Inspirational Moments: A journalist and Universiade athletes from abroad visit Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy | WPN World People News

As Taipei 2017 Universiade was coming to an end, athletes and their team members from all over the world started to visit various places in Taiwan to experience its local culture and customs. Journalist Alaghbari Salem Mohamed Hasan and athletes of Team UAE (The United Arab Emirates) attended Tai Ji Men Cultural Festival on Aug. 26 and visited Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy on the 28th. 33 athletes from Team Canada and Team Botswana also visited Tai Ji Men, an ancient menpai of qigong and martial arts, and experienced its culture on the 29th. Being deeply touched, these visitors couldn't help but say, "I love Taiwan! I love Tai Ji Men!" and wished to visit Taiwan again. The Universiade has allowed Taiwan to connect to the world through cultural exchanges.

Alaghbari Salem Mohamed Hasan (5th from right), a journalist and the executive secretary of an association of higher education in UAE, Karamba Diallo from Senegal (4th from left), and Park Eunhea from South Korea (5th from left) take a group photo with Tai Ji Men dizi.

Alaghbari Salem Mohamed Hasan is not only a journalist, but also the executive secretary of an association of higher education in UAE. The athletes of Team UAE competed in volleyball, basketball, and taekwondo. Abdulla stated that the Tai Ji Men Cultural Festival on the 26th was an unforgettable event and he was joyful, surprised, and touched by the grand cultural performances. He stated that Tai Ji Men, as a civic organization, has benefited mankind immensely through its conducting people-to-people diplomacy and promoting love and peace around the world. He said his country also helped those who needed water and medical supplies. He said although they were not doing the same thing as Tai Ji Men, both are practicing love and peace. He said he would share his experience in Taiwan after going back. "Although it is my first time visiting in Taiwan, I have fallen in love with Taiwan. Taiwanese people's friendliness of and the convenience supportiveness in life are impressive. I hope I'll have a chance to come again. I love Taiwan. I love the Tai Ji Men." He repeatedly expressed his sentiments and his love for Taiwan and Tai Ji Men.

Canadian athletes and their coaches visit Tai Ji Men.

Liguori Julia from Canada shared that every aspect of the exchange with Tai Ji Men was impressive and that she would share it with everyone in Montreal. She had a deep feeling for martial arts. She felt that the spirit of martial arts is that everyone is equal and everyone has to respect one another. She wished all human beings to have love in their hearts and the world to be peaceful. Dilling Sarah Elizabeth Grace said she felt very honored and happy at the cultural festival. She wrote down her wishes: wishing the world to be full of love and peace and people to give more love to their next generation.

Botswana athletes visit Tai Ji Men.

One of the Botswana athletes, Cliffton Kagisano Meshack shared that the most impressive thing during his stay in Taiwan was absolutely his visit to Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy. Everyone there was very hospitable. He couldn't wait to come back again! In the past, he had only seen in films a dizi's respect for his master and the love of the master for his dizi, but when he visited Tai Ji Men he witnessed it in person, which was a very special experience. Kahaka Penouua sobbed and said that he was very touched by the efforts and hospitality of Tai Ji Men brothers and sisters, and that he would definitely come back to Taiwan in the future. Another Botswana athlete shared that he originally thought that martial arts were for wars and fighting, but after his visit to Tai Ji Men he realized that martial arts could also bring love and peace.

Together with Shafiq Abdulla were Karamba Diallo from Senegal and Park Eunhea from South Korea. Gesticulating happily, Karamba Diallo shared that he had gained a better understanding of ancient Eastern weapons, qigong, and martial arts after his visit to Tai Ji Men on the 28t. It was the first time that he truly understood the meaning of the Chinese character for martial arts—“Wu.” Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, Zhang-men-ren (grandmaster) of Tai Ji Men, once stated that martial arts mean to end wars, promote kindness, resolve conflicts with wisdom, and spread love and peace. The visitors were moved and surprised when Zan-Qiang Yap, a Tai Ji Men dizi, shared that Tai Ji Men had traveled to over 10 countries in Africa to promote love and peace.

Visiting Taiwan for the first time this summer, Park Eunhea, who had traveled to 21 countries, was very impressed that Taiwan was a peace-loving country, and she feels that everyone in Taiwan has a warm heart. She said that Tai Ji Men’s performance at the Universiade Opening was full of magical and positive power, something she had never experienced before. She is not a believer in any specific religion, but she believes that positive energy brings people hope. "I support Tai Ji Men 100% in spreading the concept of love and peace. Tai Ji Men is a wonderful group. They nurture the world with love and peace."

Source: Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy