Summary of the Course Meeting on Tai Chi Teaching in Malaysia by Professor Yi Yi

Meeting Minutes

Date: October 26, 2023
Attendees: Head of Sports Science Department, Student Affairs Representative, Director of Curriculum Development, Coach Yiyi & Teaching Assistants

Project Lead: "We extend our gratitude to Coach Yiyi and her team for their exceptional work over the past quarter. This meeting aims to review the outcomes of the 'Tai Chi and Modern Wellness' elective pilot and strategize for its next phase."

I. Key Outcomes & Observations

1. Exceptional Participation & Sustainability:

   • Course enrollment reached 150% of initial capacity, with a consistent attendance rate exceeding 92%.

   • Over 85% of participating students completed the course feedback survey, setting a new record for elective courses.

2. Significant, Multi-Dimensional Student Transformation:

   • Physical Level: Over 70% of students reported significant relief from shoulder and neck pain; more than 60% indicated improved sleep quality.

   • Psychological Level: Pre- and post-program psychological assessments showed an average 35% reduction in perceived stress scores and an average 28% increase in concentration test scores among participants.

   • Cognitive Level: In their reflective essays, students frequently mentioned that the philosophy of 'using softness to overcome hardness' provided them with a new perspective for tackling academic and interpersonal challenges.

II. Coach Yiyi's Instructional Goals: The 4-Tier Proficiency Level for Students

Upon completion, students are expected to achieve competency across four dimensions:

1. Tier 1: Foundational Competence

   • Ability to independently and fluently demonstrate a simplified 8-10 minute Tai Chi sequence with proper form and basic breath-movement coordination.

2. Tier 2: Functional Application

   • Ability to integrate Tai Chi principles into daily life: e.g., using 5 minutes of Zhan Zhuang (站桩 - Standing Post) to regain energy after long study sessions, or applying breath-regulation techniques to stabilize emotions within 3 minutes before an exam.

3. Tier 3: Embodied Understanding

   • Moving beyond 'doing' the movements to 'understanding' their essence. Ability to explain how principles like 'Sinking Shoulders & Elbows (沉肩坠肘)' alleviate neck tension, and comprehend how 'Transforming Substantial and Insubstantial (虚实转换)' enhances physical balance and mental flexibility.

4. Tier 4: Cultural Ambassadorship

   • Acting as a 'Tai Chi cultural node' on campus. Ability to articulate the health values of Tai Chi to peers clearly and possess the capability to lead small interest groups in basic practice.

III. Future Vision & Strategic Planning

1. Curriculum Upgrade: Plan to develop an advanced course: "Tai Chi 2.0: The Body Philosophy in Stress Management & Leadership."

2. Teacher Development: Launch a "Tai Chi Teaching Assistant Certification Program" to cultivate the first cohort of local student instructors from top performers, ensuring program sustainability.

3. Research Collaboration: Partner with the Sports Science Department to initiate a longitudinal study, generating hard data to quantify Tai Chi's impact on university student well-being, with the goal of publishing findings in an international journal.

Meeting Consensus: The pilot has successfully demonstrated the significant value of integrating Tai Chi into the higher education ecosystem. The next phase will focus on evolving it from a successful elective into a core component of a comprehensive "Campus Wellness and Cultural Ecology."