Starting Wushu.

[TTEscrima]

Would taijiquan be a good starter/augment to any martial arts?

It's a good augment, but a less than ideal place to start.

Taiji (this applies to any Soft/Internal art) is the long road, both the soft and hard components have things to offer, but the external arts are a much shorter journey.

Depending on your age and the shape you're in, study WWII Combatives to see the "cliff notes" of fighting to win, then in order to develop the tools you'll need to apply the concepts start out wrestling, add in boxing and MT, then learn some Judo, finally, round out the external route with some Jujutsu.

I'd say if you dedicate at least 7 years to that while maintaining each of the skills through training and you still have a desire to learn, then add in a long road art. If that sounds like too much work then you aren't ready for a long road art anyway.

[jubaji]

Would taijiquan be a good starter/augment to any martial arts?

May I ask how old you are?

[chafe]

Why? I came here to get information about martial arts. If you can't help me then I will continue reading other posts or wait until someone is willing to answer my question. If my ignorance of martial arts offends you then chuckle to yourself and leave it at that.
I want to get into martial arts and was wondering if tai chi is the best place to start.

[jubaji]

No offense intended. Need to know to answer your question.

[chafe]

Then I am 17.

[jubaji]

Alright, then I would advise you, if you are going to, to take up boxing, judo, wrestling or the like now - as soon as possible. Those are things you can learn later but you will only get so far with very demanding contact activities like that if you start anytime after pretty much right now. If someone is advising you to study this or that and THEN go and take up boxing or wrestling they are steering you wrong. If you want a base you get the base first and build off it. You don't build the base last. Go train the muscles and the mind and push your physical limits now while you are more able to do so than you ever will be again. The other stuff will still be there.

[TigerClaw]

Alright, then I would advise you, if you are going to, to take up boxing, judo, wrestling or the like now - as soon as possible. Those are things you can learn later but you will only get so far with very demanding contact activities like that if you start anytime after pretty much right now. If someone is advising you to study this or that and THEN go and take up boxing or wrestling they are steering you wrong. If you want a base you get the base first and build off it. You don't build the base last. Go train the muscles and the mind and push your physical limits now while you are more able to do so than you ever will be again. The other stuff will still be there.

Don't listen to Jubaji on most things, While boxing, judo wrestling all have their strengths, Kung Fu is the most comprehensive and advanced form of fighting on the planet. If you like to modern wu shu, then start there, but for combat you may want to consider Kung Fu.

In Kung Fu you will learn to move in stances and to develop timing balance strength speed many guard positions and techniques to cover every attack. If you look around you will also find ground fighting and how to combat grappling situations and many self defense situations. I am guessing that you like to grace and beauty of modern Wu Shu, if this is the case you will also find some similarities in many Kung Fu styles but with a strong combative aspect. Modern Wu Shu does have some combative aspects to it. But personally I prefer Traditional Kung Fu.

[jubaji]

Even the young ones know better than to listen to you, tigerclown. Give it up.

[TigerClaw]

Although I do like this Wu Shu type form, I think this man developed this from his mantis background.

YouTube - Praying Mantis Fist ??? Tanglangquan

[Tom Yum]

Would taijiquan be a good starter/augment to any martial arts?

That's ultimately for you to decide.

If you are getting started in the martial arts and want to learn how to fight in a relatively short amount of time, then taijiquan is not the best place to start.

As I understand, taiji is a system of movement, a way of thinking, an entire martial philosophy and yes a fighting form - but as explained to me from guys here whom practice, it would take you at least 3 solid years of training before you would be ready to fight.

If you want to learn a martial art that will teach you some quickly useable fighting skills, I would look into muaythai, jeetkunedo, judo, jiujitsu, kyokushin karate, kenpo, tangsoodo, hapkido/hwarangdo or any of the phillipino martial arts.

I think Taiji would be an excellent augmentation to any martial art both in terms of rejuvinating your body, improving on more efficient use of your body and learning some qin-na (chinese grappling). I'd hit up TTE Escrima or King of the Forest who are members here who could give you a wealth of information on the topic!

[chafe]

Well, looks like I can't do any tai chi where I live. There are no schools that teach it. In fact, my choices are limited to Judo, Hapkido, Karate, and Tae Kwon Do. I'm considering between Karate and Hapkido. Thoughts?

[jubaji]

I'd go with Judo, because of those four choices it is the one you will be least able to excell in if you start later in life.

[chafe]

Also, after opinion, please put a reason. Thank you. =)

[jubaji]

...............


Ok, see above.

[chafe]

Wasn't directed at you. Others might want to help me too. Also, those aren't exactly my first picks for martial arts. Rather, they're what is availible to me as I live in such a small community.