Molly O’Connor/Winonan

“What is an impeccable warrior? That’s an individual who does the right thing at the right time in the right place with the right people for the right reasons. And that’s what tai chi is all about,” said retired professor and former head of the speech and theatre department at Winona State University, Dr. Brice Wilkinson.

Chi gong, a Chinese system of physical exercises and breathing control related to tai chi, came first, focusing on the player’s health and vitality, originating 3500 years ago through deep breathing and animal postures. Tai chi is an expansion of chi gong, originating about 1000 years ago.

“It is a dance to many, a weapon system to some, the way of enlightenment for a few.” These words, said by Wilkinson, described the practice of tai chi and chi gong at the Athenaeum presentation on March 6.

The presentation focused on why tai chi and chi gong are important practices of exercise and their benefits on the human body. Wilkinson included his own personal reasons for getting involved in practicing tai chi, and what it meant for his well being.

With an extensive history of alcoholism, Wilkinson had reached his lowest point when he discovered the importance of meditation and martial arts.

“I think the reason I’m alive is through the glorious adventure that awaits if you decide to give tai chi a chance.” Wilkinson said. “I told myself that tai chi could do wonders.”

Wilkinson’s passion for tai chi led to his teaching of the exercise for about 20 years in the communication department of Winona State.

Wilkinson then asked the audience about their general knowledge of the art of Tai Chi, whether they had ever even heard of it or whether they had actually practiced tai chi. The response was that only a small number of audience members had.

Of the few that could confidently give an answer, one woman, a member of the Tai Chi Club that Wilkinson helped organize, stated that for her tai chi was a great stress relief “through the art of meditation.”

Wilkinson’s introduction to tai chi and chi gong included getting the audience to participate in a few simple exercises.

Whether they were sitting down in their seats or standing up, arm movements were suggested to get a feel for what tai chi was all about.

When the audience all stood up, Wilkinson had the audience bend their knees and hold the pose for several minutes, describing the benefits to the poses he performed with the audience.

“Superimposed on every human being is this energy system that flows through your body through channels called meridians.” Wilkinson said. “This is the twin of acupuncture. And so therefore the tai chi players give themselves a self-administered acupuncture treatment on a daily basis. Therefore you’re never sick. You become able to move in perfect balance and you strengthen all the joints in your body simultaneously without effort, no sweat and no strain. It’s the optimist’s way to perfect fitness.”

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