Tai Chi as a Fighting Art

**Cullion** · Posted On: 4/23/2007 5:34am

Guess you missed the clips I posted of people winning amateur San Shou titles using Tai Chi then huh?

**Dirty Rooster** · Posted On: 4/23/2007 6:32am

Post 'em again!

...and where was the fat guy Zoahu?

**meataxe** · Posted On: 4/23/2007 4:34pm

There was a guy I saw on one of the Cage Rage fights with a TCC background... Stevie something. He seemed to do pretty well. Mind you need to add some ground game if you don't wanna get moidered. One of the guys I train with has some BJJ background. When he takes me down, sheer hilarity ensues! :pancakebu

**metarat** · Posted On: 4/24/2007 6:41am

Originally Posted by zaohu

From my experience with Taiji, you can use it as a fighting art if you are against people who have absolutely no idea how to fight and you have been practicing for about 15 years.

So. Ahh, you are a Whving Cxhunner, and you stuck with Taiji for a whooooooole three months, at one session a week?

Thanks for the input!

Do you have a line of instructional video tapes coming out soon?

**Locu5** · Posted On: 5/01/2007 6:46pm

So how do your TCC schools progress to/through push hands in relation to the IMA forms, etc?

**meataxe** · Posted On: 5/01/2007 6:55pm

Originally Posted by Locu5

So how do your TCC schools progress to/through push hands in relation to the IMA forms, etc?

We start with some basic exercises and the form, but students don't have to complete the form before starting push hands. Students start with fixed-step patterned push-hands and work on coordination and balance before moving on to more free style push hands. The typical time required to progress to a level that could be considered martial varies. Generally, if someone wants to come out and wrassle first and add technique later, we accommodate.

**Locu5** · Posted On: 5/01/2007 7:39pm

We started with the long form, and single hand push hands, introducing the various concepts and angles, usually one plane at a time. We then progressed to double-hands, showing the structure, the wash, etc. Techniques were shown from two-hand push hands, and about a year to a year and a half, typically, the students were doing free form two-hand push hands. The level of skill/contact progressed depending on rank.

**selfcritical** · Posted On: 5/02/2007 2:06am

Originally Posted by Locu5

We started with the long form, and single hand push hands, introducing the various concepts and angles, usually one plane at a time. We then progressed to double-hands, showing the structure, the wash, etc. Techniques were shown from two-hand push hands, and about a year to a year and a half, typically, the students were doing free form two-hand push hands. The level of skill/contact progressed depending on rank.

Have you found much of that training applicable in clinch range?

**Locu5** · Posted On: 5/02/2007 5:38am

Not really, there is too much distance (plus the issues with trapping in general). I close the distance in the clinch, now I pummel.

**Bamenwubu** · Posted On: 5/04/2007 4:21pm

Hello,
Newbie here. I expect to be pummeled mercilessly as such.
I have practiced Tai Chi Chuan, and only Tai Chi Chuan, for nearly 20 years. I practiced TKD for five years previous to that, but was a very poor student.
I started out in the Wu Chien Chuan style, through one of Wu Kwong "Eddie" Yu's students. I loved the style, however the school closed and so I had to move on.
I have found a good teacher of genuine, martial Yang Tai Chi Chuan. My teacher is not a "Master", but his teacher is and I train with him whenever he comes to our town or I go to his.
I have read this thread and find I have to agree with just about everyone who has posted. On both sides of the issue.
I know, that's wishy washy, or whatever you want to call it, but it is true.
Tai Chi Chuan can often be a joke. So it's easy to see how people can discount it as a fighting art. However, it can also be very effective. As with every martial art, it depends on how well you train.
Without getting nasty, I have to agree that training Tai Chi Chuan through videos by Earl Montigue is not going to lead you to martial excellence. I have never met him, have never seen him fight and that statement is no disparagement of EM. He may be an excellent martial artist, I don't know. My reason for saying I don't think you will reach martial excellence by training from his videos is that HE is not there with you, training the art person to person.
Could you learn to be a superlative martial artist training your current style, ANY style, from a vidoe? Maybe, but I tend to doubt it.
Just like any other martial art, Tai Chi Chuan needs to be trained hand on.
A good Tai Chi Chuan practitioner can stand toe to toe with a good practitioner of ANY other martial art. What determins the outcome will be the people, not the name of the art they practice.
Do I practice Tai Chi Chuan as a fighting art? Yes.
Am I a world champion martial artist? Nope.
I'm not good yet, I need MUCH more practice.
However, I can and do fight. I do practice push hands and sparring.
Is Tai Chi Chuan a fighting art? Yes, if you use it that way.