What is tai chi? Is it a form of martial arts? Is it connected to actual fighting? What's supposed to be so special about it? Why do I see older people doing it a lot? (not that they shouldn't; I just wonder)
2006-09-14 17:10:00 · 15 answers · asked by Teoshe 3 in Sports ➔ Martial Arts
I welcome info from any martial arts teachers...or tai chi students...
2006-09-14 17:21:10 · update #1
Hey Jim, where do you study? How long have you been doing it?
2006-09-14 18:39:10 · update #2
Tai Chi Chuan is a Chinese Martial that is quite old. There are five main Tai Chi Chuan styles that are recognized in China. They are Chen (the oldest), Yang (the most well known and popular), Sun (created by Sun Lu Tang, it combines elements of Tai Chi Chuan, Xing-I Chuan, and Pa Kua Chang), Wu, and Wu (Hao). There are two other systems of Tai Chi Chuan practiced that I know of, Chen Pan Ling and Yang Ban Hao's favorite form called Guang Ping Yang. These last two are rather rare. I practice the Yang style and Guang Ping Yang as well as Xing-I, Pa Kua Chang, and a little Yi Chuan. I like what I have seen of the Chen Pan Ling but I do not know of any qualified instructors in my area. Throughout these various Tai Chi systems the basic principles are pretty much the same. In the old days there was not very much name distinction you just studied Tai Chi Chuan. What differentiates the various systems is the training, the frame upon which the form is practiced, the quality of the power issuance (fa jing), and to some extent, though less than the other characteristics, the weapons practiced, Chen practices all 16 traditional Chinese weapons.
To answer your second question,"Is it a form of martial arts? Is it connected to actual fighting?," the simple answer is yes. Tai Chi Chuan was first and foremost developed as a Martial Art. The Chen family, Chen Style, were undefeated. Yang Lu Chan, founder of Yang style is known for killing 18 other masters in weapons duels (no guns involved). So again yes, Tai Chi Chuan is a legitimate fighting art. Unfortunately, the new age movement has basterdized traditional Tai Chi Chuan and turned it into a yinny ninny, can-you-feel-the-chi, cosmic oneness exercise mental trip. Having said that, if that is what they want, go for it, just do not pretend that they are practicing traditionally.
Yor next question,"What's supposed to be so special about it?" can have many answers depending on what your reason for wanting to study. What makes it different from other martial arts is the training method and focus. In the beginning Tai Chi Chuan is practiced slowly so that the student can develop and train more fully the small/deep muscle connections enabling one to express full body power. The focus is to relax so that the body is much more fluid giving the practitioner more speed and power.
Because of the relaxed fluid motion, slow movement during training, and due to the way in which the postures are trained, the student is able to open the body to allow for enhanced internal organ performance. This is why you will see many older people practicing Tai Chi Chuan. The health benefits are quite remarkable. If someone wants to study only for the health benefits that is great. They will receive the benefits they wish and many more.
If you are considering studying Tai Chi Chuan then I suggest that you find a teacher that is able to use his or her art in a real situation. It is because of this real world knowledge that they are able to teach every facet of the art and provide their students with the potential for obtaining the full benefits from this and similar art. The class should not however be militaristic. It has been said that if you walk into a class and people are not smilling or laughing turn around and walk out because they just don't get it.
Tai Chi Chuan or any of the other martial arts I mentioned are very powerful and potential devestating martial arts but only if they are trained properly.
I hope that I have answered your questions. Whichever art that you choose to study I hope that you have the great good fortune to find the quality of teacher that I have been blessed with.
Good Luck and God Bless,
Jim
Hi Teoshe,
I sent you an email. Since then, I believe I have figured out how to answer on the board. So, to answer your questions.
I currently have two teachers for the internal arts. They are Mr. Ed Hampton in Blacksburg, VA who taught me Zen Bu DO Karate (this was his personal system), Ryu Kyu Kempo, Yang Tai Chi Chuan short form, Xing-i Chuan, Pa Kua Chang, various weapons, and Qi Gong. He is the founder of AIMAS, an organization based in VA that is devoted to the research and teaching of internal martial arts. He has been my teacher for 20+ years.
My other teacher is Sifu Dug Corpolongo. He is a senior student of Master Henry Look and is based in Albuquerque, NM. Sifu Dug teaches primarily Yang style long form, but also Guang Ping Yang, Xing-I chuan, as well as other versions of Yang Tai Chi Chuan, various weapons including Wu Dong sword,and Qi Gong. I have studied from Sifu Dug for about five years.
I have also studied stick fighting from Mr. Gary Myers who is based in Richmond, Va.. Mr. Myers is also a master of the internal martial arts.
All total I have been studying martial arts for just over 25 years.
Unfortunately, as I live in Colorado, I do not get to see my teachers as often as I would like. I hope to soon open a school in conjunction with my acupuncture practice.
Whichever art or system you study I hope you have the good fortune to study from the kind of high level teachers I have been blessed with.
Jim
2006-09-14 18:33:01 · answer #1 · answered by TCMJim 2 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Well the Swedish authorities are giving in to Mob rule by doing this, every time the ''Mob'' doesn't like someone or something they now know. Let's threaten violence, commit violence and riots to get what we want as Sweden panders to us and gives in. Sweden is quite capable of ensuring security for the Israeli martial arts team, so why are they giving in to Mob rule or is there another agenda here and they are hiding behind it will upset our Muslim citizens and cause protests and violence. It does make you wonder.............., your right Paperback Why are Swedish Muslims being allowed to get their own way and bully everyone else?. Sounds very political in motive too.
2016-03-17 21:28:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, Tai Chi is a martial art. I have had the same experience as some of the others here, my teacher could send people flying. It's like any other martial art, you get out of it what you put into it.
2006-09-14 21:36:48 · answer #3 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is a Martial Art, there have been a lot of good answers here, and all have been spot on right.
although it's widely used as a form of relaxation and toning as well as flexibility, much like yoga; it can also be a very effective fighting discipline.
it's also one of the most passive disciplines of Martial Arts.
Bruce Lee first learned it from his father, who was a daily practioiner before meeting Yip Man who taught him a more aggresive discipline at Bruce's request.
it has also influenced other disciplines as well such as Quigong (hope I spelled it right) and even the Korean Martial Art of Tang Soo Do has some elements of Tai Chi in the higher forms or katas.
2006-09-15 16:53:32 · answer #4 · answered by quiksilver8676 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tai chi is a Chinese martial art. It is performed slowly. it is done daily, usually in groups. Sometimes whole towns do it together to build a sense of unity.
It does have actual application as a martial art.
The reason it is popular among older people is that it is done slow, it is great for arthritis, wonderful for circulation and builds there mental fortitude. This is valuable stuff. How many old people do you see doing other martial arts in comparison to Tai Chi?
You never see a group of old performing Tae Kwon Do with such precision for example ( I am not picking on TKD, it is just an example.)
2006-09-15 05:20:20 · answer #5 · answered by spidertiger440 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Being a martial arts instructor myself, I can tell you that Tai Chi actually is a form of martial art, but it isn't generally used as one.
The elderly like it because it isn't terribly hard on the joints, its done slowly so that it workout isn't so vigorous and its good for maintaining balance and stretching. Read more about it in the wiki.
2006-09-14 17:23:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tai chi is one of the most precise and powerful style of chinese martial arts.It may seem slow and weak,however the principal behind it is to use your opponents force against them.Thus,you can defeat someone even if you are shorter than them.I have once seen a 5 foot teenager who sent someone 6 foot sprawling using tai chi.However,it takes many years of training to reach that stage.However once you have reach that stage,you are pretty untouchable by anyone.
2006-09-14 22:37:33 · answer #7 · answered by Xiangniaini 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tai Chi is based on martial arts movements meaning there is purpose behind the moves. Like blocks, punches, kicks, deflections, pushes etc. It is just done slower and more focused.
My uncle is a tai chi master that teaches at golden gate park in San Francisco and prob. has several hundred students. I remember when we were teens, my brother the high school football player (twice his weight), rushed him and my uncle caught him, rolled back on his heals, stopped my bro in his tracks, then rolled forward and pushed him back. It was pretty impressive. I gave it a try, but at the time, I was young and needed something more explosive.
2006-09-14 19:25:11 · answer #8 · answered by Mike C 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tai Chi Chuan, which is a intangible cultural heritage of China, derives from Chen Village in Honan province of the central China. Famous for its essence of a subtle balance of softness and hardness and its characteristics of being extremely smooth and lithe, it’s a Chinese traditional martial art as well as a combination of practices from different branches, the variation of Yin and Yang in the I Ching, theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a unique approach of breathing for the purpose of keeping fit.
More on https://www.facebook.com/taichionlineshop
2014-09-18 22:00:29 · answer #9 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tai Chi depends on becoming so indoctrinated into a particular kind of fighting that it becomes almost useless in a real situation. Notice you haven't seen ONE tai chi fighter in an MMA fight. It takes years to master Tai chi b/c you not only have to learn the techniques, you have to be brainwashed into believing that an 80 year old master can defeat you by using no muscles at all.
2006-09-15 06:09:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
It is a Chinese style that focuses on soft, circular movements and body mechanics. It is primarily for fitness and relaxation but I have had some practitioners put me on my back with it.
2006-09-14 18:04:45 · answer #11 · answered by dogpreacher@sbcglobal.net 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋