delta1

Good replies, all. I'll just add one thing. A few years ago a TKD instructor gave me a pointer. He said that a side kick should deliver and withdraw as if you were kicking straight down a tube to the target. I've found this to be good advice. I'm a trapper, and when sparing partners let a sidekick drop, even a little bit, I feel it and the trap is automatic. But a kick that is returned on the exact path it was deployed is hard to get. If I don't feel it there, I don't even try. A good drill to develope this technique is to extend a side kick to your partners mid section and hold it. Allow him to try to trap it. When he moves, try to pull your foot straight back without any drop. It will make a believer out of both of you, as well as making you a better kicker.

I think Tai Chi Chuan will help to improve the practice of most arts, eventually. It helps you to relax, breathe better, and move from your center. It developes sensitivity and cultivates inner calm. I have an extremely Yang nature, and my base style is extremely aggressive. Tai Chi provides a Yin ballance.

Thanks for the welcome, everyone. For those who were interested in my studying TCC, I am pretty junior in that. I study Yang style, and I love it.

Ask around, talk to people. You may be surprised to find more martial artists and ex martial artists than you thought. There are also boxers and wrestlers who may like to work out with you. It may not be what you do now, but it is better than quitting. If you can find one or two people that are interested and want to stay with it, you can work out regularly with them and share the expense of traveling to private instruction periodically. If there are classes reasonably close, even if they are a different style, check their walk in policy. You may be able to spar with them, which gives you and them experience outside your respective styles. If you like what you see there you could consider switching styles, or joining their class and working on the other on the side. As a last resort, you could build a dummy out of pvc pipe and carpet padding. I've built a few, and it is surprisingly easy to make a realistic human form with all the landmarks. If you are interested, let me know and I'll tell you how I do it. Maybe start a dummy thread. Good luck!

Kirves gave a good answer. A couple of things that help me; relax. Make this a conscious effort any time you get the rush so that it becomes an ingrained habbit. I allow my shoulders to round and inventory my body for tensions after any event. Second, I do something with my hands and feet. I practice bringing my hands into a non threatening guard position. Usually, to get one hand high without raising alarm flags, I stroke my mustache. My feet go naturally to a ready position as well, but I don't take a recognizable stance. Try to make it natural and relaxed. I do this any time I'm startled, and any time I face an uncertain situation. Also, when walking in questionable areas, I do a moving version of this drill.

Just joined, so I thought I'd say howdy. My base style is American Kenpo, and I also study Tai Chi Chuan fa (martial Tai Chi). I work out with other stylists and have learned a lot from them as well. I enjoy comparing styles, looking at others aproach to handling situations or attacks, and especially seeing how their principles compare to AK and TCC. I suppose my relevant (to this board) background would be military and emergency services. 7 yrs in the USMC, in communications. Also a rifle range coach and a lot of 'grunt' work. Emergency services included fire, ambulance, haz mat, and some work with law enforcement. But lest you think I'm braging, the only official LEF job I held was Animal Control Officer (Dog Catcher), and that was part time. I did hold several instructor certificatins in emergency services. Much of my emergency services work was voulunteer. I look forward to participating here.