Tai Chi Yielding Energy, Form — Mark Rasmus

[marvin8]

Starting @:15, “The error that tai chi people make is that they move back and away from your training partner. You never want to give a person any space, because, they’re not going to give you that space back. So, you internally yield backwards and you relax into your training partner with the yield. So, I yield into my partner as much as I yield into myself. So, the two directional yield.…”

Published on Jan 28, 2016
Tai Chi Yielding Energy Mark Rasmus 2016:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAA97myEelo

Published on Feb 7, 2016
Lesson 1 Tai Chi Form Mark Rasmus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEs1-b9td34

[lazyboxer]

What if you're only five foot three and up against a human gorilla?

[Michael Babin]

Many times over the decades I have heard big, strong experts say to their smaller/lighter students or partners "size doesn't matter". They are correct in that size doesn't matter as long as you are more skillful and bigger than the bugger you are training with or fighting.

This is not to complain particularly about Mr. Rasmus who I have never met though as I like most of what he says and demonstrates within the training context of what is shown on the clips of his that I have watched. While I don't currently do any version of the original Cheng Man Ching, I have in the past and some of the older Chinese direct students of his passed on deep skills to their own later students.

[wayne hansen]

Would like to see some film of you michael
You talk teachers all the time but shown nothing

[Michael Babin]

I'm allowed to talk, Wayne, it's a discussion board.

I don't post film clips of two-person training. You can see clips and photos of solo training on my website; solo movement will tell you something if you have any relevant skill.

[wayne hansen]

At no time did I say you were not allowed to talk
Thank u for directing me to your solo stuff it explains a lot

[dspyrido]

What if you're only five foot three and up against a human gorilla?

I think in that case the "error that tai chi people make" would be the right mistake to repeat over and over again. Hopefully making the same "error" will bore the gorrilla so much they go off to find easier prey.

[Greg J]

What he said about transforming tension into relaxation resonated with me. However, I think it is important to practice this in an adrenal state, since when you are attacked, or in a fight, you will be in an adrenal state. And as is said in the Dog Brothers, "you will do in an adrenal state what you have trained in an adrenal state."

Also, it is important to note that sometimes giving someone space is useful. It can help orient you to what is happening, and (especially if done in an "attack by drawing" sort of way) set your opponent/ attacker up for a counterattack as they move in.

Thanks for sharing these interesting videos!

Best,
Greg

[C.J.W.]

Many times over the decades I have heard big, strong experts say to their smaller/lighter students or partners "size doesn't matter". They are correct in that size doesn't matter as long as you are more skillful and bigger than the bugger you are training with or fighting.

Agreed.

"Size doesn't matter" may apply when a smaller person is up against a less-skilled opponent; however, when both sides are equally skilled, the bigger and heavier one still has a distinct advantage -- especially in Taiji in which a major part of the body mechanics involves maintaining a stable connection to the ground to neutralize and issue energy.

[lazyboxer]

Many times over the decades I have heard big, strong experts say to their smaller/lighter students or partners "size doesn't matter". They are correct in that size doesn't matter as long as you are more skillful and bigger than the bugger you are training with or fighting.

Agreed.

"Size doesn't matter" may apply when a smaller person is up against a less-skilled opponent; however, when both sides are equally skilled, the bigger and heavier one still has a distinct advantage -- especially in Taiji in which a major part of the body mechanics involves maintaining a stable connection to the ground to neutralize and issue energy.

Or as the old boxing adage goes "A good big 'un will always beat a good little 'un".

One day you may need a dark hand.

[C.J.W.]

On a side note, I've heard from several Asian IMA teachers during private conversations that the main reason they "hold out" when teaching in the West is because they need to maintain the gap in skill level in order to be able to control and dominate their Western students -- who are usually taller and heavier than they are. They also admitted that if they lose the technical edge, it will be very hard to handle students who are physically superior to them during practice.

[RobP2]

On a side note, I've heard from several Asian IMA teachers during private conversations that the main reason they "hold out" when teaching in the West is because they need to maintain the gap in skill level in order to be able to control and dominate their Western students -- who are usually taller and heavier than they are. They also admitted that if they lose the technical edge, it will be very hard to handle students who are physically superior to them during practice.

I was told exactly that some years back by a very prominent teacher from the Mainland. Also , when asked about demonstrating on the big guy in class (about 6' 2") he said "Won't work - too big!" I admired his honesty, he was actually all round one of the better teachers I worked with

[dspyrido]

On a side note, I've heard from several Asian IMA teachers during private conversations that the main reason they "hold out" when teaching in the West is because they need to maintain the gap in skill level in order to be able to control and dominate their Western students -- who are usually taller and heavier than they are. They also admitted that if they lose the technical edge, it will be very hard to handle students who are physically superior to them during practice.

I was told exactly that some years back by a very prominent teacher from the Mainland. Also , when asked about demonstrating on the big guy in class (about 6' 2") he said "Won't work - too big!" I admired his honesty, he was actually all round one of the better teachers I worked with

That may be true for some but it doesn't explain why they also hold out from other asian students (who are smaller) as well.

I think culturally they saw the method as the secret surprise weapon. Without the secret and suprise part it levels the playing field. Pre 1900s martial ability meant life and death so it makes sense to build i withholding information.

As for the west - cma instructors refused to teach unworthy students in general who did not listen, where slow or they just did not like. How would westerners look and sound to them who refused to do basics.

And then theres the whole giving away their cultural gems to westerners who were responsible for for pillaging thier culture for a long time.

I'm sure there's other reasons I probably will never fully get.

[wayne hansen]

You guys must have met some poor quality teachers
All any real teacher wants is someone who he can pass his knowledge onto

[Bao]

You guys must have met some poor quality teachers
All any real teacher wants is someone who he can pass his knowledge onto

Then i guess you must have met only one kind of teacher.

There are plenty of teachers with great skill who just want put on a good show and be admired. Some of those choose indoor students and others seem to want to go down without really teaching anyone.

Tai chi teachers regardless skill are just people, some honest and some dishonest, some generous and some very selfish.