Karate/ Tai Chi training

[Samurai Shotokan]

Hey I have a chance to learn some Tai Chi because my mom wants to take it. She said she would teach me some of the basics when she learns it to help with my breathing . I would take the class but it conflicts with Karate because it starts at the same time. So should I learn some from her and I get to learn some new forms too so should I cross train??

[superleeds]

Depends on how far you have progressed with your karate. But It would be my recommondation to cross train with taiji. It will greatly increase your control.

[delta1]

Taiji will improve any martial art you do in any area you can think of. However, the principles and movements in Taiji are completely different from hard styles of martial arts. AMerican Kenpo has a lot of Tiaji principles in it, but actually studying Taiji is like going to another solar system, it is so alien in structure and form.

 

But most importantly, doing Taiji incorectly can cause you seriouse health problems. First off, it is extremely hard on the joints in your legs and feet, especially the knees, if done wrong. There are also internal problems that can develope if you do it wrong, especially with some of the breathing postures and meditations.

 

I recomend Taiji, especially Taijiquan fa, to anyone studying any martial art, at any level from begginer to Master. But I allways recomend studying with a competent instructor.

[Shorin Ryuu]

Taiji learning will greatly enhance your understanding of karate (traditional). It has many (not necessarily all) principles that are the same with Okinawan karate for sure. I concur with delta1: train under a master (hopefully your instructor is...there are too many instant tai chi masters out there).

[Sasori_Te]

Do not cross train tai chi with instruction from your mom. She will not have had the background to instruct you properly and you will just end up picking up her bad habits along with your own. If you like Karate that much then stick with it. If you're that curious about Tai Chi (find out who the instructor is and what his lineage is), then go for it. Again, before you take Tai Chi, please verify that the instructor is a qualified, knowledgeable teacher that can teach all aspects of Tai Chi. If you don't know what I'm talking about then go do some research on Tai Chi. You should have also done this for your karate instructor as well. Good Luck!

[GhostlySykanRyu]

And if you're going to, at least wait until your mother understands the art fully herself...

[Samurai Shotokan]

Ok how do i find out about instuctor creditbility(sp) and so forth ?

[Drunken Monkey]

there's a very simple question i like to ask.

 

"why do you do tai-chi slowly?"

 

how they answer tells a lot about what they know.

 

the best way to get a feel for things is to simply ask.

 

have a nice natter with the instructor/s.

 

like i have said before;

 

if it doesn't feel right,

 

it probably isn't.

[JerryLove]

If your mother does not have enough expertise that you are asking us rather than her, she would seem to lack the expertise to teach you Taiji well.

[Sasori_Te]

JKD I'm guessing he's not willing to wait the 10 years or so that it will take his mother to understand the art well enough to teach it. That's also a very generous estimate on my part. I have a friend that has taken Taiji Chu'an for 15 years and he says that he's finally starting to understand it a little bit.