Comments on: Why Pretty Boys Avoid Taijiquan

By: T Philips

T Philips — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 01:34:02 +0000

Tai Chi defuses situations before they begin. It takes two tense people to fight. If one is relaxed, a fight is less likely to occur. Any thug will be intimidated by a relaxed opponent, who isn’t afraid and looks like he could spring into action. This is the frame of mind and body Tai Chi cultivates. How many times have you looked back at a situation on the street and thought, that was really stupid and could have been avoided?

Tai Chi heals injuries and prevents new ones. This makes a very powerful foundation for harder, external martial arts. It enables one to move faster, with more technique.

In the old days, a Tai Chi fighter would practice all hours of the day for years before using it for actual challenge fights. Its rarely if ever practiced like this in the west, but I’ve said it is the ideal compliment to harder styles.

By: chris

chris — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 07:55:08 +0000

Having met them myself, I would respectfully suggest that you take a second look–with comparison to elite athletes in any other sport–bowling excepted.

By: Pablo

Pablo — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:29:12 +0000

Well, neither Chen Zhenglei nor Chen Bing nor Chen Xiaowang have round bellies… and they are some of the most prominent Taiji masters….

By: Tai Chi Björn

Tai Chi Björn — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:54:06 +0000

Thanks for these warnings … no, seriously, I used to ride my bicycle 7 days a week to keep in shape in addition to training my tai chi. I find it absolutely necessary!

By: Why Do You Practice Martial Arts?

Why Do You Practice Martial Arts? — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 06:04:14 +0000

[...] Submitted by reader alwayslearning_drinkyourcup: Everyone in less than ten words please try to explain why you practice the martial arts. I think I can show how we are all trying to do the same thing our perspectives and personal agendas just make us word it differently. Please just humor me i consider myself a scientist and could use as many perspectives as possible. [...]

By: chris

chris — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 05:43:21 +0000

alwayslearning_drinkyourcup, I've reposted your question to the front page of the website.

By: alwayslearning_drinkyourcup

alwayslearning_drinkyourcup — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:56:07 +0000

Everyone in less than ten words please try to explain why you practice the martial arts. I think I can show how we are all trying to do the same thing our perspectives and personal agendas just make us word it differently. Please just humor me i consider myself a scientist and could use as many perspectives as possible.

By: laughalot

laughalot — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:33:44 +0000

I find it interesting and am in agreement about abdominal breathing building the abdominal muscles. It is also true that we are not looking for the same thing. What I look for is a martial art that has some application in realistic fighting (self-defense) as well as health benefits. But we should realize that health is due to many factor such as age, dna, lifestyle and diet just to name a few. So if we think that a martial art that is for combat (otherwise it wouldn’t be martial) is the only action needed for total health then maybe they should re-examine their motives. Tai chi for health is a worthy reason to take up this art but it might seem that if the martial part of this art is taken away or ignored are we really getting the full benefits (health)? If your “belly” is large from Tai Chi the I think instead of going to your sifu you should perhaps see a doctor for medical advice because ther might be something alse going on the Tai chi or maybe drinking less beer. Have you ever een Brue F. on youtube? He is a big invidual and I don’t think that he has any problem throwing people around so do not be fooled by the a person looks, boxing is another sport have you ever seen the feather weights? They look like little skinny men but could probaly hurt your average big man in the streets. If its about how you look in the beaches then take up weight lifting there is nothing wrong with that but do not judge a martial art because it doesn’t make you beach “worthy”. The fault is not the art but do “martial artist”. There is no rule where you cant do it ups and weight lifting in Tai chi. Even though there are some teachers who say don’t lift weights or do situps. Why not? I haven’t heard a good answer yet.

By: chris

chris — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:19:30 +0000

We are most definitely not all trying to do the same thing.

By: alwayslearning_drinkyourcup

alwayslearning_drinkyourcup — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:50:25 +0000

abdominal breathing itself over the past year and a half has left me with an abdominal section like steel. how can muscles that are constantly being contracted and relaxed turn into a pot belly.

Also, no muscles move on their own, nothing in our bodies happen without the use of our nervous system. any training we undergo is more for the programing of our nervous system to be coordinated seamlessly with our body. we are all trying to do the same thing. instead of arguing and hating each others opinions don’t you think if we could just compile the facts and try to relate to one another maybe we would get somewhere other than all this stagnant arguing. maybe we could all learn from each other and get some real answers. maybe we could help each other improve rather than shun each other for our differences.