Though stating "99%" may be overstating things, What I have seen since Ive started studying this stuff pretty much backs up what Jen has said. Most information and classes out there (in my slice of So Cal anyway) are pretty new agey, or semi dance oriented. So much so that I dont bother telling people that I study TJQ unless they ask and seem to understand internal CMA.

The explanation sometimes just seems to take more time than its worth.

Im pretty lucky to have found the school I did.

I find that ignoring some of the weaknesses inherent in the individual practice (or widespread) practice of one's chosen art -- is akin to foolishly sticking one's head in the sand. At the same time, if you allow people to spout ignorant assumptions without challenging them, then you're missing a small opportunity to fight against the very problems that plaque the practice of your chosen art.

Originally posted by Budd
Interesting statistics. I'd be interested in knowing where you got them.

99% of my statistics are made up on the spot!

Originally posted by kismasher
Re: Jen's post


Out of his ass, like the majority of his posts.

But it's cool cause he apparently works out a lot.

yeah, in the gymnasium of the mind, aka the library.

Originally posted by Mufi
Also:
When you do freeform grappling with her do you find yourself repeatedly bounced off the walls and floor?

i do this to other people because my chi is almost as huge as my wang.

Ueshiba did study tai chi. iyou can't miss it when you look at the controlling techniques and wrist locks.

This is not a rag on your teacher. Hell, it'd be impossible since I've no clue who she is.
Beautiful form is endemic to taijiquan (Yang style in particular). Here are some relevant questions:

How does she teach you appropriate body mechanics?
What methods do you use to train fa jing?
Is standing emphasized?
How are you taught to train the form?
How much is qi emphasized in your training?

Is she offering a free, all inclusive trip to the moon's of Jupiter?

Originally posted by sakurabar0x0rz
Ueshiba did study tai chi. iyou can't miss it when you look at the controlling techniques and wrist locks.

?

You're serious?

When I look at aikido wristlocks and controls, I see daito ryu all over them.

I have attended seminars with two seperate branches of Daito ryu and saw absolutley nothing that was different from my aikido. Aikido owes it's technical roots to Daito ryu. Philosophy and such, well, I can't say for certain the Ueshiba wasn't influenced by the Chinese, but for the most part, it's Omoto Kyo.

The tai chi I have seen resembles aikido only on a very superficial level.

The main difference I see from the Daito ryu to Aikido, in particular Aikikai Aikido, is that in the Daito ryu they use more strikes and there ser certain throws that are not in the aikido repetoire.
As for the Taiji crap that keeps coming up, NO Ueshiba did NOT learn Taiji, why? well for one thing, NO ONE would have taught him it !!! at the time he was in China, he would have had to learn from either the Chen or Yang clans, and they were notorious about NOT teaching outsideres in the CHINESE community, what would be the chances of teaching a JAPANESE ??? NONE.

Another difference is that aikido doesn't have the same mind-numbing amount of complicated pins as Daito ryu.

Originally posted by MrMcFu
Is she offering a free, all inclusive trip to the moon's of Jupiter?

And, yes, I'm still waiting for Kuroyama's answer.

There's a method to this madness.

I asked.

She said if I brought home gold for the USA in the 2008 olympic games, bought her a new studio in some prime beachfront property in So Cal, and brought an everlasting proseperous peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians...

She'd look into it.

"...so I got that goin' for me."

Acutally no, i didnt ask.

Repeated from my previous post:

How does she teach you appropriate body mechanics?
What methods do you use to train fa jing?
Is standing emphasized?
How are you taught to train the form?
How much is qi emphasized in your training?

And, as someone else suggested, do you get bounced from wall to wall?

Frag...

Here are the answers as I understand what has been shown to me. I do not speak Chinese, and so there are levels of discussion that I cannot have with my teacher. It has been suggested that I start learning (Chinese). I also state that it is "as I understand" because I dont presume to speak for my teacher. I've seen a lot of BS out there regarding taijiquan, and I dont want to be responsible for adding to it.

1) By example, repetition, repetition, drills, and repetition...and repetition, then polish, then repetition. Repeat daily.

2) "fa jing"? Im only 4 months in. We have focused on proper movement, weight transfer, and forms. In the 4 months I have only learned Yang 24 (simplified) to the poinit where I'm asked to demonstrate it for others. But Im still far from the point where shes satisfied with it. I dont know what that will take. She has won dozens of gold medals in tournaments stateside and in China... yet she practices everyday. Short answer is we have not discussed fa jing yet. I dont know if thats a discussion we will have in english.

3) free standing as a qigong excercise is not practiced in my classes. Some qigong excercises have been incorporated into a warm up set that she puts us through. I've seen some people in the park practice standing. We dont. (yet?)

4) training? see answer number one
5) qi? see answer number two

I've read about, and heard about "qi" spoken about as though it were "the force". Although we have discussed qi as air/energy very briefly, we do not hold long discussions regarding it. This could be from disdain for mysticism in TJQ, or it could be a language barrier. I think its some of both. From what I have seen there is very little to no mysticism in our studio. The only thing mystical about the TJQ we practice is how my teacher being about 1/2 my size and almost twice my age can be in twice the shape I am, twice as flexible, and twice as healthy.

We havent started push hands yet. so no wall bouncing.

lol, maybe i should fight you after all! you sound like a typical taiji student.