The Confucius Institute at the University of Mauritius opened its second session of Tai Chi training course at the University's gymnasium on the 3rd of May. More than 40 students from the University of Mauritius, along with Professor Fu Mingduan, the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute, Dr. Kistamah, the foreign director, and the course instructor, Master Liang Dongsheng, attended the ceremony.
Professor Fu Mingduan talking to the participants of Tai Chi
Professor Fu Mingduan and Dr. Kistamah welcomed the students and staff. Professor Fu Mingduan introduced the origin of Tai Chi and its important status in traditional Chinese martial arts, emphasizing the benefits of Tai Chi for physical and mental health. She hoped that the students would experience the thoughts and wisdom embedded in Tai Chi through their learning. Dr. Kistamah expressed that this course was a precious opportunity to experience Chinese Tai Chi culture and encouraged the students to attend classes on time and regularly, and to persevere for significant improvement of their Tai Chi skills.
Master Liang Dongsheng is the main instructor for this training session. Over the next 15 weeks, he will teach students practical techniques such as the twenty-four forms of Tai Chi, the Eight Section Brocade, and Tai Chi pushing hands. Master Liang introduced the course structure and teaching objectives to the students, explaining the traditional Chinese concepts embedded in Tai Chi. He encouraged the students to express basic movements and methods in Chinese to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural connotations.
Master Liang then introduced the basic movements of the twenty-four forms of Tai Chi, believing that this form is suitable for people of different ages and physical fitness levels, and can improve their physical balance and respiratory system functions. In the first lesson, Master Liang led the students in learning the four basic movements of Tai Chi: “掤(ward off)、捋(rollback)、挤( press)、按(push)”.
Master Liang Dongsheng demonstrated the basic movements of the twenty-four forms of Tai Chi
The participants followed the teacher's instructions attentively, practicing earnestly, and striving to comprehend the essence and techniques behind each movement. While learning the basic movements of Tai Chi, they also learned the meaning of Chinese words related to Tai Chi, and everyone learned to express gratitude to Master Liang with a bowing gesture.
(The students are practing the basic movements）
At the end of the first class, the participants expressed their feelings of the Tai Chi session and their expectations of the Tai Chi training, hoping to improve their physical fitness through learning and to better understand Chinese Tai Chi culture and art.