Scott Meredith Clips

[Bob]

Looks interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttVD-sgPMF0

Published on Oct 16, 2012


Push hands, ZhengManqing-37 style.

Meet-up session I did with a massive pro sumo wrestler, who trained in a Japanese yokozuna stable for years, was a young multiple-times division champ in Japan who was on his way to be his own yokozuna for sure. Now into Mongolian wrestling and other arts. Though it may be hard to tell from the vid, this gentleman is absolutely massive built like a huge boulder without a single weak spot: 6'1", 365 pounds (183 cm, 165 kg). I am 146 lbs (66 kg), 5'11" (180 cm), AFTER a big lunch. His thigh is as big around as my waist, his arm the same as my thigh.

He's got those baggy sweats on here but if you saw him in full sumo gear you'd be scared to be in the same zip code much less try your kuzushi. He's an absolute superb stand up grappler one of the very best martial artists I've ever met or worked with.

This isn't the most elegant display of gently refined Tai Chi push hands purism you'll ever see (hey - it was a hot day), but it has some interesting features. Though I'm adding a bit of extra arm sauce in the NUDGE on some of these pushes, fact is you cannot move a man like this even half a centimeter using raw strength. Totally impossible. These sumo guys can root like Mt. K2 - with ease against any conceivable physical force. It's a totally instinctive thing that's been beat into them from years of hard training and hundreds of real matches in the ring.

Note the vocalizations. He has a great reaction to the YINJECTION pushing (see book JUICE: Radical Taiji Energetics, on amazon.com). Some people like to do push hands just for the yinjection rush alone.

This is all real work, should be obvious. I just clipped it to a few frames because most of it was duller, long stretches of the two of us in silent,almost motionless mental combat mode til a sudden resolution action (I guess in that respect there's some sumo flavor to it).




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRcIC_v2q4Q

Published on Nov 14, 2012


Using boxing equipment to check Tai Chi SUPERFICIAL RELAXATION.

- speedbag
- double end bag
- heavy bag

NOTES in response to viewer queries:

For all demos except the speedbag, I'm wearing 14 oz sparring gloves with 2 oz wraps, so 1 lb of weight per hand.

The DE bag strikes look light but they pack a surprising charge. One of those connects with you in sparring, it's going to snap your head right back.

[everything]

Glad to see him posting clips. Love his blog.

For the sumo clip, I wonder if the sumo guy is "defending", meaning he is just trying to be a partner who roots, but does not push. Looks fun.

[JaMo]

Oh no.... Not Scott (huge ego) Meredith again...

Apparently you guys missed this thread: http://rumsoakedfist.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18138

I don't think he's all that and his book appears to be just another re-hash of the classics. YMMV

[Dmitri]

Takes a small/well-controlled ego to call someone else's huge ego, eh...? Come on man, can we stay off of personal attacks please

[everything]

Don't know him but what Dmitri said. Don't know about ego, but clips are always interesting.

[HaraldH]

Well I bought a Kindle copy and now read it during vacation. I have to say it feels like Scott accidentally juiced up his EGO during energy practice, VERY annoying - that aside it' s still very opinion-ed (structure nazis etc) but full of interesting information which gives me food for thought. His take on Taiji is very 'energy' focused which I think an actually be useful for practice. I also believe he has some skill, not just empty talk - video's don't look super good though.

[liokault]

The DE bag strikes look light but they pack a surprising charge. One of those connects with you in sparring, it's going to snap your head right back.

The striking there is really quite poor in most respects, but he covers that by calling it "rythmic relaxation". Its a crap fest.

Plus the sumo guy is really not trying.

Also, why is Scotts posture so poor?

[JaMo]

Also, why is Scotts posture so poor?

One of the first things I noticed as well.

I mean, with a back like that, he looks more like he should be up in a tower ringing a bell.

(I know, I know.... boo-hisss.... I just couldn't resist)

[Dmitri]

I know, right? Almost as bad as this guy's posture:

[neijia_boxer]

So scott does a punching clip and explicitly states "tai chi is not a striking art" then proceeds to punch speed bags, double ended bag, and heavy bag.

Go figure

[liokault]

So scott does a punching clip and explicitly states "tai chi is not a striking art" then proceeds to punch speed bags, double ended bag, and heavy bag.

Go figure

But the crapness of his striking proves that tcc is not a striking art!

[neijia_boxer]

interestingly I went to check out Gold's gym by my new house and they have a boxing room with a speed bag, double ended bag, and a heavy bag. I tried some of those things- continual rhythmic punching.

speed bag- single rebound with rt. hand, left hand and then both. rhythmic punching.
double ended bag- continual rhythmic short punches and long punches. hitting everytime.
Heavy bag- continual long and short punches.

Scott distinguishes that boxing- is 1. defense, footwork, and broken rhythm. the Tai chi striking drill is different cause it is continuous rhythm.

One thing I was taught was not to use those short type of punches as they make your arm have an opening for a perfect hook to your chin.

i might try to get a vid of me hitting the bags at Golds and show better posture and punching.

[liokault]

One thing I was taught was not to use those short type of punches as they make your arm have an opening for a perfect hook to your chin.

But we are not interested in standing at punching range and trading blows, we are interested in entering then doing IMA at them.

Punching comparison/criticism from/with boxers has to be taken in context.

Don't take this as a defence of anything Scott is doing, I have looked at quite a few of his youtube clips now and I can't find much of martial value in there at all. His striking is as laughable as his pushing hands.

[neijia_boxer]

Testing his "continuous rhythm" punching drill:

double end bag:
http://youtu.be/7hhjO3y0mEg

heavy bag:
http://youtu.be/eAR48sr8-UQ

[liokault]

Testing his "continuous rhythm" punching drill:

double end bag:
http://youtu.be/7hhjO3y0mEg

heavy bag:
http://youtu.be/eAR48sr8-UQ

I really dont like it.