h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi, I wanted to ask you about the post on tai chi you made to the PR thread on 'the ultimate martial art'. Are you saying there's a whole side to tai chi other than the slow motion, always balanced etc etc form? Just curious - I do it because I like it, not as a beginning to martial arts.

The slow motion bit that has been popularized is derived from the Yang family's style taught as a theraputic exercise. It is not in itself a very 'martial' art.

However, certain aspects of it yet remain true to martial concepts and principles: balance, leverage, circularity, etc.

The original form of T'ai chi actually had two 'solo exercises', similar to the Kata of the Japanese combat arts. One of these involved very low postures, the other had more upright ones. Both varied the speed and rhythym.

You can experience some of the combat aspects of the style if you are fortunate enough to find a teacher or advanced student who can show you the full repetoire of 'pushing hands' or 'sticky hands' two person practise.

This is rather difficult to describe, but I'll try:

Two persons face one another, usually in the 'bow and arrow' stance, which is one foot forward, and the other back, something like what you do in the solo form which is called 'ward off - roll back - press - push' These movements are complementary, in that a 'push' is countered by 'ward off, 'roll back' by 'press' etc.

Once the basics are mastered, the two 'opponents' may abandon the 'fixed' or 'static' standing, and begin moving - initially back and forth, eventually in a very tight, dynamic circular manner.

It really has to be experienced to be understood. It is actually a great deal of fun, and is also a very good workout. You begin slowly, and very gently, and eventually you are moving so fast your hands and arms are blurs - and you are literally running, trying to catch your partner off balance, while maintaining your own.

A further, more formal practise is a standardized collection of advanced techniques, derived from the pushing hands practise, consisting of approximately 88 complementary movements. Some of these you would recognize from the solo routine, and would realize how deadly these movements are, potentially.

Advanced students also study weapons, including the staff, the curved sword, the double-edged straight sword, the spear, and the whip.

So to answer your question: yes, there is a whole other side to T'ai chi chuan

Thanks for explaining. It does ring a bell now that our teacher did mention 'solo', but the rest is all new to me. From what you say this non solo tai chi could only be practised by someone reasonably practised in the solo form. Given the general level reached in adult education classes here that's not going to happen. And as for weapons....