TaiChi Combat

[Kajukenbopr]

Which Taichi is famous for being better at combat and why? which TaiChi is better for Healing?

just curious here

[mantis.style]

No idea about healing but for old school fighting, the Chen style is famous for being more fight orientated and is a lot more upright as a result. On the other hand, proper traditional Wudang Tai Chi is you can find italso has a heavy fighting slant, it being closer related to older longfist fighting styles. There is another more obscure school of tai chi that has a heavy application base to it but I can't remember the family name. Off the top of my head, I'm tempted to say it might be "Lee". Early training emphasises applications of basic ward offs. All three "fight" in very different ways though.

[Kajukenbopr]

i see...

what about Yang or animal styles?

[lordtariel]

Yang style has some great application, but I'd have to agree that Chen style's probably the most overtly martial. Yang's somewhere in the middle between the harder and softer styles of tai chi.(Hard as in stronger movement, not as in hard style martial arts)

[TheRenegade]

To be honest, I have never, ever, seen a person doing tai chi that could actually translate it usefully to combat. I have known many peoeple who have done it, a rare few of whom could fight, but they learned those skills elsewhere.

[DWx]

To be honest, I have never, ever, seen a person doing tai chi that could actually translate it usefully to combat. I have known many peoeple who have done it, a rare few of whom could fight, but they learned those skills elsewhere.

Perhaps the reason why you haven't seen anyone who you thought could fight using it is because the reason most folks do TaiChi isn't for the martial aspect but the health benefits. I'd imagine that most teachers wouldn't teach the martial applications to a group of elderly men and women either as they wouldn't be interested.

As for TaiChi in combat I think it could work quite well. You'd have to train it fast though as most of the times the movements are not at "combat speed" or intensity.

[lordtariel]

To be honest, I have never, ever, seen a person doing tai chi that could actually translate it usefully to combat. I have known many peoeple who have done it, a rare few of whom could fight, but they learned those skills elsewhere.

While hard, consistent and long training in tai chi will allow you to use it as a combat system, my experience is that tai chi is really great for augmenting other martial arts systems. What you're doing in tai chi is teaching your body how to move properly on a really precise level. Proper body mechanics equal better performance with physical activity.

[lordtariel]

As for TaiChi in combat I think it could work quite well. You'd have to train it fast though as most of the times the movements are not at "combat speed" or intensity.

This is something a lot of people don't realize. Say tai chi and people automatically think "Old person in the park." Just because it's practiced slowly doesn't mean it's used slowly.

[Kajukenbopr]

To be honest, I have never, ever, seen a person doing tai chi that could actually translate it usefully to combat. I have known many peoeple who have done it, a rare few of whom could fight, but they learned those skills elsewhere.

you are thinking of the slow forms. Tai uses those same movements to develop good fighting skills.

sure, most people who make videos on internet(youtube and such) arent very good. But there are a few great ones out there.

I've seen it work firsthand. guy amazed me with the simplicity of the moves and the effectiveness of it all.

however, the techniques are not really "match" material, I think some of the techniques could really hurt someone easily

[kgcobra320]

To be honest, I have never, ever, seen a person doing tai chi that could actually translate it usefully to combat. I have known many peoeple who have done it, a rare few of whom could fight, but they learned those skills elsewhere.

While hard, consistent and long training in tai chi will allow you to use it as a combat system, my experience is that tai chi is really great for augmenting other martial arts systems. What you're doing in tai chi is teaching your body how to move properly on a really precise level. Proper body mechanics equal better performance with physical activity.

I agree completely. Also, I have found the sensitivity training through push hands to be a very beneficial addition to my current style.

KG