[Photo/China Daily]

"I felt amazed as I realized that this was the master himself, and then a sudden feeling of pleasure hit me. Of course this was exactly the kind of person who would be a tai chi master - the last person you could imagine.

"I learned tremendously from him. He did not only teach me physically the tai chi but also the philosophy of how to be a better person, how to keep going when you felt you were tired."

The master was sent to a labor camp during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) because he wanted to quit his job to practice tai chi full time. He was not allowed to practice in the camp. So, he secretly did the movements under the blanket when lying in bed.

"He was treated unfairly. But he was not angry or bitter or hateful but just became sweeter, nicer and kinder," Oliver explains.

"His ethos is that one should not pursue riches and fame but endeavor to be happy and share one's knowledge and wisdom with others."

Following the master, Oliver learned to live a simple life - one perhaps more traditional than many Chinese. She does tai chi in the morning and brews kung fu tea for guests. Ink-wash bamboo paintings hang on her apartment walls.

Oliver spends her time outside tai chi teaching English and attending cultural-exchange events.

She founded the Double Dragon Alliance in 2005. The organization enables Chinese kung fu masters to teach martial arts to Westerners and organizes seminars and events for them to experience Chinese massage, acupuncture, traditional medicine, calligraphy and tea ceremonies.

She also teaches tai chi to domestic and foreign disciples.