Tai Chi,good self-defense art or not?

[BoarSpear]

Fill your note book with this

[jubaji]

thats to bad, I found a link for the uwfi that has many of the great matches they had after lou thez got involved. sakuraba has several matches as well on the series. dont know if you are interested but they have some serious rumbles on these tapes. strikers vs shootfighters, sombo guys you name it.
http://www.triplecrowntapes.com/uwfi.htm

I'll check it out.

[BoarSpear]

if you have never seen or heard of the organization its a little odd..The matches were to ko or submission or points. you could escape a hold by grabbing the ropes like in WWE except each time you grabbed the ropes it cost a point should it go to decision. I had (stolen from me) about 8 hours of matches , never saw one end other than ko or submission. they even tried a sumo yokozuna fight against a striker, needless to say it was about 8 seconds before a kick to the temple ended that. albrights fights against Takada are classic BIG man who's a wrestler against a LITTLE man who's a striker.

[Tai Chi Fighter]

Tai Chi for self-defense. HELL YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not saying that I'm some sort of master, but I do know that I am proficient enough to use it in a fight. It is a very good self-defense system. By practicing the form you gain fluidity, balance, and suppleness. Remember the saying about the water it can flow and it can crash. You can flow into an attack and then crash into the opponent with extreme power.

[jubaji]

I'm not saying that I'm some sort of master, but I do know that I am proficient enough to use it in a fight.

That's great. How do you know?

[Tai Chi Fighter]

How do I know?

Well, unfortunately I have had to use it in a street fight.
I tried to talkk my way out of the fight, but he just would not listen to reason. So he attacked and I defended. and was able to stop the fight without injuring him badly. It does work and there are many people out there who agree.

[jubaji]

So he attacked (1) and I defended(2). and was able to stop the fight without injuring him badly(3)..

1) How?

2) How?

3) Why?

[Tai Chi Fighter]

He punched and I stepped out of the way and guided his hsnd so that he was off balance and was able to throw him to the ground. You see once you commit yourself to an attack you put yourself at an disadvantage, because only two things can happen: 1.You hit him or 2.He moves out of the way and counter-attacks.

[Tai Chi Fighter]

He punched and I stepped out of the way and guided his hsnd so that he was off balance and was able to throw him to the ground. You see once you commit yourself to an attack you put yourself at an disadvantage, because only two things can happen: 1.You hit him or 2.He moves out of the way and counter-attacks. Why because I had no choice. It was either let him hit me or stop the fight without hurting him.

[jubaji]

He punched and I stepped out of the way and guided his hsnd so that he was off balance and was able to throw him to the ground. You see once you commit yourself to an attack you put yourself at an disadvantage, because only two things can happen: 1.You hit him or 2.He moves out of the way and counter-attacks.

Hmmmmm...ok.

[Tai Chi Fighter]

think

He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool-shun him.
He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a child-teach him.
He who knows and knows not that he knows, is asleep-wake him.
He who knows, and knows that he knows, is wise-follow him.

-An ancient Persian Proverb

[Uke]

I personally have not met a tai chi man that can do what tai chi is said to be able to teach you. I have heard all kinds of stories, but when I meet the people, their technique is usually reminicent of other arts like chin na and/or aikido.

I have a friend who is a professional boxer, and he gave it up and took tai chi. He says he hits harder now than he did before because of his correct posture and joint alignment. I have others who said that the breathing exercises have made their strikes more powerful. But to me, it seems like alot of theory and not too much practice. I have never met a man who can fight using tai chi. Not to say that you can't do it, but I personally have never met a man who can. There are so many stories about men who can use little to no strength, but they can make you collapse with a light hit. Or the dim mak stories. Its endless with no one who can reproduce results.

I was told that tai chi can be learned in 5 years or less, which is ashamed because most teachers will string you along for 10-20 years in order for you to supposedly be "ready". If it took that long to train in the arts, there would have been no ancient wars because if soldiers go killed, it would take another 20 years for them to be "ready" to fight again.

I was also told this about Wing Chun while I was living in Hawaii. There was a group of guys who trained there and were very open and friendly. They invited me to train with them with no strings attached. I had friends who had trained in Wing Chun, and it took them nearly 8-10 years before they became proficient, let alone mastered the art. I told one of the guys that I didn't have that much time because I'd be leaving within a year. He laughed and told me that my friend was being taken advantage of. He told me that 2 years TOPS, and the rest is up to your practice and work ethic. I was shocked. But in retrospect, that applies to most arts. Once you've got the necessary conditioning and basics down, techniques will come quickly to a man who is dilligent in his study.

So, while I will NEVER say anything is impossible, I can't say that I have ever seen any magic in the martial arts. Just levels of discipline that seemed inhuman because of a fanatical work ethic.

So if anybody know a man who teaches tai chi, and he can do those amazing, internal techniques, let me know. I'd love to learn or at least witness it.

[Bjjexpertise@be]

From the way I've seen Tai chi, they only train to defend against haymakers. Their little 'use their strength against them' or 'force direction' only works if the guy is drunk and tells you he is goin got hit you before he swings. My friend believed in the little 'use their strength against them' deal and got beaten in friendly fights and by bullies.

[BoarSpear]

Fill your note book with this

[medic06]

there is no magic in any art btw...just intuition and experience combined with highly refined physical power and skill.

I couldn't have said it better myself