dtstiachi

Tai Chi can be hard on the knees. It depends on what style you take. (Some styles have postures that are deeper than others.) I am trying to really watch my knees. I have experienced some pain in the past few weeks that has me concerned. Good luck and stay healthy.

The quantity of forms you have under your belt is not the important issue. How is the quality of the forms you know. Are they solid? Learn a few moves/forms well instead of being a form mill machine.

are there any websites you could point a person to for more information?

My Grandmaster was telling us that on some techniques, we should think of our hands as soft as cotton. He said if you relax your hand when it connects with an opponent it will feel like a ton of bricks if the chi is flowing through it. Has anyone else heard of the cotton palm technique or something similar?

Check out the book Chi Kung, the way of Power by Master Lam Kam Chuen as far as the web goes. Google it good luck

Tai Chi doesn't have "katas" There are 5 main styles of Tai Chi that all have different forms. In Yang Style Tai Chi, we have a 37 movement "form" we learn. The form consists of differnt "postures" and moving from one posture to the next very slowly and smoothly. I hope this helps answer your question.

Tai Chi contains both striking and grappling (chi na) techniques. Tai Chi is different in that it doesn't focus on "blocks" or "combinations" of punches and kicks. A Tai Chi practicioner learns a form (either Yang, Chen, Wu, Sun etc.) and then works on polishing the form. the martial aspects of Tai Chi are found in the form, (ie: ward off can be used to block someone trying to grab you.) I would not say it is a "grappling" (on the ground) art, but it has aspects of both in it. My school still teaches Tai Chi as a martial art and it can be quite effective when taught to be.

great post ChangWuJi

we don't wear belts at my school. Rank is determined by the number of training hours one has. The grandmaster just started awarding sashes last month. hope this helps

the journey of a 1,000 miles starts with but a single step. How much time are you willing to invest to master or learn this art. All ofthe arts are challenging, the bigger question is are you going to put in the time and blood sweat and tears necessary to succeed. good luck

it is a marketing ploy. A former sensei wrote an article talking about Video instruction VS. personal instruction. His finding showed no differnce between the 2. Sorry, Im not buying it. Go get a qualified instructor to teach you.

$134.00 a month for Tai Chi Chuan

Tai Chi Chuan doesn't use belts (at least not at my school) Rank is held by how many training hours a student has We do use sashes to show who has passed the form test in the class. Yellow sash- level 1 completed Blue Sash- level 2 completed everyone else, regular uniform- rank is held by training hours.

I saw it happen in Tai Chi a few weeks ago. The Grandmaster was correcting a woman's posture and he slipped and touched her chest. He immediately apologized and nothing else was said. She was cool about it. It was an accident

The Grandmaster has used me several time to demonstrate self defense applications found in the Yang Tai Chi Chuan form. I have been "hurt" (meaning the techniqe he did on me, even though it was light, still caused enough discomfort for me to appreciate what an all out strike felt like) by the Grandmaster, but never anything even remotely serious (I was fine by the end of the evening). Since that first encounter of being a "training dummy" I now jump at the chance because now that I understand what the technique does, it gives me a clearer understanding of how to execute it and how it does feel when used on someone. I enjoy it. The Granmaster would NEVER hurt a student, but he does let you know how a technique feels.

I was burned by a "at home video" McDojo. Just some dude trying to rip you off and get money. GO to a school and learn. Good luck in your search.

My motivations: 1. Getting into shape 2. Learning Tai Chi Chuan (both form and martial applications) 3. Gaining confidence 4. Increase self confidence 5. increase discipline There ya go.

Read over the information and make yourself a chart of the main concepts/ideas you will be tested on. Then look over and memorize the chart. Consolidate a large amount of information onto a form that can be understood quickly and easily. Above all, study , study, study, and Good Luck

which ever one is dedicated to their art and knows it better will have a better chance. Remember, knowing something is better than nothing as far as MA is concerned. Whichever one is more dedicated and practiced I believe will come out on top.

I was attacked by a dog while I was walking with my girlfriend in her neighborhood. The guy who ha the dog had been a problem in the neighborhool and the police had been involved on several occasions. This particular night, my Girlfriend and I were walking when this jerk came out of his house drunk and started cursing at us. We ignored him and kept on walking until one of his 2 pit bulls came barrelling out of the door growling and heading straight towards us. I pushed by girlfriend behind me and had my hand on my concealed sidearm, (which I am liscenced to carry) and had decided that when the dog got to the curb on the other side of the street, it was dead. I was about to draw out on the dog when the guy called the dog off at the very last minute. We returned to her house quickly without inscident. That was not an experience I want to repeat.

hit him and run around the block a few times. then go home alive.

sounds like a true master. JK

to many unknown variables to adequately answer the question.

I sing a song in my head to pass the time away, or I quote scripture or focus on a passage i am working on memorizing. sometimes I just relax and do ... nothing.

Zhuan Zhuang training is how I meditate. Zhuan Zhuang meditation meand "stand long" meditaoin. (also known as standing on stake methods or posting) Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent and over the knuckle of the big toe, butt tucked in, paraneum pulled up, (this will level the waist) straight spine, shoulders back, headtop suspended, tongue on the roof of the mouth Stay in this position for 15 minutes to start. breathe in slowly and out slowly. Beging the breath at the base of the spine. This is quite challenging but a good way to meditate and build strength, internal power, and chi flow as well.