Shaolin Zen Master FaSu introduced to Sifu Ron Hoffmann by Master Liao. Ron was the first disciple admitted to the temple in 20 years.

A Man is born gentle and weak.
At his death he is hard and stiff.
Green plants are tender and filled with sap.
At their death they are withered and dry.
Therefore, the stiff and unbending is the disciple of death.
The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life.

Thus, an army without flexibility never wins a battle.
A tree that is unbending is easily broken.The hard and strong will fall.The soft and weak will overcome."

Lao Tsu
Tao Te Ching
Hidden in the art of TaiChi Chuan, meaning "Ultimate Fist" is the exercise of true Taoist philosophy. To understand the movement of TaiChi is to understand the workings of the Tao "Universal Way". True TaiChi practice is to understand the flow of energy inside our bodies and how this energy flow relates to the Tao. TaiChi aims to bring the practioner to a more natural state of mind, body, and energy coordination. It is written in the Taoist classic the Tao Te Ching that:

"Nothing is as soft and weak as water. Yet for attacking the hard and strong, nothing is better."

"Rhino's horns have no place to pierce, Tiger's claws find nothing to tear."

it is also stated that:

"The soft and weak overcome the hard and strong."

Naturally, these quotes may seem paradoxical to you, but you must consider the following example. Water may not seem much of threat to you if it's in the form of a puddle on the ground, but if it's smashing and flowing in the form of a tidal wave, it can easily destroy anything in its path.

As you can see, these legendary quotes passed down by Lao Tsu (The Old Master) have been preserved, understood, and put into practical use through the art of TaiChi Chuan. As a result of TaiChi practice, the student will learn to follow the opponent's energy and redirect it at will. Also, the practitioner will gain a tremendous amount of power due to the the mind-body coordination of energy.

This is why TaiChi is regarded as the "Ultimate Fist" in the elite martial art world, and why its health benefits are being recognized and accepted worldwide.