Russian master follows tai chi to ancient roots

Chen Ziqiang, her master, head coach at the Chenjiagou Taijiquan School and a 20th-generation descendant of the Chen family, praises her dedication.

"She is diligent and hardworking, practicing and deepening her understanding of tai chi culture," he says.

"Tai chi is a vivid and concrete embodiment of traditional Chinese culture. While much of traditional Chinese heritage is abstract and profound, tai chi is observable and learnable, offering and showing the wisdom and philosophies of Chinese culture."

From 2012 to 2015, Kobiakova achieved outstanding results in major international tai chi competitions worldwide. She was the European champion five times and a silver medalist at the 1st World Taijiquan Championship held in Chengdu, Sichuan province, in 2014.

Furthermore, she serves as a certified referee for the Russian Wushu Federation.

Having taught both Chinese and Western students, Kobiakova offers unique insights into cross-cultural learning. She has resigned from her research career entirely and founded her own tai chi school in Russia.

Now, Kobiakova is the first foreign master to teach tai chi at Chenjiagou Taijiquan School.

"My students range from 6-year-old children to 80-year-old elders," she says, adding that nationalities approach the discipline differently.

"European learners are usually more relaxed in the beginning," she says, but once foreign learners truly immerse themselves in tai chi's inner logic and philosophy, they become equally devoted and persistent.

"Deep down, all people are the same," she insists. "Everyone who loves tai chi is seeking inner peace, balance, and self-improvement."

She draws a contrast between tai chi and entertainment such as music or other sports.

"Music comforts the soul, but tai chi heals the body and cultivates the spirit at the same time. It is a lifestyle, a philosophy, and a treasure that deserves to be shared worldwide."

Kobiakova devotes about eight hours a day to tai chi. "Evening training has a different quality," she explains.

"The busy day quiets down. The body has been awake and moving, and the mind is finally ready to absorb."

Dai Ruijun, 43, a Chinese student from Xinyang city, Henan province, followed her 15-year-old son to Chenjiagou four years ago.

She recalls noticing Kobiakova early on. "Her tai chi skills are exquisite, and she treats everyone with warmth and kindness," she says.

Dai's son is taught by Kobiakova."She even uses English to teach him the moves, correcting his postures while helping him build a language foundation," Dai notes.

"My son has become calmer, more focused, and more resilient. Tai chi is wonderful for teenagers," she adds.

Kobiakova plans to continue promoting traditional Chen-style tai chi when she returns to Russia, aiming to introduce more people abroad to Chinese culture.

"Tai chi gave me a new life," she says. "I hope I can spend my whole life passing this treasure on to the world."