From resistance to passion

When Li first encountered tai chi at university, she resisted.

"My initial impression was that it was slow and soft, completely different from the powerful styles I was used to," she said. "I preferred the immediate, intense sense of power in external styles."

But a competition opportunity in 2014 led her to train seriously under her coach's supervision. Over a month and a half of intensive practice, something clicked.

"After practicing tai chi, my whole body felt comfortable in a way I'd never experienced. The sweat came from deep inside. My hands and feet felt warm," Li said.

Years of training had left her with injuries, and tai chi began to heal them.

"Sports injuries often come from blocked energy and imbalance," she said. "Tai chi uses slow, circular movements to open the meridians and balance the body's systems. When my hands and feet warmed up, I understood that yin-yang balance isn't just a philosophy — it's the body returning to health. "The biggest change in me is that I've become more composed. True strength isn't just in the explosive moment. It's also in the calm between movements, the steadiness that comes from within. That shift, from focusing on force to focusing on intention, changed everything for me."