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The Secrets of the Tai Chi Longevity Masters

Ken Lyon, 94 years old, 7th-term member of Tai Chi Australia East Student ID: 7034–Burwood

The longevity secret of this 94-year-old Tai Chi master: “To live, one must move. Tai Chi is perfect for me!”

Ken Lyon is 94 years old this year and a student in the 7th-term Saturday class at Dongwu. He is part of a five-generation family, a registered pharmacist in Australia, and also the host of a health program on 3WBC radio every Monday and Thursday.

Half a century ago, he suffered from a severe lumbar disc condition that once left him unable to get out of bed. But with a strong will to live and an optimistic, proactive attitude, he gradually overcame the illness and was reborn step by step.

His most classic quote is: “To live, one must move!”

So despite language barriers and the challenges of keeping up with younger classmates, he never backs down from the two-hour classes. When the teacher advises him to take a break and not push himself too hard, he confidently replies: “Tai Chi is the most suitable exercise for us. To live, one must move!”

Then he leans in and whispers to the teacher: “If a person stops moving, it’s over.”

Wang Ling Mei, 2nd-term Member of Dongwu Tai Chi Australia Membership ID: 2006

I am 82 years old this year. In 1995, illness led me to the path of Tai Chi — from that moment on, Tai Chi became an inseparable part of my life! My name is Wang Ling, I’m 82 years old, originally from Taiwan. Thanks to Tai Chi, I transformed from a hunched, frail old lady 25 years ago into someone who can now stand tall with confidence.

In 1995, I began practicing Tai Chi due to illness. Back then, I couldn’t even turn over in bed without help and waddled like a penguin when I walked. Today, I have strong legs, can do full splits, and even the three tumors in my body have all been controlled or disappeared. My senior memory issues have also improved — Tai Chi has made my life vibrant again.

The magical power of Tai Chi has brought me so many benefits that I never skip practice, no matter how cold or hot the weather is. With consistent training, my body has grown stronger, my heart more open, and my spirit more radiant. Tai Chi has given me endless strength. I dove into learning and went from knowing nothing to becoming a passionate Tai Chi enthusiast, soaring freely in the sky of Tai Chi!

Today, I am a licensed instructor and assistant teacher with the Dongwu Tai Chi Alliance, and an active Tai Chi promotion volunteer in Melbourne. I have received the **Gold Medal “Cultural Ambassador for Inheriting Chinese Heritage”** from the Australian International Wushu Festival and the **“Most Beautiful Volunteer”** award from Melbourne International Culture Week.

I’ve competed in martial arts competitions in both Australia and Indonesia, earned the **Level 2 Chen-style Tai Chi certificate** from the Chinese National Wushu Association, and received the **Instructor Certification** from the Henan Dongwu Tai Chi Research Institute.

I am deeply grateful to Tai Chi for giving me a second life. Tai Chi is a part of me now — I will never part from it!

Using Tai Chi to Aid Recovery After Major Surgery

Alison Rennick, 5th-term student of Dongwu Tai Chi Australia, Student ID: 5191
At 72, I used Tai Chi to recover after having both hip joints replaced My name is Alison Rennick, and I’m a 5th-term member of the Dongwu Tai Chi Alliance in Australia. In 2016, I underwent total bilateral hip replacement surgery. Since then, I have consistently practiced Tai Chi to support my bone recovery. Through Tai Chi, I’ve continuously experienced both physical and mental well-being and improved health. In June 2018, I began learning Chen-style Tai Chi with Teacher Wendy at the Dongwu Tai Chi Alliance in Australia. Through her physical demonstrations and alongside my fellow Tai Chi classmates, I studied Chen-style forms, fan, and sword techniques. No matter how cold or hot the weather is, I never miss a class. Today, not only am I able to assist and teach new students who need help, but I also often join Teacher Wendy in performing and promoting Tai Chi to the public. If you’re pursuing health and wellness, I highly recommend practicing Tai Chi. As for me, I only wish I had started my Tai Chi journey 20 years earlier!
4th-term student of Dongwu Tai Chi Australia,
Student ID: 5192
80 years old this year
I am 80 years old this year. Tai Chi helped me recover after major hip replacement surgeries, and promoting Tai Chi as a volunteer has become one of the most joyful journeys of my life. I am John Nation, a 4th-term student of the Dongwu Tai Chi Alliance in Australia. In my younger years, I participated in many sports, including Australian football, squash, tennis, table tennis, and skiing — and later on, golf. In 2015, I began learning Tai Chi at the Waverley U3A (University of the Third Age), but it was only basic moves, such as the simplified 24-form Tai Chi. Perhaps due to years of intense physical activity in my youth, my hip joints became severely damaged, and I had to undergo total hip replacements on both sides in 2014 and 2015. Unfortunately, the surgery affected the nerves in my right leg, resulting in foot drop, which prevented me from enjoying many of the sports I once loved. That’s when Tai Chi became my first choice for exercise. In June 2018, I began formally studying Chen-style Tai Chi under Teacher Wendy and joined the Dongwu Tai Chi Alliance in Australia. Rain or shine, I trained alongside fellow Tai Chi students and participated in the intensive training for the 4th International Online Tai Chi Competition, as well as the 1st and 2nd Australian International Wushu Festivals. Learning Tai Chi has been both a mental and physical challenge for me, but the deeper I go, the more I enjoy it — and the more I benefit. I’ve also become an active and enthusiastic supporter of others in the class. In the future, I plan to encourage my young grandchildren to learn martial arts. Although I’m over 80, not in perfect health, and a slow learner due to my weak foundation in Tai Chi, I am determined to keep progressing and continue gaining health and happiness through this practice!
Quan Fang Liu, 7th-term student of Dongwu Tai Chi Alliance Australia
Student ID: 7095
80 years old this year

I am 80 years old, and Tai Chi cured my asthma. 33 years ago, when I was 50, I caught a cold which triggered severe asthma. After hospitalization, various medications, and oxygen therapy, the symptoms improved but never fully went away. I had to keep a nebulizer at home in case of acute attacks.

Through a friend’s introduction, I began learning Tai Chi. I felt it helped improve my condition, and at the time, I was even interviewed and featured by a sports reporter from Shenzhen TV. However, due to the lack of professional guidance and discipline, my Tai Chi practice remained at a very basic level — I practiced inconsistently, stopping and starting repeatedly.

Twenty years ago, I moved to Australia. The ever-changing weather in Melbourne and its infamous pollen caused my asthma to flare up multiple times, even requiring hospitalization. I joined several Tai Chi groups, hoping to restore lung function through regular practice. Yet again, without a strict teacher’s guidance — and coupled with my own lack of perseverance — I was unable to maintain a consistent routine.

Earlier this year, I was incredibly fortunate to join the Dongwu Tai Chi class. Wendy Jiang, an international Tai Chi champion, teaches in person every week, meticulously demonstrating the principles of Tai Chi and rigorously ensuring student attendance. This has been unlike any Tai Chi learning experience I’ve ever had — and certainly the most beneficial.

Since joining the Dongwu Tai Chi class, under the guidance of Teacher Wendy and the assistants, I’ve been practicing Tai Chi with great dedication — not only during class but also at home. I came to realize that I had previously been performing many moves incorrectly without even knowing it. Obviously, if the movements aren’t precise, the benefits of Tai Chi are greatly diminished.

In just over six months of training with Dongwu Tai Chi, my overall fitness and lung function have significantly improved, and I feel much more calm and balanced.

Tai Chi is one of the great treasures of Chinese culture and shines brightly on the world stage. I’m 80 years old, and I’m a member of Dongwu Tai Chi — and I’m proud of it!
Junrong Xiang, 72 years old, Licensed Instructor of Dongwu Tai Chi Alliance Australia
Member ID: 5001
Learning Never Ends — I Use Tai Chi to Benefit Myself and Others I am 72 years old, and I have been frail and sickly since childhood, with poor health. In 1998, under the guidance of a good friend, I began attending Tai Chi classes. Gradually, I began to feel real improvements in my health thanks to Tai Chi. From then on, I was determined to master it. After several years of dedicated training in Yang-style Tai Chi, sword, and fan forms, I earned a 5th Dan certificate, and my physical condition greatly improved. After immigrating to Australia in 2007, I actively participated in various Chinese community groups and was honored to receive support from them. I also took on the role of guiding fellow members who were interested in Tai Chi, helping them learn and grow together. I’ve taught and shared Tai Chi practices at organizations such as the Waverley Chinese Seniors Association, Mt Waverley Chinese Fellowship Association, Box Hill Chinese Seniors Club, and the City of Knox Chinese Seniors Group — continuing to share the health benefits and joy of Tai Chi to this day. With a strong belief in lifelong learning, I now study Chen-style Tai Chi under Teacher Wendy at the Dongwu Tai Chi Alliance and currently serve as the head instructor for Baduanjin Qigong (Eight-Section Brocade). I hope that through continuous learning, Tai Chi can bring even greater health benefits to myself — and I am deeply grateful to all my Tai Chi teachers.