The year 2023 holds extraordinary significance for me. It was the year I had an unexpected encounter with "Ziqin in Hangzhou." The fluid, powerful yet gentle, and beautifully low-framed Tai Chi immediately awakened my childhood dream of martial arts. It felt as if I had been searching for this treasure my whole life, and it had suddenly appeared before me. In March, the two masters began live broadcasts on Douyin, an app I had never paid much attention to. For one hour in the morning and one in the evening, I was an eager student, afraid to miss a single movement or word of guidance.

My partner was amazed, saying, "I've never seen you so dedicated to anything." She warned me to be careful not to get "carried away." However, as I delved deeper into the practice, I realized her concerns were unnecessary. The masters always emphasized the fundamental principle, "All methods of practice start with a strong foundation," reminding us to progress according to our own physical condition and never to rush for quick results. This principle not only became the core of my Tai Chi practice but also clarified my path forward.

Among all the foundational exercises, I found "flexibility" to be my greatest challenge and the most important one to overcome. Therefore, "leg stretching" became my most crucial practice over the past five months. Initially, I couldn't even touch my toes with my hands, and my body lacked stability. Every stretch was accompanied by pain and stiffness, and the backs of my legs were bruised multiple times. These were all necessary steps on the road to progress. Though I sometimes felt like giving up, the thought was fleeting. I told myself to commit to stretching twice a day, without fail.

"Lengthening one inch of tendon can extend your life by ten years." Leg stretching is not just about physical health; it has also shown me the potential for the ultimate beauty of Tai Chi. What I am pursuing is not merely a set of movements, but a life of extraordinary ambition, guided by the scientific approach of Masters Ziqin and Zihuang and the principles of Wudang martial arts. My Tai Chi journey is one of continuous self-