TAI CHI

[sensei8]

The Tai Chi exercises would be truly a welcomed fresh air from the way that Kata/Forms are executed!! Truly, Tai Chi could contain many AHA moments.

[Titanium]

Certainly one I will try out.

Thanks for your input sensei8.

[Alan Armstrong]

Tai Chi Chaun translated means Grand Ultimate Fist. My teacher had over 40 years experience. He explained to me that TCC has many fighting styles incorporated in it. He would not teach it to people that wanted to use it to fight with. TCC is far deeper than learning how to hurt another human being. It is taught to be a way to improve health instead!

[permanentwhitebelt]

I train in Tai Chi (and Matsubayashi Shorin Karate) and yes Tai Chi Chuan Taijiquan) does have martial applications and as few before stated; it's really relative to whom is teaching (and what they are teaching)

You can train just forms for health reasons or you can train forms and practical applications.

The practical applications in Tai Chi have focus on Chin Na (seize and control) much like Japanese Jiu Jitsu accept with more focus on not manipulating one joint at time; usually manipulating two joints at the same time....it does have a grappling focus as well and some striking.

Really difficult to find a good teacher, even harder to find one interested in teaching the martial side of it because frankly mostly the elderly and new age hippies gravitate towards Tai Chi so the money isn't in teaching the practical side.

Tai Chi helps with Okinawan/Japanese Karate Kata as well, it makes your movement more deliberate and precise and well for the lack of a better term: "flowing"

If you are interested in the practical side I would suggest checking out Dr. Yang (ymaa.com) he has a youtube channel as well.

Hope this helps

[Alan Armstrong]

I recommend cross training Tai Chi with other martial art styles. I simultaneously cross trained Tai Chi with TKD. Won my first gold medal for sparring in a TKD tournament. I owe and credit the win to my Tai Chi Chuan practice. Something many martial artist miss out on knowing or fail to understanding due to never been taught the principal is "STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY" This is what makes the difference between you knowing, practicing and using it's principals and winning and not knowing you will be constantly falling down and losing all your battles. Without structural integrity you are as good as a sitting duck out in the middle of a pond during hunting season. Tai Chi practioners also practice Chi Kung. Tai Chi without Chi Kung practice can lead to flowery movments that look pretty but lack the STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY !!!!!!!!!!!