Question on Tai Chi
Original Poster: Galaknore
Forum: Kung Fu Styles, Chinese Martial Arts
Posted On: 01-01-2006, 23:28
Orginal Post: Galaknore: I don't know if there has been a thread on this before or not so I apologize if there was. My question is whether or not Tai Chi is a practical fighting style. Basically, I have this friend who has been practicing Tai Chi for several years and he always wants to spar me (I train in Muay Thai and MMA). I guess I am just wondering whether or not he is full of shit or not. Thx in advance.
Post: Tease T Tickle:
Yes, this issue has been raised before.
The general consensus was that it depends on how, exactly, the Taiji exponent was trained. If all they did was the slow-paced forms training for improved health and energy flow, then they're unlikely to have developed the skills to fight. However, if they have been trained to account for active resistance, realistic fight speed, etc. then they can be a force to be reckoned with.
I don't know you or your friend, so I can't say whether or not his sparring you is a good idea. However, on your end, I would suggest to NOT spar with him if you have a match or other serious event coming up because a number of combative Taiji techniques include percussive strikes against the joints, especially the elbows, and very powerful punching. So, it stands to reason that if your friend has actual combative training in Taiji, you could wind up with a performance hindering injury. Also, if you are able to spar him without major detriment, I would suggest starting out slow, spending a good amount of time just throwing the jab and circling to get a feel for how he fights. If he can't handle novice boxing, he won't be able to handle full-force thigh kicks, clinch knees, etc.
Basically, treat him like he could be the real deal and avoid hurting him too bad because he might not be and you don't want to beat the crap out of a friend.>
Post: Galaknore:
I guess he has been training for quite some time. So I guess what I am saying yeah he does train at realistic speed. That is good advice though so I will probably just not spar with him to be on the safe side. Thx again.>
Post: Galaknore:
I just have one more thing to add. I forgot to mention that he is very small and I would describe him as kind of puny muscular wise. This was the only thing that concerned me because he always describes how he can use his chi to channel his strikes. I will probably just play it safe though and not risk him gouging my eye or something.>
Post: setsu nin to:
There are many different styles of Tai Chi. Some styles are more practical than others.>
Post: WushuPadawan001:
?This was the only thing that concerned me because he always describes how he can use his chi to channel his strikes."
lol. If he can use chi offensively then he must be Wu Chengde>
Post: Galaknore:
That is why I am asking this because I'm not sure if he is full of it or not. I guess I can just shoot him...>
Post: xcal:
Hi all,
I've sparred a couple of times with friends who are both far superior, and far inferior to my levels. The important thing IMHO is that there was always a strong level of trust between us. Sure, I recieved a few semisolid blows, and gave them back, but nothing malicious or serious...except the one time that I kicked a boxer who then grabbed my leg. He didn't know what to do with it, so I kept on punching him, and we both fell...fortunately for me, I've had some *very* basic groundwork training a while back, so rolled/twisted over so that I fell ontop of him...by instinct, not a thought out plan. His hip was stiff/sore for about a week.
AND I am Xtremely interested in finding out the results of TaiJi vs MMA ;-)
regards
Xcal>
Post: kungfumaster:
all i'm saying is don't sparr with this guy>
Post: nbotary:
[quote=kungfumaster all i'm saying is don't sparr with this guy[/quote And your reason why is... what?!?!
I've sparred with a guy who does only Tai Chi. Unfortunately, his Tai Chi is decent, but he sucks as a MA becuase of his ego. His ego is the only thing holding him back from becoming better. But, I digress, that's a whole other issue... Bottom line, I sparred with him one night and quickly put his ass in check. I wasn't the only one who did that night either. However, one of the guys I train with is a Tai Chi instructor and has only been doing external KF for just over a year. He is by far, much more superior in his Tai Chi than the dipshit is and he has managed to incorporate it with the external KF he is learning. As a result, he has become a much better fighter and MA.>
Post: WushuPadawan001:
lol, nbotary I totally know who you're talking about. Has his brother been around to practice with you and Bloodybirds?
Oh and on the topic of the question, taiji originated as a fighting style.....so the martial applications are there, if they're trained that is.>
Post: nbotary:
Yeah, he's been around a couple of times, but his brother hasn't since he got served... :twisted: :lol: I hope you're keeping his dumbass in check too.>
Post: kungfumaster:
i still suggest to you to avoid a sparr with this guy but if you feel comfortable with it then go for it. but if he can control his chi then then he won't give you internal injuries that's only if he has full control.>
Post: nbotary:
[quote=kungfumaster i still suggest to you to avoid a sparr with this guy but if you feel comfortable with it then go for it. but if he can control his chi then then he won't give you internal injuries that's only if he has full control.[/quote Why would you avoid sparring with the guy??? Why are you avoiding answering the question???
If you say "I wouldn't fight him becuase I don't want to have to use my Napoleon Dynamite bo staff skills" or "I'm a pussy and I'm afraid of getting my ass kicked", then you will have answered the question.>
Post: WushuPadawan001:
I have done some studies on chi, mostly stuff written by Dr. Yang, and I am confident in saying that the person Galaknore would spar with cannot control his chi, or at least is unable to use chi offensively. Why do I say this? Because using chi as a weapon is one of the most difficult skills to obtain in Chinese Martial Arts. I cannot see anyone being able to use a chi attack without at least 10 years of extremely dedicated training.
Again, I don?t know Galaknore?s opponent, he could very well be able to use chi offensively, but I doubt it.>
Post: BLACK PANTA:
anyone here talking about chi actually experienced chi defence/offence first hand? I'm willing to bet no..>
Post: WushuPadawan001:
/sigh>
Post: nbotary:
I actually used uncontrolled chi on a guy I was sparring with one time. I was training with Bloodybirds and some other guys one Sunday afternoon when Bloodybirds suggested that we pair up with someone and do some "light contact sparring". Well, this guy was always trying to "compete" with me whenever we would work out. I was there to learn and his ego was a little too big for his britches. Anyway, long story short, he took a cheap shot to my boys without using any control. Needless to say I was a little pissed and when the opportunity presented itself, I popped him in the arm between the deltoid, bicep and tricep. There's a nice little cavity there that can cause some serious "discomfort". Anyway it took awhile to swell, but exactly one week later I saw him again. His arm had a disgusting and grotesque looking bruise the size of a grapefruit in the spot where I had hit him. Bloodybirds told me later that the guy was in some serious pain a few days after I had hit him and the guy told me that it took just over two weeks for the bruise to heal. He hasn't tried to "compete" with me since.>
Post: WushuPadawan001:
lol, yeah I know what you mean nbotary. Every time I go against him he always takes cheap shots, speeds up to get an attack in, or barely taps me and says, ?Gotcha.? It?s annoying. Oh well, there?s always one like that in the bunch. I hate that people like him tend to misuse what they learn and can end up hurting other people.>
Post: BLACK PANTA:
[quote=nbotary I actually used uncontrolled chi on a guy I was sparring with one time. I was training with Bloodybirds and some other guys one Sunday afternoon when Bloodybirds suggested that we pair up with someone and do some "light contact sparring". Well, this guy was always trying to "compete" with me whenever we would work out. I was there to learn and his ego was a little too big for his britches. Anyway, long story short, he took a cheap shot to my boys without using any control. Needless to say I was a little pissed and when the opportunity presented itself, I popped him in the arm between the deltoid, bicep and tricep. There's a nice little cavity there that can cause some serious "discomfort". Anyway it took awhile to swell, but exactly one week later I saw him again. His arm had a disgusting and grotesque looking bruise the size of a grapefruit in the spot where I had hit him. Bloodybirds told me later that the guy was in some serious pain a few days after I had hit him and the guy told me that it took just over two weeks for the bruise to heal. He hasn't tried to "compete" with me since.[/quote
can you please get a picture of the exact point you hit? My wife studies Traditional Chinese Medicine and would be familiar with that point.>
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