I am businessman from southern Germany in his mid-50s. I normally spend my days at my desk and on the phone. After almost 30 years in business, I decided to take time off and revive my spirit and body. I wanted to experience something new and rethink direction of life too. To do so, I took a three months sabbatical from work and daily life to dedicate myself to the art of TaiChi.

I had been interested in martial arts and TaiChi for a long time, first exposed to Karate and Yang-Style TaiChi in the 90s. I had taken up lessons in Chen-Style TaiChi in Germany three years ago again. Such prepared, I reached out to improve my capabilities at the very source of it, in Taiwan. Luckily, I was introduced to Master Lin by a travel agency and scheduled to attend a 10 weeks intensive course in Chen-TaiChi consisting of group lessons on 6 days and an additional three private lessons per week.

I was prepared to empty myself from all experiences and start from scratch. Already during the first lessons, it became obvious that I indeed needed to forget everything I had learned so far. My shoulders were stiff when they should be soft. My hips were wobbling when they were supposed to provide stability. My knees were bent and my stance not straight. My body was just not ready for the task. I had virtually to re-learn movements and motions starting from the simplest postures.

Master Lin and his teachers worked hard and patiently to introduce me to the principles of each body parts motion and tenderness. With creativity and special exercises, they practiced with me to remove tension, provide smoothness to my motions and stability to my postures. Alfred Chiang went to great lengths to teach me the principles and theory of the bodywork behind – valuable insights I can build on.

Master Lin taught me the movements but moreover the concepts and practical applications of 24 and 48 forms as well as many helpful exercises for me to continue my practice and learning back home. I would rate this a big achievement of my stay.

When I was trying in vain to produce the movements expected, Master Lin, the teachers and experienced learners in the groups were never short of helpful advices and explanations.

Especially, I would like to appreciate the big support and help I received from everyone – learners and teachers – to overcome the language barrier and integrate me as full member into the groups.

Despite the intensity of the program, it was always fun too. I experienced Taipei as a lively and inspiring city with a busy but relaxed atmosphere, with friendly and welcoming people and everyone I met during my TaiChi learnings has been a great ambassador for Taiwan.

Thus, beyond the forms and techniques I learned, I take away a redefined body feeling, a new and different sense of body motion and the conviction that this is just the beginning and so much more to learn. I take with me what a beautiful and impressive place Taiwan is and that I know I will back some time.

I want to extend my thanks and gratefulness to Master Lin and the teachers for their kindness, patience and of course the deeply founded expertise in how to perform and how to teach the art of Chen-TaiChi.

我如何開始學習太極拳，然後脫胎換骨的回家

我是來自德國南部的商人，五十多歲。 我通常整天坐在辦公桌前打電話。 在從業近 30 年後，我決定暫時休息一下，讓我的精神和身體恢復活力。 我也想體驗一些新的東西並重新思考生命的方向。 為此，我從工作和日常生活中休假了三個月，全心投入太極拳藝術。

我一直對武術和太極拳很感興趣，第一次接觸空手道和楊式太極拳是在90年代。 三年前我又去德國學習陳式太極拳。 有了這樣的準備，我就從源頭──台灣──開始著手提升自己的能力。 幸運的是，一家旅行社向我介紹了林老師，並安排我參加為期10週的陳式太極拳密集課程，包括一週6天的團體課程和3次的私人課程。

我準備清空自己所有的經歷，從頭開始。 在第一堂課中，很明顯我確實需要忘記迄今為止所學到的一切。 我的肩膀本應柔軟，卻僵硬了。 當我的臀部應該提供穩定性時，我的臀部卻在搖晃。 我的膝蓋彎曲，站姿不佳。 我的身體顯然還不足以執行這項任務。 我實際上必須從最簡單的姿勢開始重新學習。

林老師和他的老師們辛苦又耐心地向我介紹身體各部位的動作原理和如何柔軟。 他們透過創造力和特殊的練習，幫助我練習消除身體的緊繃，使我的動作流暢，姿勢穩定。 助理教練江大欣不遺餘力地向我傳授每個動作背後的操作原則與道理——讓我可建立寶貴的自我覺察。

林老師不僅教我動作，還教會我24式和48式的套路以及許多有用的練習，讓我能在家裡繼續練習和學習。 我認為這是我這段期間的一大成就。

當我無法做出預期的動作時，林老師、組裡的老師和經驗豐富的學員不乏有益的建議和解釋。

特別是，我要感謝每個人（學習者和老師）對我的大力支持和幫助，幫助我克服語言障礙並將我作為正式成員融入小組。

儘管課程強度很大，但它也總是很有趣。 我感受到台北是一個充滿活力和鼓舞人心的城市，有著忙碌但放鬆的氛圍，人們友善熱情，我在太極學習期間遇到的每個人都是台灣的偉大外交大使。

因此，除了我學到的形式和技巧之外，我還帶走了一種重新定義的身體感覺、一種新的、不同的身體運動感，以及一種信念：這只是一個開始，還有很多東西需要學習。 我隨身帶著台灣這個美麗而令人印象深刻的地方，我知道我有一天會回來的。

我要向林老師和所有老師們表示感謝，感謝他們的善良、耐心，當然還有在如何演練和教授陳式太極拳藝術方面深厚的專業知識。