Taiji MMA Documentary

**elephant** · Posted On: 9/16/2010 5:44pm

A documentary about Taiji and MMA.

http://martialartsrainbowmagic.blogs...i-and-mma.html

**Permalost** · Posted On: 9/17/2010 1:50am

Pretty cool! I'm skeptical about the newer guy who wants to start MMA fights after his tai chi is better, simply because it's hard to be a single style fighter anymore, and his training with the old man seems to be mostly slow forms. I have to applaud his efforts and enthusiasm though. If he keeps up his jiujitsu training with Vaughn alongside it I'd be much more confident. I really liked to hear his thoughts on training tai chi after doing some competitive training, and how sometimes a kung fu teacher gets misconceptions projected onto them.

**Rivington** · Posted On: 9/19/2010 9:12pm

Mr. Zhang looks pretty cool with his shades and his cigs, but we don't really get why his student cares so much about proving taiji in MMA. Are Internet comments really all that motivating?

**Lindz** · Posted On: 9/19/2010 9:55pm

So does it cover James attempting some kind of full contact fighting?

**stray_bullet** · Posted On: 9/20/2010 6:52pm

It was cool to see Arnold Urquidez, it's good to know he is alive and well!

**elephant** · Posted On: 10/19/2010 9:30am

One thing to keep in mind is that that it's a student film that was shot and edited together in a matter of weeks. The younger guy, has a background in boxing, kyokushin and BJJ. He's also been a member of an MMA gym for most of his adult life. I think what he wants is just to use Taiji to add an unpredictable element to his striking, a little bit like how he gravitates toward the rubber guard on the ground. He's back in the USA now and has definitely picked up some strange tricks in asia that he says are Taiji, it's hard to tell how well they work at a high level though since this is SC and not Colorado. Personally I wish him well, but I doubt he'll ever be elite. He's the kind of guy that would rather almost win with a flashy technique, than actually win with the basics. The first time you fight him he might catch you but after you get used to his unorthodox style he usually gets overpowered. He's got some more of his stuff up on his youtube channel if anyone is interested.

http://www.youtube.com/user/GOG777#p/u/20/D4dmmTYwda0