Tai Chi,good self-defense art or not?

[Thai Bri]

Have you heard of Richard Dimitri? He's the guy from www.senshido.com

I've spoken (via email) with him a few times and have great respect for him and his system. Theres a UK seminar in the offing in Brighton, second half of January. I'll be there. Why not come along?

[Tjang]

Dear enquirers and readers about Thai Ci ,

Thai Ci is very efficient and effective for fighting. However, as far as I understand:

One. Most successful Thai Ci practitioners started with other styles (Kung-fu, etc. whichever you want to name). I said "most" maybe due to my limited knowledge and experience. Please correct me if you have more information. Therefore, they already know how to fight like the ‘ordinary’ ways (if I may say so) of punching, kicking, etc. The inventor of Thai Ci himself studied in Shao Lin for many years and achieved a considerably high mastery before he created Thai Ci and at last established the fest oldest Wu Tang group.

Two. When using the Thai Ci, we talk of a somewhat different kind of “speed”. It is not speed like how fast you hit or block. But, once you have physical attachment to your opponent’s (parts of) body, than you have a sort of feeling what movement he is making. As soon as he moves, you react instantly (feeling is often faster than thought) and drive his movement to another direction, or even use his own force against himself and make him fall, hurt, or injured if you want. So the key word is, stay close or even attached (Is this a right word? Or can you help me find a better word?) to your opponent.

Three. It is rather difficult to express the ideas, because a lot of feeling, spirit, etc. are involved here. Direct practice will be clearer.

Four. However, it is also difficult to find somebody who can really show us how effective and efficient Thai Ci is in the free fighting atmosphere. It really needs time, hard work, and excellent mastery to use. One thing is clear, I can do very very little (too little) Thai Ci for the free fight. But, I am lucky to have the experience of practicing with a Thai Ci master some 15 years ago. I could do very little when I had to defend myself from him. On the other hand, I can say that I could not harm him, except some scratches with my nails. Poor me.

[choylifutrocks]

Originally posted by chris davis 200
nope not yet - but will head over there now!

On another note - i will probably be posting a vid clip of ME demoing a simple tai chi movement, its normal class application and its realistic application.

Dont know yet but may do.

Please do. I'd be interested to see TC being applied for a realistic situation.

[ninjaiboy22]

Great Question!

Great Question, but the one thing everyone is not mentioning is that it is totally up to the practiciner. I have sparred against people using tai chi and beat the crap out of them, I study Siu Lum Pai and Karatedo. Then against some Sun Style tai chi students, I was taken down a few times. So as always it depends on the style and the practiceioner

[yentao]

Originally posted by Tjang
Dear enquirers and readers about Thai Ci ,

Thai Ci is very efficient and effective for fighting. However, as far as I understand:

One. Most successful Thai Ci practitioners started with other styles (Kung-fu, etc. whichever you want to name). I said "most" maybe due to my limited knowledge and experience. Please correct me if you have more information. Therefore, they already know how to fight like the ‘ordinary’ ways (if I may say so) of punching, kicking, etc. The inventor of Thai Ci himself studied in Shao Lin for many years and achieved a considerably high mastery before he created Thai Ci and at last established the fest oldest Wu Tang group.

Two. When using the Thai Ci, we talk of a somewhat different kind of “speed”. It is not speed like how fast you hit or block. But, once you have physical attachment to your opponent’s (parts of) body, than you have a sort of feeling what movement he is making. As soon as he moves, you react instantly (feeling is often faster than thought) and drive his movement to another direction, or even use his own force against himself and make him fall, hurt, or injured if you want. So the key word is, stay close or even attached (Is this a right word? Or can you help me find a better word?) to your opponent.

Three. It is rather difficult to express the ideas, because a lot of feeling, spirit, etc. are involved here. Direct practice will be clearer.

Four. However, it is also difficult to find somebody who can really show us how effective and efficient Thai Ci is in the free fighting atmosphere. It really needs time, hard work, and excellent mastery to use. One thing is clear, I can do very very little (too little) Thai Ci for the free fight. But, I am lucky to have the experience of practicing with a Thai Ci master some 15 years ago. I could do very little when I had to defend myself from him. On the other hand, I can say that I could not harm him, except some scratches with my nails. Poor me.

You mean Tai Chi? Well what you said then is true. Even me, I only begin to understand the application and found easier to understand Tai Chi after studying a different style of kung fu and other MA.

[jubaji]

Originally posted by Tjang
Dear enquirers and readers about Thai Ci ,

Thai Ci is very efficient and effective for fighting. However, as far as I understand:

"Thai Ci"? What is that? A healthy breakfast drink from Thailand?

[hEmPY]

Originally posted by jubaji



eye dun unstan choo. kud choo wryt lyk mi? 'kus eye kunt wryt lykkyu

lol

[hEmPY]

I unstan ya

[hEmPY]

Like 1 of Kung Fu masterz I know said:
Everythnig is effective if u associate it w kickboxin

[Tjang]

Dear Yen Tao, thank you for your correction. Yes, I mean “Tai Chi”. I join this forum also with the intention to learn more about (martial art) terminology, in addition to learning more about the concepts and wisdom treasured in the (Chinese) martial arts.

Dear Jubaji, I didn’t mean to mention any sorts of Thai drinks, but I really mean “Tai Chi”. I am sorry that I have given you some difficulty understanding it. You see, my (Chinese) spelling is poor and I need your help.

By the way, is “jubaji” your real name, or is it your false name? Or is it the name of the piggy monk who travelled with its Master to the West to get some sort of Buddhist holy book in the classical story? And, are you Buddhist?

[jubaji]

Originally posted by Tjang

By the way, is “jubajiEyour real name, ? Or is it the name of the piggy monk who travelled with its Master to the West to get some sort of Buddhist holy book in the classical story?

good job.

and I have been called a pig quite often, thank you.

[choylifutrocks]

I know what happened to me when I tried to attack my instructor in a friendly, wrestling style match. He used tai chi principles (push hands) and threw me across the room. I felt like I attacked a limp noodle, and then I got tossed. it was weird. I'm not a small guy (20 yrs. 5'11 200 lbs), and I can grapple fairly well. I don't doubt ALL of Tai Chi. Although, I know, and my instructor jokes with my about the stupid mysticism associated with it, and that some instructors teach. LOL. He thought he'd show me that Tai Chi isn't ALWAYS a joke. I think it can work.

[m.artist]

hi im new here...but i was reading this and thought i should put in my 2 sense....i am an advanced practioner of yang style taichi....and i have found it to be very useful in practicality and in competition(push hands) it is very real and very good. it not only teaches you balance(which is one of the most important aspects of the fighting arts) and it helps with the other arts you may do. i also do kenpo and ju-jitsu. so it helpd me greatly. just thought i would throw that into the mix

[jubaji]

i am an advanced practioner of

...warning!

[m.artist]

long time ago......