Doubts about Tai Chi as martial art

[michaelg]

Some people have doubts about Tai Chi as martial art.
Here is a good link to Chen style decription:

http://www.iugte.com/projects/martial_arts.php

Let us discuss

[taoistscholar]

I have no doubts about tai chi, but I can see the reasons why so many people are skeptic about it. Everyone thinks that soft cannot beat hard. Also there are alot of taichi practioners who don't undestand how internal martial arts work, and are practicing tai chi externaly as if it is an exercise. This isn't true Tai Chi. Tai Chi comes from complete emptyness. This fact confuses many people because they want to gain self defense aplication and health benifits, but to gain you can't look for it you have to let go. The more you let go the more you can borrow from nature.

[boslotlosbot]

I have no doubts about tai chi, but I can see the reasons why so many people are skeptic about it. Everyone thinks that soft cannot beat hard. Also there are alot of taichi practioners who don't undestand how internal martial arts work, and are practicing tai chi externaly as if it is an exercise. This isn't true Tai Chi. Tai Chi comes from complete emptyness. This fact confuses many people because they want to gain self defense aplication and health benifits, but to gain you can't look for it you have to let go. The more you let go the more you can borrow from nature.

do you have some website/s that taichi are used in a streetfight?

[MSand114]

taichi is just the exercise bla bla thing. they took out the striking (chuan.. not how hsu spells it i dont think but you guys get the idea). taichichuan is the martial art i think. i think singyi taichi is another form used for actual fighting... not 100% sure about any of this but i remember someone talking to me about it a few years ago. hope this helps

[aku aku]

As I understand it, tai chi can be effective if it's trained correctly. In an interview with internal stylist and full contact champion Steve Cotter he made the comment that in China the internal arts have always turned out fighters but in the west people practice it mostly for the health benefits.

[jubaji]

As I understand it, tai chi can be effective if it's trained correctly. In an interview with internal stylist and full contact champion Steve Cotter he made the comment that in China the internal arts have always turned out fighters but in the west people practice it mostly for the health benefits.

In China people mostly practice internal arts for the health benefits too.

[aku aku]

In China people mostly practice internal arts for the health benefits too.

Most people do but it sounds like some people fight with them too.

I'll just give you the quote:

"In the early 90s I and a few school brothers decided to begin competing in full contact fighting tournaments. We all did very well and were the first internal martial arts students to make an impact in the full contact arena. Of course, traditionally, internal martial arts have always produced fighters, but in the West, most IMA practitioners focus only on the health producing aspect of the arts, and not the combat side. So, for us to go into these tournaments with no prior experience and dominate was unique in this country. I personally won 2 US National titles and a bronze medal in the World Championship in Taiwan in 1996."

The interview is the featured article at: http://www.strengthsecretsrevealed.com/

Another interview here:

http://www.kettlebells.com.au/pdfs/stevecotter.pdf

[jubaji]

Most people do but it sounds like some people fight with them too.

That's true too.

[polecat63]

taichi is just the exercise bla bla thing. they took out the striking (chuan.. not how hsu spells it i dont think but you guys get the idea). taichichuan is the martial art i think. i think singyi taichi is another form used for actual fighting... not 100% sure about any of this but i remember someone talking to me about it a few years ago. hope this helps

Just an FYI, it's Xing Yi, or Hsing I, and there is also Xin Yi. It has no relationship to Tai Chi other than it is an internal art and from China. Oh, and they are both used for "actual" fighting.

[Tai Chi Fighter]

I know Tai Chi works as a martial art. Just look at the name "Tai Chi Fighter" I used it for years, though sadly, only in local tournies. I fought Karateka, Judoka, and even some boxers. I lost twice, and that was to the same boxer. And he is now one of my best friends, We train together constantly. Now I can beat him. But yes, Tai Chi works.

[jubaji]

Nothing "works." People fight, not disembodied 'styles.'

[Toudiyama[NL]]

Taining hard works

[jubaji]

*red square* Doubts about Tai Chi as... 12-20-2006 09:30 AM how would you know?


........common sense?

[Tom Yum]

Xing yi, ba gua and tai ji are all internal arts, no?

Just curious.

Anyhow, if you train with any system and perfect yourself, it will work.

[Neltharius]

Not sure about this, but for a while Tai Chi Chuan was the official martial art of the ancient Chinese army. I just don't remember if this was when China was weak or powerful.