Taijiquan? A martial art or not?

Answer 1

Yes its a martial art be it in the tai chi category but some of the Chinese styles are the most effective for self defence :)

Answer 2

Well put Sensei.
Taijiquan is definately a martial art. All of the moves from the form can be applied combatively. Some of them are devestating. It just takes a long time to learn to do tai chi properly.

Answer 3

Taijiquan is one of the most deadly arts you can study.

The poison hand technique comes from Taijiquan.

It is not practiced that way today because the Chinese people are somewhat discriminant. They do not like giving away their "central things".

Nowadays you can find a teacher who can teach you the real thing although very far and few in between.

Anyone who says it is not a fighting art or "only for health" knows nothing about it.

Even the Chinese themselves BS about the health thing to divert people from it.

My Teacher, is Chinese... over 60 years of experience. He is totally against people teaching abridged or abbreviated versions of the art. He says that it is the reason why arts like Taijiquan get downplayed. I learned from him and what I speak is from him. He is a highly credentialed and respected practitioner as well as Historian.

Answer 4

it most definately is. Tai chi is an art that works the body a lot if properly instructed. It teaches you a great deal on energy streams, inner and outer balance and using your chi. it can even become a fully functional martial art given enough study but I would not advise using it as your single choice of martial art. Understanding it's application is just too complicated. But as an addition to (an)other art(s) it can be great stuff.

Answer 5

Taijiquan or Tai Chi Chuan is not a dance. It is not only a very effective martial art and energy training programme for health and vitality, it also leads


its also a shoe you use it to do it

Answer 6

Tai Chi Chuan is a martial art. Back in the day, A guy named Yang Lu Chan learned it from the Chen family. He was one of gnarliest fighters of the era in China. He traveled around and took challenges from many of the best fighters (like the gracies did) and defeated them all. He was eventually hired to teach imperial gaurds. His Grandson Yang Chen Fu was another great fighter. He too dominated fighters from all sorts of styles and became very famous in China. He is largely responsible to spreading Tai Chi outside the family. Now, it is important to know that Tai Chi wasn't all slow. It had lots of explosive and fast movements that eventually Yang Chen Fu seperated out to allow for more students to perform it. However, they aren't totally gone. At highers levels of training they are taught in the Yang style, but are still mixed in with Chen style. The perception that people have of Tai Chi Chaun being for old people is a result of the communist take over and cultural revolution. During this, the Chinese Government demanded that martial arts to loose their "martial" applications. So, some masters fled to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and U.S.A. to keep the real art alive. The dance Tai Chi became popular in China for health benefits and spread across the world. There are still teachers that teach it as a martial art.

note: In recent times there have been successful full contact Tai Chi Chuan fighters ex) William C.C. Chen, Dan Docherty

Answer 7

Yes, although not in the same category as something like Muay Thai or Brazilian Jiu jitsu

Answer 8

Yes, albeit not a martial art used to physically injure somebody in a fight.

Answer 9

The only stuff around here is kiddy-karate.

Answer 10

obviously it is....., its more on the yin side...or the soft attack and defense...., tai chi chuan moves like dancing without muscle tension..., it's aim is to teach you to attack "relaxed" in the sense of moving softly....,