shotokan and tai chi?

[faido]

I've been doing Shotokan for a little over a year and a half, but I'm looking for a compliment to it. Aikido would be appealing, if my pompous roomie hadn't ruined it for me with endless 'mine is better than your is' talk. I've seen TKD in several open tournaments locally, and I just don't feel it's for me. Any thoughts on whether Tai Chi would be a good compliment to Shotokan, or if not what would be a good compliment? Thanks.

[Jay]

It is an excelant complement probabbly the best. My instructor of shotokan is also a tai chi instructor and our club includes both aspects. Sensei Kanzawa also knows tai chi. it is very simlar in the fact that everything is related. Try doing a gedanbarai with one hand and a sotoudeuke with the other this is a tai chi move very improtant just done with open hands. I haev done a bit and i can say that it is the closest thing you can get so i think thats a good thing.

Alternatively if you dont want something similar i think you should go for something which shotokan doesnt have a lot of it in. Jujitsu is totall the opposite including throws and locks and types of chokes. This will make you a better all round martial artist but it will only help your shotokan when you do takedowns after a counter which you probably learn anyway.

[shogeri]

I do taijiquan, with a history of jkd, goju ryu (heaviest), american karate, and TKD.

There are similarities, and there are differences.

There is both external and internal aspects of fighting in Taijiquan. The fighting style itself is based upon both Hao Chaun and Chin Na, which boil down to Chinese Boxing. If you look collectively at Shaolin, you will also find many of the same principles being taught. One sees many similarities to that of Wing Chun.

Aikido also works upon the centerline principle, and making yourself the axis of all movement, not allowing other's to control your center and or energy.