Ken Gullette's Internal Fighting Arts Blog

Martial Artists - Are You Making This Mistake with Your Body Mechanics?

chin-na joint locks tai chi self-defense tai chi training taiji self-defense taiji training May 27, 2009

Martial artists with any experience at all believe they're generating a lot of power with their movements. In my first kung-fu class as a student--way back in September, 1973--we stood and punched, snapping our hips with the punch to add power to the technique.

As I've studied and taught the internal arts, I had to learn body mechanics that are very different from the other kung-fu, taekwondo, and boxing instruction I had received in the past.

A little over a week ago, I held a workshop for all martial artists on the fighting applications of the Chen Tai Chi 38 form. Attendees included students and teachers from a wide variety of arts, from Shaolin and taekwondo to a Yang style teacher. There were white belt students and very high-ranking black belts.

And almost every one of them made one mistake. I knew they would, because everywhere I go--every martial artist I meet--makes this mistake.

Their movements are not connected from the ground through the body.

Here are some photos ...

Ken Gullette's Internal Fighting Arts

Martial Artists - Are You Making This Mistake with Your Body Mechanics?

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