Master T. T. Liang (1900-2002) was a key figure in bringing Tai Chi to the west.

At the age of 40 a life of dissipation was threatening his life. He was diagnosed with bare months to live. He discarded his bad habits and began dedicating himself to Tai Chi in earnest and was able to live to be 102. “Life begins at 70,” he said.

As Chen Man Ching’s personal translator and assistant. He often taught on behalf of the Professor in New York.

He published one of the first books on Tai Chi written entirely in English “Tai Chi for Health and Self Defense”

Though he learned the short form from Cheng Man Ching, he preferred to practice and teach his own 150 posture version of the Yang long form, which he modified slightly to make it easier to practice with music, an innovation he felt helped students relax and stay together in groups, improving learning.

He was full of wisdom, such as “If you rely entirely on teachers, best not to have a teacher. If you rely entirely on books, best not to read books.”

His is an inspiring example of the healing power of Taijiquan and the virtue of Wu De.

T. T. Liang’s 10 principles
From his book T’ai Chi Ch’uan for Health and Self-Defense: Philosophy and Practice

1. Nobody can be perfect. Take what is good and discard the bad.
2. If I believe entirely in books, better not read books. If I rely entirely on teachers, better not have teachers.
3. To remove a mountain is easy, but to change a man’s temperament is more difficult.
4. If there is anything wrong with me, I don’t blame others, I only blame myself.
5. If I want to live longer I must learn Tai Chi and accomplish it both physically and mentally. To accomplish it mentally is much more difficult.
6. I must learn how to yield, to be tactful, not to be aggressive; to lose (small loss, small gain, great loss, great gain), not to take advantage of others; to give ( the more one gives the more one will have).
7. Life begins at seventy. Everything is beautiful! Health is a matter of the utmost importance and all the rest is secondary. Now I must find out how to enjoy excellent health in my whole life and discover the way to immortality.
8. Make one thousand friends, but don’t make one enemy.
9. One must practice what he preaches. Otherwise it is empty talk or a bounced check.
10. To conceal the faults of others and praise their good points is the best policy.