Tai Chi - Yes, it IS a Martial Art

I've run into this attitude on the web (most folks are too polite to say it to your face I'm still waiting for someone to make the comment): Tai Chi? Martial Art? You must be JOKING!

No, I am not.

There are a number of factors, where observing the art might deceive the casual observer, into thinking its anything but a martial art.

To which I reply, Frontis nulla fides: in appearances, put no faith.

The major misconception is simply in the watching of Tai Chi Chuan. The usual responses are fairly pat: A martial art in slow motion? How is that even exercise? Look, I can do that! It's easy!(The last is usually followed by a very, VERY poor imitation of one move, quick dismissal).

Thanks to TV, and movies (The Matrix, Jet Lee, Jackie Chan, etc.) where the hero does all these acrobatic, flashy moves that would result, in real life, in the hero being wheeled out on a gurney (from a fall, an interruption in tempo from a skilled foe, hell, getting booted in mid-flip: I can say honestly that every bozo whos ever tried to kick me in the head landed on his ass).

We also require instant results from a minimum of effort. Thats a large enough subject to be the scope of another article.

And also: faster is most emphatically NOT better. In many things.

Tai Chi Chuan originated in Chenjiagou (Chen village). It was/is a farming village. It was also a strategic military point. Ergo, many armies have trod down its streets. A little known fact is that young Shaolinmonks would be sent there (the Temple and the village are in the same province) to test their martial skills. The origins of TCC are shrouded in mystery, so I defer to the written documentation: Chen Tai Chi was founded by Chen Wangting (see here) in the 1600s. Wangting was a general, well versed in the martial arts, and incorporated many internal principles into his familys fighting methods.

There is an old Chinese adage: Tai Chi, ten years in the studio Hsing-I, one year, kill a man.

Also, in this country, we have such a wide diversity of applications vis-à-vis this wonderful art; its rapidly being watered down. Between the New Age movement, folks completely draining the art of its martial aspects (Tai Chi Chih), people with no formal training whatsoever taking teaching jobs in this art, the lack of standardization (this is everywhere, unfortunately), instructors telling their students theyre doing a WONDERFUL job (hey, any way you do it is perfect! Just keep practicing), well, dilution of this wonderful art is no surprise, sadly.

It can be used as a martial art. It takes time and effort, however. A lot of practice. Like everyday. Its said that ten minutes a day is sufficient for health. Martial arts? Do a long form 6-7 times a day. Enlightenment? At least 10 long forms a day (double the amount if you do a short form).

What most folks don't see, are the push-hands exercises, the Da Liu moving Tui Shou (a moving push hands set), the instruction of self-defense techniques, etc. See if you can find someone doing Chen style: the stances are deeper, more explosive movements (yes, it is indeed influenced by Shaolin, as mentioned before), it teaches a wide variety of techniques, including Chin-na (joint locking), throwing the opponent, and whats known as sealing the breath.

I will leave you with an old saying in Tai Chi: "In practice, you should be like a lady dancing, in combat be like a fierce tiger."