Tai Chi Chuan and Grappling?
Tai Chi Chaun is a defensive martial arts, correct? How affective is it against grappling based martial arts such as BJJ or Judo? I’ve also read that Tai Chi Chuan has different forms, is this true? What are these different forms? What makes each different from the other? What makes them the same?
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Let me begin by saying that Tai Chi Chuan is a grappling art.
Its very foundations are the healing arts of Qigong and Acupuncture and it is believed to be the starting point for Poison Hand, aka Dim Mak.
Chen Family Boxing is NOT Tai Chi Chuan, it is Chen Family Boxing. After the development of Yang Family Style was the term "Tai Chi" implemented.
Chen Family has different forms developed by Masters as the art progressed. Old Frame aka Original Frame, Cannon Fist, New Frame are all practiced by various schools but not implemented by all the schools. Some do not use New Frame. It depends on who you learn from.
Yang evolved into many variations named Yang and eventually into Woo, Wu, Hao, Sun, Chang, Tung Pei, and many other legitimate styles.
The questions you ask can best be answered by going to the library and doing your own research. It is a very extensive topic to be discussed here.
Let it be known that Tai Chi Chuan, taught correctly is a very dangerous art.
Edit:
Siytangco Sifu – It is not my intention to make any derogatory claims about Tai Chi Chuan. My Teacher, who is from Taiwan, teaches many forms of Tai Chi, taught that CFB is not "merely" Tai Chi, but more like The Mother of Tai Chi Chuan, noting its superiority.
I understand what you are saying. I maintain that CFB is the Supreme Grand Ultimate. It is the TAI Tai Chi Chuan.
This is in the way of my reference to certain lineages of Okinawan "Karate" as Karatejutsu, or my preferred term – Toudijutsu… such as:
Kenshikai Goju Ryu
Kyudokan Shorin Ryu
Kishaba Juku Shorin Ryu
Ryukyu Kenpo
Shinjinbukan…
and weapons systems such as:
Yamanni Chinen Ryu
Matayoshi Ryu
I totally understand your point of view but I maintain my view from a Historical Standpoint.
No offense intended.
i would prefer tai chi chuan grappling over bjj or judo,
tai chi is not bound by rules. and tai chi have some nasty moves.
there are a number of styles as sensei scandal has gone over some.
the only problem with tai chi is people think of it as a health excise, when it is a lot more then that
check this out. A tai chi video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Vbtje7-hQk
I respect Sensei Scandal’s attitude towards traditional martial arts, but it’s a shame that he does not consider the Chen Style a form of Taijiquan. Even though it has been considered the oldest verifiable source of all Taijiquan forms by Chinese scholars for some time now. Yang Lu Chan, the legendary founder of Yang Style Taijiquan, learned his art from 14th Generation Chen Style Grandmaster, Chen Chang Xing. Whether or not the Chen system of martial arts was called Taijiquan at this point is only a case of labeling. This is a statement that promotes division in Taijiquan circles rather than harmony and unification towards a common goal.
But he is correct in that Taijiquan has a very strong element of grappling and Taijiquan stylists can be a formidable challenge to other grapplers. But of course this always depends on the experience and training of the individuals involved. There are four major categories of combat in the Chinese systems, these are Da (hand strikes), Ti (kicks), Shuai (grappling, wrestling, throwing), and Na (seizing and locking). All Taijiquan styles teache all of these elements if you learn from a properly trained instructor.
There are many forms of Taijiquan, as stated by Sensei Scandal, and they can be different by basic choreography of forms, angles, the speed and tempo of the forms, the types of weapons learned, and by how they express the taiji principles. But they are all the same by what those principles are – these have everything to do with body mechanics, dynamics, the BaFa (eight methods), sensitivity, combat theory, etc. If you are interested in learning Taijiquan, don’t worry too much about style. Make sure your instructor is properly trained and has a verifiable lineage – and that he/she can show you what you need to learn.
The issue you bring up is discussed constantly. And it seems that everyone has their own answer which they believe is the only right one. Like any martial art, tai chi is only as effective as the individual is willing to devote time and energy. You also need a competent teacher.
All that being said, tai-chi chuan contains all the aspects required of a martial art. The different family styles differ in the execution of the standard postures found in all the styles (single whip, fair lady weaves shuttle, white crane, etc.). What makes tai-chi chuan unique is not just the external moves, but the internal energy it can generate which develops power unknown in the external arts.