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Post by gunter on Jul 4, 2012 1:43:54 GMT -5
Is authentic Tai Chi Chuan like the Chen and Wu styles practical as a martial art and for self defense? Or are they just health orientated now?
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Post by kokoro on Jul 4, 2012 5:01:47 GMT -5
if you can find a good instructor that understands the combat aspect then yes it is. its not all health orientated, its just 99% of americans only learned the health aspect and never stepped beyond that boundary there are 5 family of tai chi not all are soft and slow moving
tai chi yang is filled with grappling i think most tai chi is.
chen is a faster style then the yang style thats about all i know about it or remember for that matter, its been a long time since i trained in either style there are two schools of wu style Bob Klein in ya is very knowledgeable on the subject and teaches a few styles of tai chi, he is a great source of information on the subject
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Post by gunter on Jul 5, 2012 3:37:33 GMT -5
Im looking at the Wu style (not Wu Hao) and have been told its many grappling.....anyone know anything else?
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Post by youxia on Jul 5, 2012 5:40:07 GMT -5
I heard yang style was very effective, but that's based on all the legends of it's founder lol
- After emerging from Chenjiagou, Yang became famous for never losing a match and never seriously injuring his opponents. Having refined his martial skill to an extremely high level, Yang Lu-ch'an came to be known as Yang Wu Di (—îŸo”³, Yang the Invincible). In time, many legends sprang up around Yang's martial prowess. These legends would serve to inform various biographical books and movies. Though not independently verifiable, several noteworthy episodes are worth mentioning to illustrate the Yang Wu Di character:
The House of Prince Duan, one of the royal families in the capital, employed a large number of boxing masters and wrestlers¡ªsome of which were anxious to have a trial of strength with Yang Lu-ch'an. Yang typically declined their challenges. One day, a famous boxing master of high prestige insisted on competing with Yang to see who was the stronger. The boxer suggested that they sit on two chairs and pit their right fists against each other. Yang Luchan had no choice but to agree. Shortly after the contest began, Duan's boxing master started to sweat all over and his chair creaked as if it were going to fall apart; Yang however looked as composed and serene as ever. Finally rising, Yang gently commented to the onlookers: "The Master's skill is indeed superb, only his chair is not as firmly made as mine." The other master was so moved by Yang's modesty that he never failed to praise his exemplary conduct and unmatched martial skill.[
Once while fishing at a lake, two other martial artists hoped to push Yang in the water and ruin his reputation. Yang -¡ª sensing the attacker's intention -¡ª arched his chest, rounded his back, and executed the High Pat on Horse technique. As his back arched and head bowed, the two attackers were bounced into the water simultaneously. He then said to them that he would be easy on them today; but if they were on the ground, he would have punished them more severely. The two attackers quickly swam away.
In Beijing, a rich man called Chang heard of Yang's great skills and invited him to demonstrate his art. When Yang arrived, Chang thought little of his ability due to his small build¡ªYang simply did not "look" like a boxer. Yang was served a very simple dinner. Yang Lu-ch'an continued to behave like an honoured guest, despite his host's thoughts. Chang later questioned if Yang's Taijiquan, being so soft, could actually be used to defeat people. Given that he invited Yang on the basis of his reputation as a great fighter, this question was a veiled insult. Yang replied that there were only three kinds of people he could not defeat: men of brass, men of iron and men of wood. Chang invited out his best bodyguard, Liu, to test Yang's skill. Liu entered aggressively and attacked Yang. Yang, employing only a simple yielding technique, threw Liu across the yard. Chang was very impressed and immediately ordered a banquet to be prepared for Yang.
When Yang was at Guangping, he often fought with people on the castle wall. One opponent was unable to defend against Yang's attacks and kept on retreating to the edge of the wall. Yang's opponent was unable to keep his balance and began to fall over the edge. At the instant before the opponent fell, Yang¡ªfrom about thirty feet away¡ªleaped forward, caught the opponent's foot and saved him from falling to his death.
When Yang Lu-ch'an first taught in Yung Nien, his art was referred to as Mien Quan (Cotton Fist) or Hua Quan (Neutralising Fist). Whilst teaching at the Imperial Court, Yang met many challenges, some friendly some not. But he invariably won and in so convincingly using his soft techniques that he gained a great reputation. Many who frequented the imperial households would come to view his matches. At one such gathering in which Yang had won against several reputable opponents, the scholar Ong Tong He was present. Inspired by the way Yang moved and executed his techniques, Ong felt that Yang's movements and techniques expressed the physical manifestation of the principles of Taiji (Ì«˜O, the philosophy). Ong wrote for him a matching verse: "Hands Holding Taiji shakes the whole world, a chest containing ultimate skill defeats a gathering of heroes." Thereafter, his art was referred to as Taijiquan and the styles that sprang from his teaching and by association with him was called Taijiquan.
And this is of Jet Li doing tai chi and always makes me laugh-
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Chef Samurai
Global Moderator
Canadian Catch Wrestling
Posts: 843
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Post by Chef Samurai on Jul 5, 2012 14:36:37 GMT -5
I think Tai Chi is good but there are 2 versions.
Feel good Tai Chi you see old people doing in the park.
Original Tai Chi that was created for fighting that's hard to find in the west.
They are both good but they both have different things but I'm sure you could still add the combat applications from original tai chi to feel good tai chi.
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