Why Tai Chi ?

[7starmantis]

I'm interested in how many people here, who study tai chi, do so for the martial or fighting aspect of it, and how many simply for its health benefits. Obviously, many do it for both, but I'm interested in the main reason you practice this system.

7sm

 

[stickarts]

I dabbled in it for awhile mainly to make a comparison to my own art(s) It was quite interesting noting the similarities and differences. a worthwhile journey! It helped me to understand some of the elements of my own arts better.

 

[arnisador]

Originally posted by stickarts
I dabbled in it for awhile mainly to make a comparison to my own art(s) It was quite interesting noting the similarities and differences. a worthwhile journey! It helped me to understand some of the elements of my own arts better.

Ditto! It was interesting and enlightening.

 

[7starmantis]

That brings up a good question as well....different thread.

7sm

 

[Randy Strausbaugh]

While I study both the martial and non-martial aspects of it, I appreciate Taijiquan mostly for its health aspects. Why? For most people, actual fights are rare. Health, on the other hand, is an everyday concern.

 

[7starmantis]

Originally posted by Randy Strausbaugh
While I study both the martial and non-martial aspects of it, I appreciate Taijiquan mostly for its health aspects. Why? For most people, actual fights are rare. Health, on the other hand, is an everyday concern.

Very well said! This is a major concept in Taiji that alot of people ignore or do not understand. The overall health.

7sm

 

[Seigi]

I originaly began studying for the health aspect, but have found through my instructors teachings, that i now enjoy the martial side also.

 

[7starmantis]

So you guys that understand the Martial aspect side of taiji, do you guys practice in push hands much?

7sm

 

[arnisador]

My instructor refused to teach us push hands, though we often asked. I don't know why.

 

[pete]

we learn pushing hands right from the start...

 

[7starmantis]

Originally posted by arnisador
My instructor refused to teach us push hands, though we often asked. I don't know why.

Some of the more traditional taiji instructors feel push hands directly opose the principles of taiji. They feel that the competative nature destroys true taiji.

In my opinion, push hands is where its at. Thats where you learn to applications and gain the martial skill that is so abundant in taiji.

7sm

 

[arnisador]

Originally posted by 7starmantis
Some of the more traditional taiji instructors feel push hands directly opose the principles of taiji. They feel that the competative nature destroys true taiji.

This is exactly the impression I got, but the language barrier posed a problem for verifying it--we could only really communicate when the instructor's bilingual daughter came to class.

 

[Randy Strausbaugh]

Originally posted by 7starmantis
Some of the more traditional taiji instructors feel push hands directly opose the principles of taiji. They feel that the competative nature destroys true taiji.

In my opinion, push hands is where its at. Thats where you learn to applications and gain the martial skill that is so abundant in taiji.

7sm

That's the problem with most push-hands instruction these days, it's being taught as a competition rather than as a developmental drill. It should be seen in much the same way that a boxer views speed-bag training- a drill to develop attributes, but not an end in itself.

My instructor started me on push-hands about 1 to 1 1/2 years into training. He wanted to make sure I was fairly grounded in the form before starting to push. We worked on applications for the movements from day one, though.

 

[7starmantis]

It seems no one has the patience to study taiji long enough to be really truly good in skill.

Kinda sad to me.

7sm

 

[arnisador]

My instructor left town. There are no other instructors here in town. She left her senior student in charge, but her senior student was quite junior and didn't even know the entire long form or any of the sword forms (she had been through them, but didn't have them memorized).

I wrote about it here. I had been enjoying it! The sword forms were cool.

 

[7starmantis]

That sucks.

The sword forms are really awesome!

7sm

 

[Eldritch Knight]

The first thing we did was push hands - I love it. I study Taiqi for the martial aspects - its rare to find an MA that bases its principles on yielding.

 

[7starmantis]

Originally posted by Eldritch Knight
The first thing we did was push hands - I love it. I study Taiqi for the martial aspects - its rare to find an MA that bases its principles on yielding.

Yielding is a big principle in Taji as well as kung fu, its a hard principle to master. In fact, maybe one of the hardest. It goes hand in hand with feeling as well.

7sm

 

[Tae Kwon Doughboy]

Purely for health reasons. Years of back problems compounded by being a workaholic for too long for an unreasonable boss led to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a bad attitude.

I had always been interested in martial arts but it was taboo in my family. My new boss knew of my interest and brought me a Tai Chi video and the rest is history. I feel better in my 40s than I did in my teens and 20s. So much in fact that I felt fit enough to start TaeKwonDo.

I know I am only scratching the surface of what Tai Chi has to offer by using a video. I would prefer to learn from a master but I wasn't able to find one close enough.

 

[7starmantis]

Thats great that you are receiving the benefits of taiji.
It is too bad however that you are unable to find a teacher, it is much more awesome if able to be taught from a good instructor.

7sm