In this edition of our ongoing Student Spotlight series, we highlight Derek Hall. Derek is not your typical tai chi student. When many think of tai chi, they have a vision of a group of seniors in China practicing slow movements in a public park. What is not is understood, is that Tai Chi can bring more awareness and energy into anyone’s daily life, and any other martial art which they might practice. Read about how it has affected his life.

Derek Hall – Complete Tai Chi

• Rank: Level 3 (Complete Tai Chi)
• Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
• Past Martial Arts Experience: Taekwondo, Kungfu, Wrestling, Judo, Kickboxing, Boxing, Gracie Jiujitsu

In his own words:

I am a recently married 36 year old man from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I am an entrepreneur. I heard about your distance learning programs from my good friend Tarek El Attar who has almost finished the Total Krav Maga program.

I began martial arts when I was about 8 years old with Taekwondo and I have been a lifelong student ever since. From Taekwondo I moved onto several styles of Kungfu, wrestling in high school, Judo, Kickboxing, Boxing and over the last 3 years I have trained very seriously in Gracie Jiujitsu. I have always thought Tai Chi looked fascinating but I have never lived close to a school that taught it. When I found out about your program I was thrilled. I am hooked. I have been practicing it everyday since I started at the beginning of the year. I find it really helps me to be in the moment and I feel very energized and centered when I am done. I highly recommend it. It is a great form of active meditation which is well suited for people like me that can’t sit still. Thank you for making this program. I am very grateful to have found it.

Here is library of our archived Student Stories, and our newer Student Spotlight posts can be found here.