the rum soaked fist: internal martial arts forum

Yeah, but if one wear an Yin/Yang Taiji-suit it’s on an deeper level..............But seriously, it’s used on a deeper level......Sink the Qi

Trick wrote:Yeah, but if one wear an Yin/Yang Taiji-suit it’s on an deeper level..............But seriously, it’s used on a deeper level......Sink the Qi

When we speak about yi, qi, jin or even just “breath” in Tai Chi, we must understand what they mean in the Tai Chi specific context, how the terms are understood, used and practiced in Tai Chi specifically. Speaking about that other arts has this or that is pointless.

Agree, in Taijiquan(IMA’s) the practice is on another level. Now there might be teachings at an advanced level of let’s say Karate that have the depth of let’s say Xingyiquan, I’m not sure there is, but I keep my eyes open just because it’s interesting to do so.

Sorry OP for derailing in to the Internal vs External.......Just read the review, I had no idea who Ken Gullette was, never heard of him before. But from your review he seem as an knowledgeable Taijiquan teacher, and his book a good one to recommend for beginners and perhaps intermediate students..

Bhassler wrote:. . . Sparring video posted a year ago. Nothing in it is obviously "internal" or not "internal".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN0ip2xqOG4.

I agree.

When it comes to Ken's sparring/fighting video, there is no obvious difference in body mechanics or effects on an opponent between Ken and any other good external fighter.

Correction: A good external fighter tends to sit down on his punches (load the rear hip then shift the weight to the front hip punching into the opponent) to generate power using ground force and kua. Ken seems to be straightening his knees with foot raised off the ground while he's punching, using less kua (or dantian) and ground force.