PHOTO: Tai Chi Fit founder David-Dorian Ross instructs students in Tai Chi. Image extracted from Tai Chi Fit for VETERANS [DVD] © YMAA. Reprinted by permission.

 Gene Ching

Tai Chi has grown to become one of the most popular exercises in the world. Beyond conventional martial arts schools and clubs, it is widely practiced in open public spaces, at senior citizens homes, and in therapeutic and rehabilitation facilities (Ching and Oh, 2015, p.19). Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese martial art, and nowadays the foremost approach is Yang Style Tai Chi. Yang Style Tai Chi was founded by Yang Luchan (1799-1872) who was the coach for the Imperial Guard in the Forbidden City. Yang also taught the royal family, who weren’t as martially adept as the guard, so he adapted to be more health oriented (Ching and Oh, 2015, p.20). This was a pivotal shift in the practice of Tai Chi and may have been a key element in its perpetuation and expansion. According to Yang Jun, the 5^th generation inheritor of Yang Style Tai Chi and a direct descendant of founder Yang Luchan, “When people say Taijiquan* is a martial art, I think it limits Taijiquan. Taijiquan today, more than 80% of the people practice Taiji not for the martial arts…today is. More used for people’s health and exercise, and even includes the mental balance” (Ching and Oh, 2015, p.19).

Today, Tai Chi is receiving renewed attention for its therapeutic benefits. It has been shown to have positive effects on the treatment of a wide assortment of maladies including arthritis (Uhlig, 2010; Gutierrez, 2010), cardiac issues (Yeh et al, 2011), diabetes (BBC News, 2008; Song et al, 2009), fall prevention in seniors (Mann, 2011), fibromyalgia (Wang et al, 2010), shingles (Reuters Life!, 2007), and others. Recently Tai Chi has been shown to have positive impact upon the reduction of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms (Niles et al, 2016; Bolton R. E., Fix G. M., Bokhour B. G., 2018; Kim et al, 2013). Consequently, Tai Chi programs are being introduced to veteran communities through a variety of support programs.

Tai Chi is considered as a non-pharmacologic treatment alongside yoga and qigong to help combat the opioid crisis in veterans. Within the military, there is an over-reliance upon opioids for pain management (Marshall, 2017). Through a specially chartered Army Pain Management Task Force, recommendations for a comprehensive pain management strategy are looking to include Tai Chi as part of their therapeutic regimen.

Consequently, several unique Tai Chi programs have been launched through the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to serve the needs of the veteran community (McNeil, 2018; VA News, 2020; VA News, 2021; Sanders, 2022). Some methods, like Whole Health System of Care (Isom, 2021; McDuffie, 2021) under clinical director R. Elizabeth Halmai, combine Tai Chi with other modalities like acupuncture (Baucum, 2019), Yoga (Jordon, 2018; Midland Daily News, 2018) and Qigong (Lezak, 2021).

One of the more innovative programs is Tai Chi Fit for Veterans (Ching, 2021: Dague, 2021; Toma, 2022; Wei, 2019, Tai Chi Fit for VETERANS, 2021). Tai Chi Fit was established by Tai Chi World Champion David-Dorian Ross. The program fosters connections between practitioners of Tai Chi and complementary movement practices. Akin to Yang Luchan’s renovations, Tai Chi Fit endeavors to reduce the complexity of Tai Chi to benefit a wider audience. The Tai Chi Fit for Veterans program allows veterans to find instructor through the VA Community Care Network. These classes are open to everyone, while eligible veterans may attend for free. The Tai Chi for Veterans program also trains and certifies instructors. The instructors are compensated by the VA on a per attendee basis. This provides a viable means for dedicated instructors to get compensated for their teaching time while providing a potential long-term solution for their service.

One of the more unique veteran Tai Chi programs is Wheelchair Tai Chi. Guo Zibin espouses the Wheelchair/Adaptive Tai Chi for Veterans program (Farmer, 2018; Koehn, 2018; Wasserstrom, 2020). Funded by the Adaptive Sports Program of the United States Veterans Administration, this program integrates breath work and Tai Chi movements to aid veterans with physical or emotional conditions. Wheelchair Tai Chi may seem a long way from Yang Luchan’s Imperial Guard martial arts, it has become something practiced outside of the veteran circle for wheelchair bound practitioners (Wheelchair Tai Chi, 2009). It is an adjunct of seated Tai Chi (Tai Chi Fit Over 50 Seated Workout for Health, 2019).

The essence of any martial art is self-defense. However, self-defense may occur on many different levels beyond the stereotypical scenario of being attacked on the streets. Self-defense against maladies such as PTSD are as valid as street fighting skills. Tai Chi has shown to be helpful in improving practitioners’ health and well-being. Through these groundbreaking programs, veterans might find the healing and closure from all that they have sacrificed in the service of their country.

*In English, Taijiquan is an alternate spelling of Tai Chi Chuan using standard pinyin romanization however Tai Chi is a more popular spelling (Ching, G., 2022).

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※ Views in this writing are the author's own.