Thoughts: College Departments which Tai Chi Chuan Fit Into

College Departments which Tai Chi Chuan Fit Into

1. ANTH - Anthropology, specifically Chinese Cultural Anthropology. I understand that describing a genuine Tai Chi Class, with an Authentic, Auspicious, and Honorable Lineage, as “A Study of the Ancient Chinese Art of Tai Chi,” may be distasteful to Garrett, Maureen, Paul, and other genuine Tai Chi Instructors, though I honestly do not find this description to be dishonest or misdirecting in any way; The only real way to study Tai Chi, Academically, (writing as a “one-credit-short” Cultural Anthropologist) is by learning Tai Chi using Traditional Chinese Methods first, and only then begin to study Tai Chi’s possible Cultural effects on Chinese Society and History in a Broader Sense. Radiating outward from the practices of individual groups, continuing through the Enculturation effects each Ancient Tai-Chi School had on each other (and thus Chinese society as a whole). The only serious way to study both the changes as they now stand, and their differences with origins in history is by beginning a study of the practice as it Currently exists. Though not all Academics with a Specialization in “Asian Culture” will be attracted to intensive classes like these, there is no question that anyone who completes even a “Beginners’ Tai Chi Class” at a Community College has a serious Academic advantage over those who do not … but as I understand this situation the “Community College Accreditation Board,” or whomever, is trying to use “Semantics,” to stop Tai Chi Instruction (aka “Lawyering”) in California Community Colleges, thus why not use the same tactics? In the end, is not Tai Chi being taught what really matters? people will always be attracted to it regardless of whether it’s Officially Listed as “helping with Balance” or “a study in how Chinese deal with balance in their elderly.”

2. HIST – History, Chinese History Specifically. History, as a “Social Science,” is a very close relative to Anthropology and thus the same arguments I use for Anthropology apply here too.

3. PHYS – Physical Education, along with Yoga, Boxing, and other simply Physically Healthy Classes; Tai Chi Chuan as a Marital Art cannot be ignored.

4. DNC – Dancing, Chinese (why not?)

5. Consciousness Studies (? – Check Catalog)

*Naturally I recommend that my theses be passed by someone in the Social Sciences Department, but I seriously doubt that you will have any trouble.