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Your thoughts on Tai Chi

Author Topic: Your thoughts on Tai Chi  (Read 2919 times)

Offline Mitch Powell

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Your thoughts on Tai Chi
« on: October 14, 2003, 04:19:03 PM »
I recently started training in Tai Chi Ch'uan with Sifu Rick Isadore, who is also very skilled in Kajukenbo and Escrima.

I have found a real interest and I am just wondering how many others are training or have trained in Tai Chi?

If you do train, what are some of your thoughts?

If you don't train in Tai Chi, why not?

Also, have you thought about offering Tai Chi at your school? It's a great way to cater to older students.
Powell's MMA Academy (KSDI#549)
Grandmaster Mitch Powell (Emperado Method)
(707) 344-1655  coachmitchpowell@hotmail.com

Offline Chief Instructor

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Re:Your thoughts on Tai Chi
« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2003, 05:40:12 PM »
I think the Yang Short Form is easy to use and gives one enough material to practice with for years to come. The nice thing is it takes out the jerkiness of some students either by giving them more flow or simply relaxing them.

I offered a Tai Chi class on Friday evening for the first quarter of this year but it never caught on. Maybe it was too late for the older students. Oh well, now I have more time to focus on Professor Godin's material.

Respectfully,
Sigung Andrew Evans, KSDI #888
Hokkien Martial Arts, Topeka, KS
http://www.TopekaKarate.com

Offline Dennis Peterson

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Re:Your thoughts on Tai Chi
« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2003, 06:26:33 PM »
I found this as a good cool down.  But with only doing the 'dance' you must know what you are doing.  As with anything you must know what you are doing and keep an open mind.  Our forms could be soft but they are hard on interpetatoin.  So is Tai Chi...Once again is it a block, strike or escape?

Peterson' Mixed Martial Arts Academy
Professor Dennis Peterson
Under Grandmaster Mitch Powell
Original Method Kajukenbo/MMA

Offline D-Man

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Re:Your thoughts on Tai Chi
« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2003, 12:32:57 AM »
Tai Chi makes life incredibly easy, whether it be physical exersion (especially in combat), or mental relaxation.  Everything just flows.  Unfortunately, I get bored with it somewhat often.  It's one of those delayed gratificaiton disciplines.  Glad to see your interest in the art, it can be a great and amazing thing.  Have fun.

PS
It can be incredibly frustrating, becuase it is so hard to tell if you are doing it right at first.  Leap of faith.

Offline Sifu Terry McBride

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Re:Your thoughts on Tai Chi
« Reply #4 on: October 15, 2003, 01:12:08 AM »
Hi Professor,
I am starting Tai Chi - Chi Kung classes this Saturday. I am marketing it to seniors and folks out of shape.  I think it provides an important benefit to your community.  I have quite a few parents that say, I wish I could do your karate but I have bad..(joints, back whatever).  When I mention Tai Chi, they ask when can they start.  So it'll help the dojo keep it's doors open and I am really enjoying learning it and feeling the energy rush I get from it.

Terry McBride
Terry McBride, 5th degree under Professor Joel Purvis, under Grandmaster Emil Bautista
There is no planet sun or star could hold you, if you but knew what you are.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Offline Bautista's

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Re:Your thoughts on Tai Chi
« Reply #5 on: October 15, 2003, 01:55:31 AM »
two of the tai chi practicioners started with kajukenbo at our school and one time or another shared their knowledge to us. They are still active in this art.
Emil Bautista
Kajukenbo black belt (1966)

Offline BB54

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Re:Your thoughts on Tai Chi
« Reply #6 on: October 15, 2003, 11:01:46 AM »
I have been involved with the internal arts primarily Yang Tai Chi Chuan but also Ba Qua Chang and Hsing-I Chuan for twenty plus years.  Just like the hard systems the internal systems can be grouped into their combat strategies.  Hsing-I Chuan is "attack the attacker".  Ba Qua Chang is "avoid, absorb, and redirect the energy to the attacker.  Tai Chi Chuan is both, especially the Chen system of Tai Chi Chuan.

Hsing-I Chuan is more for younger people as it involves accelerating past the target (the Attacker).  It is like imagining a black hole sucking you into it passed the attacker.  The attacker is not important.  This system is tough on the joints especially the knees and ankles. Movements are done accelerated.

Ba Qua Chang is the escape art and relies on flexibility.  People in their thirties to sixties can do this art.  Movements are usually medium to fast.  Applications to the movement are hard to decipher without a skilled instructor.

Tai Chi Chuan is linear and circular, fast and slow.  Movements are easier to decipher as far as applications.  The beginning students go through the slow meditative forms first for the development of coordinating the breath, body movements, and the mental intent.  After that it is medium to fast or as fast as you need to be to nullify the attack.

What I have seen is that most of the Tai Chi Chuan schools teach just the meditative part of this system.  

If at all possible investigate the Tum Pai branch of Kajukenbo.  One of the reasons for the development of Tum Pai was to have older students still workout in a soft internal system and still be learning a combat orientated system and not some "new age" type of martial exercise.  Tai Chi Chuan is a Martial Science that is in the Combat Mind Set.  The health, mental development is the side product not the main objective.  Tai Chi Chuan can be done until you are mentally or physically incapacitated.
Brian Bruce Baxter. 8th Degree Black Belt Kajukenbo (Gaylord Method).  3rd Degree Black Belt Tracy's Kenpo Karate. 3rd Degree Black Belt Aikijitsu. 2nd Degree Black Belt Mu Duk Kwan.  22 years experience Yang Tai Chi Chuan.

Jon Pack

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Re:Your thoughts on Tai Chi
« Reply #7 on: October 15, 2003, 11:06:26 AM »
I have been studying Chen Style going on 2 years now. I am taking my time with the system only practicing the linking form and its applications. This form is half the length of the main form. I don't think I will teach this until I have many years of experience. Just because I hold rank and am knowledgable in one system doesn't qualify me to teach other systems. That being said I will incorperate aspects into the kempo curriculum just as I have done with Kobudo, Arnis and Wing Chun. Honestly these are complete systems unto themselves and I would do them a disservice to dabble in teaching only this part of one or the other. One last comment is that the different systems I mentioned work on different principles and concepts and can really screw up each other. I mention this because everything I do seems to get Kempoized, take on my main systems flavor.
Jon Pack
p.s. I have been exposed to different Tai Chi sysyems and prefer the Chen for its history and realistic applications.