Fun with Tai Chi Applications

Fun with Tai Chi Applications - Closing the Form

tai chi fighting applications tai chi self-defense taiji self-defense Dec 18, 2008

I'm almost finished editing the final DVD in the series on fighting applications of Laojia Yilu. There should be about 400 applications in the 3-DVD set -- a pretty amazing number for one form. There are supposed to be more than 600 but I didn't repeat any movements.

Taking the time to study the movements for this DVD series was a great learning experience for me. I've always felt that you learn a lot in class but you learn the most by quiet, thoughtful practice and study on your own. That's certainly true in this instance.

I've included three photos in this post showing an application from the final movement in the form -- Closing the Form -- movement number 75. You are being choked. You snake your arm under the opponent's armpit, turn the body and "close." The energy in your hands is downward energy, the same as in the very first movement of the form.

In an actual self-defense situation, you would naturally put fajin into the movement and do some damage. If you look at the third photo in the series, you can see that your opponent is in a delicate situation. Hard fajin at this point would do some serious damage, and the fight would be over.

Studying the fighting applications can give you major insights into the "intent" of the movements. A lot of people talk about intent, but unless you know what the fighting application for a movement is, you may not understand the intent.

And no, the intent is NOT "moving mediation." Sorry. I know that's disappointing to some, but the purpose of a tai chi form is not to become one with the universe. The purpose is to break an opponent quickly.

I'm hoping to have this DVD for sale by the end of the weekend and turn my attention to some long-awaited bagua DVDs, starting with basic skills. After doing fighting application DVDs for both Hsing-I and Tai Chi, I'm looking forward to doing the same for baguazhang. My biggest goal for 2009 is to put every fighting application of Laojia Yilu into a book. It's interesting that even in editing the DVD, I see new applications that I didn't record on video. I'll have to include those in the book. :)

--by Ken Gullette

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Fun with Tai Chi Applications - Closing the Form

Try Two Weeks Free and Get Step-by-Step Training in Taiji, Xingyi and Bagua from Basic to Advanced Skills with No Mystical Mumbo-Jumbo

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