Instructor Todd Ackerman, 43, (right) has been studying and practicing tai chi ch'uan for more than 25 years and martial arts since he was 8. Here, he leads a class at Tim Bondy Physical Therapy in Petoskey. (G. Randall Goss/News-Review)

Todd Ackerman has his own Karate Kid story.
Enticed by the ancient martial arts of karate and tai chi, Ackerman recalls being an 8-year-old boy and watching his neighbor in downstate Redford, a tai chi master, perform in his back yard. It sparked an enduring interest in the young Ackerman, and he went on to earn his black-belt in karate and to learn the finer points of tai chi.
"I've spent 35 years in Western boxing and karate," said Ackerman, 43, of Petoskey. "I was 18 when I became more involved in tai chi."
He couldn't have known that the calming and physical exercise regimens he so enjoyed would become invaluable tools in his recovery from a serious car accident many years later.
In 1992, Todd and his wife, Kimberly, had moved to Northern Michigan and were involved in a crash in Charlevoix County that crushed Todd's back in numerous places, rupturing three main discs and requiring six extensive surgeries.
At the time, Ackerman was certified through the International Sports and Science Association as a fitness therapist and personal trainer, and his physical conditioning had helped him through the lengthy recovery.
He underwent physical therapy at Tim Bondy Physical Therapy in Petoskey, where he struck up a friendship with owner Bondy. Once he recovered, Ackerman joined the staff at Tim Bondy as a physical therapist, and today he is teaching others the art and exercise of tai chi in regular classes.
"It's a 2,000-year-old art," Ackerman said.
Information available at the physical therapy office states, "The slow movements of tai chi ch'uan are designed to expand the mind and focus the body's energy, promoting a sense of calm and clarity."
It uses gentle, low-impact movements that burn calories on par with surfing and downhill skiing.
The form Ackerman teaches specifically is tai chi ch'uan, which translates, he said, to "Grand terminus of boxing." The short form he practices is known as "yang," as in the well-known black-and-white symbol of yin-and-yang. The line between black and white represents the state when opposites occur, and it's a theme that carries into tai chi and self-defense moves as well.

Tai chi for health
The health benefits of practicing tai-chi and following its deliberate movements are many, Ackerman noted.
"Balance, calming, clarity, self-defense and increased vital capacity with the lungs, which in turn teaches you how to breathe," he listed.
Results of regular tai chi can bring inner strength as well as literal strength, in warding off osteoporosis and other weakening afflictions such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
In his regular classes, Ackerman leads the approximately 15 participants through a half hour of activity that begins slowly, set to meditative music in the background, and increases in intensity.
"It's amazing how much it's caught on with every walk of life and ability," said Bill Huber, Bondy's chief operating officer, while observing a recent class.
The range of participants' capabilities is accommodated through a variety of moves. Ackerman's motivations are methodical and draw on the terms that have endured through the hundreds of years tai chi has been practiced, such as "part the wild horse's mane" and "grab the fish and pull him out."
"You know how much work you are doing right now," he compliments the class. "You know how tough this can be. You're building strength in the lengthening of your muscles, building control. Ready now stretch, feel that internal strength."
For Linn Williams of Boyne City, taking part in regular tai chi classes has helped her keep her balance in check as she ages, while giving her an outlet for her passion for dance.
"To me it's very dancelike," said Williams, who has a background with professional dancers. "I have lovely visualizations when I do tai chi. I think of the great starry nights and a small waterfall parting the willows, and the water's coming down. The visualization part is really nice."
Many in the class on this day in particular are middle age and older, a group that can particularly benefit from tai chi, Ackerman added.
"Seniors love it for function and better balance, as they all will lose this as they age," he said. "Anyone who has patience to learn can benefit from tai chi chu'an.”
In fact, Ackerman's own two teenage children are developing an interest in it as well. Another Karate Kid story, perhaps, in the making?

To take a class
Tai chi ch'uan classes are held year-round at Tim Bondy Physical Therapy's Aquatic Therapy and Wellness Centers in Petoskey and Harbor Springs.
Classes take place at noon on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in Petoskey and on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Harbor (led by Mike Breen). Cost is $6 per day or $45 per month.
The Petoskey office is located at 1333 Spring St., 487-4638; the Harbor address is 930 State St., #10 (in Fairview Square), 242-0791.