able to find a good teacher at a location close to where they live, which is important as they may not want to travel far to their lessons,' he says. 'Some lessons may involve students simply following the teacher and copying everything they do without really understanding why. I like to make sure that my students know the reasons behind what they are doing.'