Anyone do Tai Chi

**Wildtim** · 05-23-2008, 02:57 AM

I know we have more than a couple martial artists on the board, I was wondering if we have any Tai chi practitioners here. I have been self-studying the 24 forms Yang style for a while now via video and book. It a very relaxing art that has improved my disposition and center as well as my muscle control and flexibility.

When I look at the martial applications, or base of the art I am even more impressed as every movement even the transitions between forms seems to have some application as a block strike hold or throw. It's fascinating, economical of movement, yet versatile, powerful yet extremely beautiful.

**Kenrup** · 05-23-2008, 03:01 AM

I would like to do study Tai Chi, I'm getting too old to Tae Kwon Do they way I like to do it and Kwok Sul Won is out of the question now. I need to keep my feet on the ground.

**jnich67** · 05-23-2008, 03:06 AM

I haven't done TC properly, but I have done Japanese Ju Jutsu and Brazilian Jiu Jutsu. If you look at some of the positions in TC, you can see where they have applicability in combative situations. These are positions you actually move "through" in the course of a fight or in everyday activities for that matter. Good stuff. The mental focus can/is a meditation in itself too - sort of like shaving with a straight - you're paying attention to what you are doing here and now

Jordan

**Wildtim** · 05-23-2008, 03:31 AM

The thread no good without video!!!

So I found a decent one. this is very well done. at least as I understand it, though maybe a little fast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBvF6...eature=related

**nun2sharp** · 05-23-2008, 03:44 AM

Considerably fast, but done quite well none the less. I wished I had time for it. She had very good form.

**Wildtim** · 05-23-2008, 03:31 PM

Some of the more active martial artists might be interested in this article:

Supreme Ultimate Boxing: Considering Tai Chi Chuan In Its Original Martial Context

**jockeys** · 05-23-2008, 03:43 PM

did tai chi for a couple of weeks, but found it to be kind of dull compared to the high-energy, high-impact martial arts i usually practice.

not knocking it, i'm sure it's a very well thought-out system, but i just didn't have to attention span for it. spent a few years in kang nei chin until i settled on the american karate system as being the most practical, and have happily been there for 8 years now.

**jnich67** · 05-23-2008, 03:58 PM

Interesting article. My take is that it depends on how you train. To make any art applicable to real world self defense, you have to train with that intention. Doing solo forms only will not get you there. You have to mix it up with some type of sparring - again, with proper intention.

Jordan

**Seraphim** · 05-23-2008, 03:58 PM

I studied Wahlum Kung Fu (Mantis style) for a number of years, and it was fantastic!

If you are really interested in Tai Chi, I would very much encourage you to find aqualified instructor, as there is nothing to compare to what you can get from real teacher/student interaction for things like martial arts. A video shows you one view of what you can see the person doing. A teacher can show you what to do, correct what you are doing, and tell you exactly why it is that you are doing what you are doing.

My Kung Fu instructor also taught Tai Chi, and said that it was difficult for younger people to do Tai Chi, as they tend to prefer the dynamics of Kung Fu, etc.

Now that I've hit 40, perhaps I'll start thinking about it again!

**gssixgun** · 05-23-2008, 04:10 PM

I have been practicing and teaching martial arts for 37 years now and have seen my fair share of Demo's in fact in my younger years I was actually on a Demo team.....
Out of all the demonstrations that I have seen, 2 stand out in my memories more than any others
One was in 1973 when I was in 9th grade and we watched a Akido demonstration, the movement that this Sensei did as he went though his Kata and demonstrations really intrigued me almost looked as though he was actually floating not stepping...
The other was a Tai Chi demo by a master in 1982, who was so fluid in his movement that he could put a bird on his arm or hand and was able to keep the bird there by reacting to the push from it's legs as the bird tried to lift off. By taking away the stable platform the bird could not lift off, totally amazed me with just how graceful this mans body movements really were....

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