my college is forcing me to take tai chi

[kurt sloan]

so i'm forced to take this class and all i hear is how great it is and how well it can be used as self defense. is all this self defense stuff i'm hearing total bs or can it actually be useful?

ps i didn't want to ask this in the chinese section b/c i know i would only get biased answers.

[m.artist]

depends on your definition of useful

[EmptyneSs]

so i'm forced to take this class and all i hear is how great it is and how well it can be used as self defense. is all this self defense stuff i'm hearing total bs or can it actually be useful?

nah man, tai chi wont help u out in self defense. its more for relaxation and whatnot.

[Ironpalm]

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[LoneWolf1]

It's the person not the art. nuff said

[jubaji]

so i'm forced to take this class and all i hear is how great it is and how well it can be used as self defense. is all this self defense stuff i'm hearing total bs or can it actually be useful?
.

.........................

yes

[kurt sloan]

yes it is helpful or yes it is BS?

[jubaji]

yes it is helpful or yes it is BS?

........................................

Right

[ryangruhn]

I am also taking it next semester. I personally think everyone should be exposed to every art out there. Take it and learn from it and run with it!

Gruhn

[m.artist]

don't listen to jubaji, he's just messing with ya.
being someone who has experience in tai chi, and being a person who's seen how watered down martial arts are taught at schools, i would imagine that the tai chi you would be learning wouldn't help out all that much, especially if it isn't complemented with another external art. but that shouldn't discourage you from continuing with it, and getting from it what you can.
by the way, what style is it?

[Tom Yum]

so i'm forced to take this class...

You're being forced to take taiji....oh, the pain & suffering....lol. You'll probably like it; it seems to be good for health and clearing your mind.

[kurt sloan]

i'm not sure. do you mean like "slow" or "fast?" if that's the case we are doing the "slow" style. the prof. calls it tai chi chuan and we're using a book written by lawrence galante if that helps.

[Ironpalm]

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[EmptyneSs]

why is ur college forcing u to take tai chi?

[Tom Yum]

Like all univerisities, the graduate and faculty positions are becoming more Asian...who cares, dude. Taiji can't be bad for you.