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TaiChi Mark
TaiChi Mark's picture
Inspiring Tai Chi

Hi  everyone. Am usually a lurker but back spasm sees me off work and in bed so thought would add some posts before the next diazepam kicks in. 

This is a cool / inspiring tai chi video from my elder tai chi brother, Neil Rosiak, he is a very solid tai chi guy (slaughtered me wrestling!) I like to see common threads and connections in all things and will stick a few notes below relating it to a more familiar (karate) approach. I think there are big similarities to the karate promoted by Iain and on the forum - for e.g. See Iains lastest vid posted with 2 throws. Hope it is interesting and inspiring.

-1.20 = tai chi hand form (like kata- contains most of our self defence moves in various sequences, body awareness, mechanics etc)

120-3.15 applications (hand form movements are based on these) Neil is doing these In a free manner from punches / kicks, but trying to be slow and show text book applications, rather than more adapted for a fight type simulation

3.15-3.55 tai chi conditioning - includes repetitive break falling (anaerobic conditioning) restricted punching and punching with light weights (running thunder hand) and handstands. You could describe this as Hojo Undo. 

3.55-4.20 freestyle (fixed) push hands - uncooperative sensitivity drill to stay balanced whilst unbalancing opponent, not resisting force, leading them into unbalance (sensitivity / Kakie)

4.20 tai chi meditation. This is an exercise taken form our internal strength training (whole topic in itself) called "embracing the one". In kyokushinkai hard training was often followed with mokuso.

Thanks. Mark

karate10
karate10's picture

Excellent video Mark......Since I take Kyokushin, my Shihan sometimes after class through rigorous trainning, we would do standing mokuso standing on one leg.....It's a good way to relax and to reflect on what you did in class and whats expected for you to do better in the next class and so on.....Good video sir.....I like it.

Marc
Marc's picture

Inspiring Tai Chi, indeed. Thanks for sharing this.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Good video and there's lots in there that we pragmatic traditionalists will recognise. It brings to mind what Gavin Mulholland once said on this forum, "Our styles are not what we do, but how we train what we do". 

All the best,

Iain

MCM180
MCM180's picture

Thank you, Mark. I'd love to see the applications adapted to a real fight situation. Full speed, etc.

I loved how the tai chi practitioner almost always closed the distance and fought inside the attacker's haymaker distance. I don't think I have the memory to learn the long hand form. But some of the specific applications are very impressive.