Within the USA Yang style is the most popular among all other forms of tai chi and it is seem as those Yang as little to do with CMA. What are the principles and concepts within this style that are universal among all CMA? How is the training methods preparing an individual for combat? V/R, RAB
Tai Ji Quan is like a walking-stick, u dun have to learn to use it!! Towards combat aspects, the whole body system has to be united and the objective is to knock-out opponent/attacker in life-threatening situation!!
-I have had the pleasure of studying Tai chi (yang) with Dennis Brown who was the captain of the first American team to visit and demonstrate in manland China. When Dennis went to the Chen village where Tai Chi originated, he asked them what they wanted emphasised back in America. The awnser he got was to let Americans know that Tai Chi Chuan is a combat system. -It should be noted that the slow relaxed motions used in the Yang system actually have been shown to have not only great benefits for health, but for being extremely smart training for combat as well. Recent research into adrenal stress and it's effects on the mind and body show that due to much greater antagonistic muscle tension and shortening of movements during the adrenal dump, practicing the combat techniques slow and fluid is an excellent method for developing the muscle memory if and when the time comes. Under adrenal stress, many tai chi(Yang) practitioners find that they are often ahead of the game over their more "macho bad a_ _ counterparts from other systems. -Honestly, my main system is not tai chi and I began it's study mostly as an avenue for a secondary program within our MA school. Since my wife (she's a 3rd dan) was more interested in it initially than I was, I let her teach that program for the most part. Then, after I began to really study on adrenal stress and the value of the Yang methods approach, I began to re-evaluate. Then I learned that many of the applications were very similar in form and function to budo taijitsu(Bujikan ninpo/ninjitsu) which I always had an interest in. Now, I'm fully on board the Tai chi slow train express (LOL).
I study both these styles, and I agree with this. There are many similarities; one of the reasons I can study both without getting confused!
In my experience CAM and JMA are indredibly similar. even in styles of kung fu and ju jitsu similarites can be found.
I'm disappointed to here the responds, although, I appreciated everyone's efforts. Yet, it appears that Yang Tai Chi is not martial at all. Sure, we where able to find similiar elements within YTC when compared to CMA, however, we can find similiar elements between dirt and diamonds. This is not to say that YTC is not useful, infact, it serves more benefit today than many CMA. It's popularity and promotion among Health Care specialist is increasing and YTC is available to all persons whether or not one has athletic or limited physical abilities. Therefore, since the question of training and principles weren't address, how does the Tai Chi community see Yang style. Is it really apart of the Tai Chi family? Is is only part of the Tai Chi family do to name and origin only? Are there any non-yang people with healthy opinions? Anyone like to attempt to qualify YTC has a martial art again (what makes it martial?) V/R, RAB
I think that it really depends on your teacher and what forms of Yang TJ you studied. Some of the routines are "modified" to look good and for exercise. There are also real combat Yang's forms, too. The secrets are all in learning how to Shi Jin (storing) and Fa Jin (release). Shi Jin Lu Zhang Gong. Fa Jin Si Fong Jian. (Storing Tai Ji Jin like a extended bow. Release the Jin like an arrow) Best of luck.
Strictly speaking, all styles of tai chi - Chen, Yang, Wu, Sun etc. are equally martially focused in their original form - even though they do vary and have their own characteristics. Therefore, taught in their original form, they should all be considered "martial arts". The problem is that that the vast majority of people in the West see tai chi more in terms of it's health benefits and not it's martial content. Because of their visual stadiness and slow pace, the Yang and Wu styles are less obviously martial arts that the more rapidly paced of Chen and Sun. It is highly likely that this is the reason why Tai Chi is seen in the West as a meditative discipline and not a martial one . The problem, therefore, is not that Yang is inherrently different, or less martialy focused than other tai chi styles, but that the vast majority of teachers in the West, having become interested in Tai Chi for meditation rather than self-defense, will treat it as a form of meditation and not bother to teach the martial aspects properly. They will most likely teach a shortend form which will not be physically strenuous or difficult. If you wish to learn Yang I'd advise you to do as much looking around as possible - don't just go for the first one you come across. Look for the longer forms as they tend to be more martially focused.
This is unbelievable!! If Yang taiji is not martial, then how come Yang Lu Chan never lost a fight and his family was responsible for training the royal family and bringing tai chi into the curriculum of the Royal Guards?! Do you honestly think that the royal family, who were able to get the best teachers from the best chinese martial arts, would house and take training from teachers of a system that didn't have any martial use?! What reason do you have to think it's not martial?
I don't think such is the way as the tao. You think little such as the way of your instruction. Therefore, it's no surprise to me that you find it unbelievable. hahaha. I want to thank everyone for there contributions. I was hoping to hear that there were those that were training in traditional or modern methods. Never-the-less, Kwan was the first to pointed out the principle of "leading attack" which is used in others styles of martial art. And I like Hugh's responds because his thoughts were the same as mine own prior to posting the discussion. The reason I started the discussion was because I just haven't seen anyone teaching the martial applications, students and teachers included. Some teachers are of high regard here locally in SD as well as in China and seem to not know enough about CMA (in my opinion). Is it just a "Tai Chi Thang"? Lastly, nzric, I here what you are saying and history is recorded history so I wouldn't attempt to challenge it. But here is my comment to your post: "Yang Lu Chan never lost a fight and his family was responsible for training the royal family and bringing tai chi into the curriculum of the Royal Guards?!" Anyone who has never lost a fight must have not been born of parents. I'm sure we all know several moms that were able to whip their kids provided it be neccessary. Secondly, what did Yang Lu Chan teach the Royal Guards....Tai Chi? It's possible. Why doesn't China teach it now as their combat system? Who knows and who care, right Anyway, historically, China were warring states and "armed combat" with "massive armies" were common methods.
What I mean is once Yang Luchan finished his training at the Chen village and went to spread tai chi to others, it is well-known that he was deemed "unbeatable" dude, I won't try to answer that because I have absolutely no idea what you just said.
Fighting Well most of the Tai chi teachers ive seen couldnt fight sleep the 'chuan' in the name is the fighting part so the fact westerners drop it says it all if you know the fighting applications and the reality of the street you could turn tai chi into a fighting art' but wafting yer arms around in the park every morning wont prepare you for the cold furious violence of the street MF
Don't laugh Mad Yakker. It's a jungle out there. You need the eye of the tiger and the strength of an ox. Only the fittest survive. It's a dog eat dog world and if you don't row your own boat you'll have no corn to harvest in the winter. Goin down in a blaze of glory.
