Yesterday we were looking at the practicality of self defence in Yang style Tai Chi. So many people seem to think it’s only for health or that it takes many years of training to make it work and that the moves have to be heavily adapted.

Not true.

The great thing about Yang Family Tai Chi is that it’s an art of self defence. The side benefits are good health and emotional intelligence as these are required as a base to protect yourself. It’s been passed down through the family uncorrupted and contains many of the deadliest techniques of kung fu that have been lost elsewhere having been sacrificed for sport or theatre.

Every technique works exactly as performed in the form and has many different uses and can be used in every gate of the opponent’s body.

It’s a stand up grappling art using all 4 limbs in most techniques. Unbalancing, striking, locking, throwing, tripping, sweeping, gouging, strangling, choking, shortening tendons, disrupting blood, neurological, air and lymphatic flow all whilst in continuous flow.

It uses the traditional kung fu weapons of double edge sword, broadsword, spear and pole.

It’s an enjoyable art living up to its names of ‘soft cotton’ and ‘deceptive’ boxing. Merging with the opponent, breaking his balance before negating his aggression.