Tai chi as a martial art

The principles and applications of empty-hand tai chi skills are radically different from other styles of martial arts.

(Zhang Yun)

Unlikely?

If you have studied another martial art, then it is probably quite difficult to appreciate how tai chi can be used effectively in combat.
Tai chi's slow-motion movements lead people to doubt the art.

However, tai chi chuan was designed to be an advanced style of kung fu.

The Yang style was created by Yang Lu-chan.
Yang Lu-chan rose to fame in China by teaching his tai chi chuan to the Manchu Emperor's elite palace guards.

Tai chi combat

Tai chi should offer every skill you would expect of a mainstream martial art:

  1. Defence against punches, kicks and grapples

  2. Escapes from holds

  3. Floorwork

  4. Defence against a knife

  5. Striking

  6. Joint manipulation

Ask yourself: can you defend yourself against one person? Two? A gang? What do you do if somebody holds you?
How will you get off the floor? Can you evade a knife and disarm the attacker?


Yield

Yielding is not about giving-in, collapsing or being cowardly.
It is a tactic.
It is the ability to make space, to adjust, to allow an incoming force to over-extend, to expend itself.

Having yielded, you step-in vigorously and counter-attack decisively.


Counter-attack

Tai chi employs three areas of skill for countering an opponent:

  1. Shuai jiao (grappling)

  2. Chin na (seizing)

  3. Jing (energy expression)

A tai chi student must be competent in all three areas of skill.


Flow

A tai chi student never tenses their muscles and never uses force against force.
The aim is to harmonise with the incoming attack, and then incapacitate the opponent.

It is not about anger,
It is about peace.

It is not about power,
It is about grace.

It is not about knowing your enemy,
It is all about knowing yourself.

(Bulletproof Monk)

Kung fu

In real life you do only what you have to do and you leave immediately.

Self defence is not the same as fighting. You have only one aim in tai chi combat: escape without injury.
It is not about winning awards and trophies or gaining a belt.
It is not about looking cool or impressing anyone.

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Page created 1 August 1995