Meditation, balance and breathing are the three main tenets of David Calebretta’s new t’ai chi class at Whitefish Community Center, but as he will tell you, having fun beats all of those.

For the 63-year old, teaching the Chinese martial art to groups of all ages has been a sort of calling for him after a medical procedure laid him low.

“I had a hip fusion about 10 years ago and I didn’t want to take pain medication,” Calebretta said. “It’s a restorative martial art, and it worked for me. My balance is improved. I used to wake up in the night in agonizing pain, but that doesn’t happen anymore.”

While he has taught the gentle, sweeping movements for four years, yesterday was the first time teaching seniors at Whitefish Community Center.

The class of 11, ranging in age from mid-60s to upper 80s, was there to meet Calebretta and get a first lesson in the movements.

T’ai chi ch’uan, often shortened to t’ai chi, stands for “supreme ultimate fist” in simplified Chinese. Despite the name, it is not as high impact or intense as Japanese karate (”open hand”) and can be used for stretching, meditation and as a stress reliever. 

Calebretta, who was a carpenter in San Diego for most of his life, was the last person people would expect to teach a class of seniors the art in a black gi in Whitefish. However, after the hip surgery and the results he got from attempting t’ai chi himself, he decided he should give back.

“I always liked martial arts, but this one seemed to be a fit,” he said. “Life had taken its toll. Our hand-eye coordination diminishes as we age, but we can get it back.”

Calebretta teaches t’ai chi and swimming at The Wave fitness center in Whitefish, and also spends time with the seniors at Buffalo Hill Terrace. He said many of his pupils regain balance and hand-eye coordination that has been lost. 

A particular type of the art, designed to help with arthritis pain and flexibility, has been particularly popular.

“You don’t have to stand up to do it,” he said. “They all have fun. T’ai chi can be posturing like yoga can be, but I prefer to make everybody feel comfortable.”

For those in his class, Calebretta said imagining the motion being completed is more important than doing it correctly right away. He uses the phrase “mind’s eye” to tell people about t’ai chi’s “stillness in motion.”

“You are supposed to visualize being in a pond and moving without causing any ripples,” he said. “It’s not a spooky thing, but it does make you see things more clearly.”

All ages can benefit from the martial art, Calebretta said.

“Alzheimer’s patients are actually really wonderful at t’ai chi. They follow you perfect and are almost like a mirror,” he said. “Younger people can use it to relieve fatigue and reduce stress. I encourage people to show techniques to friends and family.”

For those interested in a session of t’ai chi, Calebretta’s next class will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, and 12:30 every Monday after the MLK day holiday at the Whitefish Community Center, 121 E. Second St. Classes last around an hour and involve low-impact breathing exercises. 

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.