Thread: Learning Tai Chi as a Martial Art

Learning Tai Chi as a Martial Art




When most people think of tai chi, they think of it as a slow moving exercise done for relaxation or as a kind of moving meditation. While it can be these things, it's also a traditional martial art. The original name of the art, Tai Chi Chuan, can be translated as "supreme ultimate fist." This suggests that the original practitioners of tai chi understood its value as a martial art, even if most people today have forgotten this.


One reason that people don't think of tai chi as a martial art is because it's so slow moving. When you watch people practicing karate or kung fu, you see fast, powerful movement. Tai chi, on the other hand, is done in what looks to be slow motion. This doesn't mean, however, that the same movements can't also be done quickly. In fact, it takes more control to move slowly, which makes the movement more precise. To really learn how to apply tai chi as a martial art, you'd have to practice it at different speeds, but moving slowly gives you greater coordination and balance.


One traditional tai chi practice is called push hands. This involves two people pushing against each other, trying to get the other off balance. There are tournaments where this is practiced, much like sparring tournaments in karate. The idea with tai chi push hands is to use as little force as possible. You are supposed to get the other person off balance using his own weight and strength. This takes a lot of practice, of course, but a master at tai chi push hands can be a powerful martial artist. If you want to learn this practice, you have to find a qualified instructor or a tai chi school that teaches it. Simply practicing the tai chi form won't be enough to teach you the martial arts applications.


If you're interested in learning tai chi as a martial art, then you have to find a school or instructor that has this focus. While practicing the tai chi form that is usually taught is very good for your health, and may help you to reduce stress, it will only give you some very basic martial arts training. By improving your balance and flexibility, you'll have a good foundation for the martial arts, but you won't really know how to apply it in an actual situation if you haven't been trained that way. If you don't live near a qualified tai chi instructor with a martial arts background, you can find some books, DVDs and websites that can point you in the right direction.


Tai chi is known as an internal martial art, as opposed to external martial arts such as karate. Tai chi martial artists not only practice push hands, but they also learn how to use swords and other traditional Chinese weapons. Tai chi can be fascinating and beneficial, whether you're interested in it strictly for exercise or you want to get into the martial arts side of it.

Most people think of martial arts as something dangerous or totally involved with fighting. I'm not sure people would say that Kung Fu was about learning lessons of respect, how to be fair to others, how to have harmony of spirit, and having total self control over every situation. Students can learn to have success in a society that is hard to deal with, when they combine all of these characteristics together. Mental and physical toughness is the path being pursued by the students of Kung Fu as they develop their overall well being. Kung Fu has no competitions, unlike any of the other martial arts, but a stylist can take part in other competitions. Kung Fu is an ancient martial art that teaches to fight back only when it is the only option and everything else has been tried first. Avoiding confrontation by any means possible, should be what is tried by the stylist, no matter what provocation. Anyone can learn the martial art of Kung Fu, as long as there is a strong desire. Even though Kung Fu has a proud legacy and a strong heritage, it can be a deadly martial art, if used the wrong way.The five animals, tiger, dragon, eagle claw, crane and snake, are included in the variations of Kung Fu. Some of the most impressive styles in martial arts are adapted from the animals they are named after. Of the five animals, Tiger Claw is by far the most deadly, and its students are taught to strike like the dreaded tiger. In this style, the student tears the flesh when he strikes, being taught that his power is in his hands. Finding instructors to teach Tiger Claw is very hard, possibly because it is so deadly.Kung Fu, along with the other martial arts, have the ultimate goal of self defense, or that is what the majority of martial arts enthusiasts believe. Kung Fu is a true art, which is much more than fighting and defense, even though self defense is part of it, but it develops the mind, body and soul. Students of Kung Fu are taught to look within, to overcome their emotions by learning complete control, rather than overcoming others. Avoiding confrontation and remaining at peace, is the teaching to the students of Kung Fu, an art of harmony. The student is taught to become a warrior and defend himself, by rising to the occasion if he is threatened with bodily harm by a situation.The Chinese believe there is a balance that keeps the balance between heaven and earth, and that balance is what is crucial for Kung Fu. This balance is what allows for properly executing techniques and movements, in all of the martial arts. As long as the students can get rid of all distractions by emptying their minds and completely focus their thoughts, this balance can be achieved.