We are in danger of losing real Tai Chi. Whilst many practice for the health benefits, few still teach the martial. Many that do either try to to make it ridiculously ‘magical’ or they apply their other martial skills to applications, but in doing so are losing the unique skills that make it special.
The combination of peng and sung give Tai Chi continuous structural integrity and root. The continuous spiralling and internal system gives the ability to receive an opponent in a combination of the 13 dynamics, disrupting their structural integrity and root, negating their ability to continue attacking without losing that of the practitioner.
The training structure is uniquely layered to build these skills in a way the I’ve not seen in any other art.
The ‘hidden’ aspects therefore are merely subtle use of these skills that are difficult to see if you don’t know what you’re looking for and because they are not ‘obvious’ they’re not youtube friendly.
Because they don’t fit into the social media zeitgeist they are fading away.
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That is true – most believe in Taiji instead of truly understanding its values. Even as a health exercise people are not sure what they actually do with the Xuan Wu Principles – inside movement – which like you say cannot be seen on a video! On my school website, people can find combat applications and deeper explanations about this topic. My Shifu says that the method is the essential part of Taiji, without the right method people may practice 20 years in vain. Getting Taiji off from its esoteric values is something I have been trying to do for years.
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Reblogged this on Wudang Academy and commented:
That is true – most believe in Taiji instead of truly understanding its values. Even as a health exercise people are not sure what they actually do with the Xuan Wu Principles – inside movement – which like you say cannot be seen on a video! On my school website, people can find combat applications and deeper explanations about this topic. My Shifu says that the method is the essential part of Taiji, without the right method people may practice 20 years in vain.
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Apparently high insurance premiums play a role tin the US in causing teachers to decline to assume liability for teaching push hands Tai Chi Ch’uan..
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