| I am very interested in Martial Arts, as Ive | | | | and click on the subheading Courses. There |
| been training in Tai Chi on and off for ten | | | | you can read several more in-depth |
| years as well as an Internal Martial Art | | | | explanations about all the aspects of the |
| called Wu Dao Gong for a year and a half. I | | | | training from meditation to physical |
| have searched many websites to find a good | | | | exercises and their effects. They emphasize |
| one to write about but none seem to compare | | | | that emotional and spiritual development are |
| to the site by the actual organization that I | | | | integral to moving forward down the path of |
| am fortunately part of. They are called the | | | | happiness and peace. They are adamant that |
| Tai Chi Academy and their online magazine can | | | | this is a course for the arts and is not |
| be found at a link from their homepage or at: | | | | religious in any way. |
| | | | |
| | | | I found the Testimonials section to be quite |
| What I find so remarkable about this site | | | | interesting as there are a variety of |
| compared to other martial art sites is the | | | | responses from students. They come across as |
| variety and depth of information shared with | | | | being very authentic as there seems to be |
| visitors. These people really want to paint a | | | | such a diverse reaction to the training. The |
| true, honest picture about everything that | | | | Kung Fu seems to have helped so many people |
| they do and why they do it. Flow like a | | | | ranging from older women to teenage boys. One |
| river, and be still like a mountain. This | | | | aspect that everyone comments on is the lack |
| famous Tai Chi quote epitomizes the flowing | | | | of ego and competitive nature of the |
| yet static style of this website. There must | | | | instructors. Just like the website, the |
| be at least a hundred pages about everything | | | | stigmatic qualities often associated with |
| from basic school principles for prospective | | | | Martial Arts is not present here; no one is |
| students to recipes for healthy vegetarian | | | | trying to look cool or be aggressive. This is |
| food recipes! Martial Arts are a lifestyle to | | | | very important to people whom just want to |
| this school and I believe they want to | | | | increase their health and self-defense |
| address all aspects of life in a truly | | | | capabilities like myself. |
| holistic approach. | | | | |
| | | | This website is a perfect example of the true |
| Integrated throughout the site are heaps of | | | | function and intention of the Internet, to |
| photos (most of which are in vibrant color) | | | | share positive information and knowledge |
| depicting the actual training as well as cool | | | | around the world. Of course the Tai Chi |
| photos of their field trips to China etc. The | | | | Academy is a business, but the honest and |
| magazine site itself is separated into main | | | | open format of their website reflects the |
| categories such as Archived Features, | | | | philosophy of their teachings and is |
| Testimonials, Archived Interviews, Suggested | | | | appreciated by visitors. All products costs |
| Reading, and Vegetarian Corner for | | | | are right there to be seen; as there is |
| Non-vegetarians as well as Links. | | | | nothing to hide when monetary gain is not the |
| | | | sole imperative of an organization. A lot can |
| Under the Archived Features section is a | | | | be learned here by companies and individuals |
| category entitled Training in Wu Dao Gong. | | | | approaches to constructing an identity on the |
| This couple of pages gives the visitor an | | | | Internet. |
| excellent, detailed perspective on the | | | | |
| philosophy behind this training. If you are | | | | By Jesse S. Somer |
| then interested in finding out more you can | | | | |
| click on the Tai Chi Academy actual Home Page | | | | M6. |