Why Yang Tai Chi Is A Deadly Fighting Art

[Steve Rowe]

A kind of part 2 to my Fa Jin blog ...

http://steve-rowe.com/2015/11/21/why-yang-tai-chi-is-a-deadly-fighting-art/

[Greg J]

Great article, Steve! I really appreciate how you break down the mindset that is developed in the yin versus the yang training, as well as the Yang Tai Chi training progression in general.

Best,
Greg

[Steve Rowe]

Thanks. It annoys me when people say that Yang has lost the fighting aspect - it's there if you're taught the right way.

[Bhassler]

I was kind of hoping the article was going to be about how most tie chee teachers would corner you in a room and bore you to death talking about why everything else is wrong, but your article was good, too.

It's funny how the conversation changes when you move in different social circles. Although I don't consider myself a fighter, in recent years I've hung around and mostly trained with folks to whom use of force is or has been a job and/or survival requirement, and none of them wants any part of a taiji guy with even a little fighting experience (not that they can't deal with it, it just sucks to have to).

[GrahamB]

There appears to be a man caught inside your salute to the camera?

[Doc Stier]

Good article, Steve. Thanks for sharing!

[Steve Rowe]

Bhassler -
I was kind of hoping the article was going to be about how most tie chee teachers would corner you in a room and bore you to death talking about why everything else is wrong, but your article was good, too.

It's funny how the conversation changes when you move in different social circles. Although I don't consider myself a fighter, in recent years I've hung around and mostly trained with folks to whom use of force is or has been a job and/or survival requirement, and none of them wants any part of a taiji guy with even a little fighting experience (not that they can't deal with it, it just sucks to have to).

To be honest I don't mix with a lot of other Tai Chi people because we seem to talk in different languages. Working with people that deal with violence for a living for over 40 years I think they just appreciate what works wherever it comes from. They're very quick to pick up on what's useful and what's not and don't suffer fools gladly.That suits me.

[johnwang]

I don't mix with a lot of other Tai Chi people because we seem to talk in different languages.

People who are interested in "health" usually are different from people who are interested in "application". Sometime, chicken and duck just don't talk to each other.

[Steve Rowe]

There appears to be a man caught inside your salute to the camera?

And someone on FB asked me where that move was in the Yang form...

[Bao]

Nice introduction to tai chi as a martial art.

, chicken and duck just don't talk to each other.

Oh yes they can!

[Andy_S]

"The chicken and the duck just don't talk."

Great saying, am adding this to my lexicon as of now.

[taiwandeutscher]

Ji tong ya jiang, they always talk, lol!

[willie]

I was kind of hoping the article was going to be about how most tie chee teachers would corner you in a room and bore you to death talking about why everything else is wrong, but your article was good, too.

It's funny how the conversation changes when you move in different social circles. Although I don't consider myself a fighter, in recent years I've hung around and mostly trained with folks to whom use of force is or has been a job and/or survival requirement, and none of them wants any part of a taiji guy with even a little fighting experience (not that they can't deal with it, it just sucks to have to).

Same thing happened to me. they don't want you around. Bad for business.
I met a few big name guys I went to see, they had very limited martial skills. but a bigger library then me at the time.
I truly wanted to go and learn from them, i don't really care if they could fight, I wanted the material.
I don't have any weapons training.
They turned me away and told me to get my own students...and i mean big name too. joke!