by Steve James on Thu May 18, 2017 7:44 am
I wouldn't say that the tcc training is lacking, because I think many people started taking up tcc with no intention of fighting or competing. However, that meant that people with little or no fighting ability began to teach tcc. But, historically, tcc (and the other arts) had produced great fighters. Every teacher could cite the same theories, point to the great ancient teachers, talk about things that couldn't be used in competition, but then go on to say what tcc was and what it was not.
This happened in the states at the same time as the opening of relations with China and the beginnings of mma. There'd always been high level boxing and wrestling, but they weren't mixed. In order for a tcc practitioner to compete in those arenas, he'll have to become familiar with dealing with specialized grapplers and strikers.
There's one big caveat, though. While all this was happening, there was also an increase in interest in arts such as krav maga, kali, silat, and arts developed primarily for self-defense, and not competition. I think that the tcc practitioner who needs self-defense doesn't necessarily need to "spar" in the conventional sense. He or she should extract what would work for them individually from whatever source. If it can be found in the tcc form or adapted from krav maga or kali, that's all to the good. And, it doesn't change tcc.
"A man is rich when he has time and freewill. How he chooses to invest both will determine the return on his investment."