It’s my opinion that 太極拳 (Tàijíquán / T’ai Chi Ch'üan), 形意拳 (Xíngyìquán / Hsing I Ch'üan), and
八卦掌 (Bāguàzhǎng / Pakuachang) are advanced arts.
When I say this, I’m not trying to say that they are superior to other martial arts, just that they are lousy at teaching basic fighting and they are nigh-on impossible to get the best out of, if you’re new to martial arts. The skills they teach can only be built upon a firm foundation of previous experience.
If you have just passed your driving test the last thing you want is to be behind the wheel of a formula 1 racing car or a suped-up Ferrari – you’ll get yourself killed real fast unless you take it extra slow and careful, and what’s the point in driving those type of cars if you can’t take advantage of their speed. Sure you may look like a big guy but, well… motion of the ocean – if you know what I mean. Which brings this blog to it’s second half; Big words, shallow skill.
There is a huge number of T'ai Chi practioners out there that have great faith in their system. There is nothing wrong with that but when individuals go around slandering others with an air of snobbery then there are a few egos that should be checked. The issue I have is, that the martial prowess of the average T'ai Chi person is not called into question. I know, I know, this must seem like I’m bashing on the peaceniks but far from it, the average person who would like to enjoy some movement classes, raise their level of fitness and overall health slightly and maybe address issues like breathing and coordination I have no problem with, but when it’s when their classmates start to shout about town about how their teacher is the greatest fighter of all time and should have fought Muhammad Ali because he could have shown him a thing or two about boxing, then I take exception.
八卦掌 (Bāguàzhǎng / Pakuachang) are advanced arts.
When I say this, I’m not trying to say that they are superior to other martial arts, just that they are lousy at teaching basic fighting and they are nigh-on impossible to get the best out of, if you’re new to martial arts. The skills they teach can only be built upon a firm foundation of previous experience.
If you have just passed your driving test the last thing you want is to be behind the wheel of a formula 1 racing car or a suped-up Ferrari – you’ll get yourself killed real fast unless you take it extra slow and careful, and what’s the point in driving those type of cars if you can’t take advantage of their speed. Sure you may look like a big guy but, well… motion of the ocean – if you know what I mean. Which brings this blog to it’s second half; Big words, shallow skill.
There is a huge number of T'ai Chi practioners out there that have great faith in their system. There is nothing wrong with that but when individuals go around slandering others with an air of snobbery then there are a few egos that should be checked. The issue I have is, that the martial prowess of the average T'ai Chi person is not called into question. I know, I know, this must seem like I’m bashing on the peaceniks but far from it, the average person who would like to enjoy some movement classes, raise their level of fitness and overall health slightly and maybe address issues like breathing and coordination I have no problem with, but when it’s when their classmates start to shout about town about how their teacher is the greatest fighter of all time and should have fought Muhammad Ali because he could have shown him a thing or two about boxing, then I take exception.
Muhummad Ali, my teacher could’ve whupped his ass!
If you drive the fast car you should be able to drive, if you know what I mean. You can’t brag about your driving skill just because you borrowed your teacher’s car. There are too many keyboard warriors out there today boasting martial prowess who need testing. If you actually spar fairly frequently in class and maybe compete occasionally, then you begin to appreciate that it’s not all about knowing which accupressure point to hit someone on. Humility can come thick and fast when you frquently get knocked on your behind. Eventually you say to yourself “maybe I’m not the best, maybe I can learn a thing or two from others.”
And this is my point; If you take up an advanced art, be sure to have your humility in check and your fighting basics covered first before you begin to shout about fighting ability, otherwise sooner or later someone’ll cross your path and take exception to you, and maybe get you to test those ‘advanced’ skills.
If you drive the fast car you should be able to drive, if you know what I mean. You can’t brag about your driving skill just because you borrowed your teacher’s car. There are too many keyboard warriors out there today boasting martial prowess who need testing. If you actually spar fairly frequently in class and maybe compete occasionally, then you begin to appreciate that it’s not all about knowing which accupressure point to hit someone on. Humility can come thick and fast when you frquently get knocked on your behind. Eventually you say to yourself “maybe I’m not the best, maybe I can learn a thing or two from others.”
And this is my point; If you take up an advanced art, be sure to have your humility in check and your fighting basics covered first before you begin to shout about fighting ability, otherwise sooner or later someone’ll cross your path and take exception to you, and maybe get you to test those ‘advanced’ skills.
If T’ai Chi and the other Chinese internal martial arts are a finishing school for martial artists, you don’t walk in the front door as a beginner and begin to brag after a few months, you might get finished.
