San Gee Tam, Master of the Golden Flower Tai Chi School, said Grandmaster Dong typically draws crowds of more than 4,000 people when he teaches in China and in other countries.

 “There are maybe six or eight really well known Tai Chi masters who live in various parts of the world, and elected him the current grand master. That is what is so special about it... someone who was born into and has embodied the knowledge and spent their whole life practicing and being a representative of that particular style,” said Tam.

Tai Chi is usually passed down in families through generations. Users learn to manage their own health, fitness and emotional balance through exercises. It is also used as an effective and powerful self-defense tool.

The event is open to the community and will begin at the school on Friday. Chief Instructor Annukka Holland said Grandmaster Dong will also give presentations at the school’s retreat center in Stokes County.

Holland says participants do not need much Tai Chi experience to participate in the Friday evening workshop. “You can follow along, because he does the movements very slowly... you don’t have to be at a high level to access this.  Then we have a two day workshop at our retreat in Hanging Rock from 9:00-4:00 both Saturday and Sunday.”