Master in a month

A Shanghai businessman is repackaging the martial art for the 21st century and an international market. Ma Zhenhuan finds out.

The flowing movements of tai chi may seem strange to the uninitiated, but for tai chi master Huang Zhongda it is standard exercise. "It's easy to learn but difficult to grasp tai chi, due to the lack of standards. Once the standard is set, a novice can learn the skill within a month," says Huang, a businessman-turned tai chi master, who has been practicing the art since 2000.

"If you can dovetail your tai chi to your stress levels and body, the meridian points will flow freely," says Huang, founder of Shanghai iTaiching, a tai chi training and health center.