Tai Chi,good self-defense art or not?

[Yinboxer]

my sifu had strict guidlines that had figting aspects in Tai Ji.....
seems liek people "wussied-fied" it for others who are too whimpy when it comes to the idea of fighting.

Exactly! Tai Chi has been taken over by airy-fairy people who think that just because they don't believe in violence, nothing bad will ever happen to them. Everybody always thinks "Tai Chi...isn't that for old people?" Tai Chi was originally a fighting style. As for "old people," the point is that you can continue to practice it into old age without hurting yourself. Not to mention you will be one bad old Mo Fo if you have been at it for sixty years!

[47MartialMan]

Just a quick-question-test-

How many "styles" or systems of Tai Ji and name them (aka Yang Style)

[Yinboxer]

Just a quick-question-test-

How many "styles" or systems of Tai Ji and name them (aka Yang Style)

Chen, Yang, Wu, Sun, and Hao are the major styles (Although some people argue that Chen style is not really Tai Chi).

If you are asking about forms, there's the solo sequence and applications, Tai Chi fast training, still meditation, hitting hands, the fighting set, free-sparring ("push hands, dalu"), Tai Chi sword, sabre, spear, staff, and ball. Some say ruler, but I have never seen it. There is also Small San Sao and Dung's Fast Form.

Do I get a gold star now?

[Tom Yum]

Not to defend the wussy-fiers, but in fact an awful lot of old folks in China have been just using a low-key approach for basic fitness and whathaveyou for many many years. Its not like that, less than badass, aspect of it is new or merely the product of greedy trendsetters.

Old people in China dancing to 'disike' (disco), that's a sight. Lots of taiji, walking, biking.

[Ironpalm]

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[jubaji]

Old people in China dancing to 'disike' (disco), that's a sight. Lots of taiji, walking, biking.

LOL

Nothing like seeing a hundred or so old folks doing what could very loosely be called 'ballroom' dancing to piped in music over the park loudspeakers at 5am! Most of the folks looking deadly serious about it all too!

LOL

[Ironpalm]

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[47MartialMan]

Yes, we do

[shuyun]

********ditto*********

[hornet]

I've been in the receiving end of Tai-Chi and it was a...... experience.

So now I do it myself. It's hard to learn. You have to fight for every ounce of progress. And then you start to notice a change. The stuff you knew before you started seem easier. You got more power in a relaxed way.

Anyone with some fighting experience can see the martial relevance of the postures.

Tai-Chi is about forcing yourself to be more in control of yourself.
So what does selfcontrol have to do with fighting?

Oh nothing............

[HtTKar]

Do I get a gold star now?

Of course....great answer.

Some say ruler, but I have never seen it.

Oh, never mind...I take that back.
no gold star for you..so sorry.
someday

[shuyun]

I've been in the receiving end of Tai-Chi and it was a...... experience.

So now I do it myself. It's hard to learn. You have to fight for every ounce of progress. And then you start to notice a change. The stuff you knew before you started seem easier. You got more power in a relaxed way.

Anyone with some fighting experience can see the martial relevance of the postures.

Tai-Chi is about forcing yourself to be more in control of yourself.
So what does selfcontrol have to do with fighting?

Oh nothing............

nothing and everything at the same time. it does not even have to look like taichi to be applied once you have the self control thing.

i've been at the dishing end of the technique and even i was surprised how far i was able to displace someone whose total weight was twice mine while he was stanced using push hands.

[47MartialMan]

Chen, Yang, Wu, Sun, and Hao are the major styles (Although some people argue that Chen style is not really Tai Chi).

If you are asking about forms, there's the solo sequence and applications, Tai Chi fast training, still meditation, hitting hands, the fighting set, free-sparring ("push hands, dalu"), Tai Chi sword, sabre, spear, staff, and ball. Some say ruler, but I have never seen it. There is also Small San Sao and Dung's Fast Form.

Do I get a gold star now?

Yes you can have a gold star-but i think you forgot one-for the platinum star-what is it?

[dacosta]

...
Basically I was told this by Shifu ... the only 1 that can be used for fighting is Chen style which is also the oldest.

I don't mean to disrespect your teacher, but he/she is wrong. Back in the 50's their was a Wu taichi stylest going around kicking every body's butt. He was so effective that the Chinese government got involved to try and control the severity of the fights.

I think what your teacher means is that: out of all the styles of taichi, he thinks chen is the best for fighting. Also the orgins of Chen was for fighting alone. That does not mean that the rest don't fight too.

The reason there r so few that can actually effectively use it to fight is because it takes so long to master shifu yan jian says the quickest any1 has ever learnt taichi properly was 25yrs and that was a long time ago.

This depends on you and your teacher. If your teacher wants to make a fighter out you, it can be done in a short time, like any other MA. Most taiji teachers only do this with their familly.

basically tai chi can be used as an ultimate fist as it were but there r so few who can do this that u might as well consider that in general no it cant be used.

This is some what true, thanks to Yang, most who do taichi are not concerned about fighting.

[sirmattu]

Tai chi is considered a martial arts by many,it is said that if the techniques of Tai Chi are to be used very quickly in a real situation they will be very effective as a self-defense.Of course these techniques can be done very quickly and softly if the other person isn't moving and isn't fighting back.

I personally do not consider Tai Chi an art of self-defense.

I can not imagine how an art with nothing but forms can be useful on street.


Who here agrees ?

i dont agree with you