by Steve James on Thu Jan 24, 2019 12:08 pm
You've touched a point that others have already. I.e., don't bother comparing yourself or your art to those of champion professionals in their prime. Chuck Liddell knocked out tf out when he was younger, and got knocked tf out 15 years later. But, Chuck would still probably knock out every tcc, xingyi, or bagua practitioner living today --maybe ever. Even when we talk about the accomplishments of past tcc masters, we're often talking about exceptional professionals. The guys that everyone else admired and/or wanted to emulate.
Anyway, I was going to start a thread "How to fight using tcc" just to hear some ideas. For example, the issue of distance. It's generally agreed that, of the two categories, "long strike" and "short strike," that tcc is short strike. Supposedly, those categories were also related to regions. It was said that the ground in the North was harder, so the martial artists moved around more. Whereas, in the muddy South, techniques such as kicks and jumps were less viable. Just folklore, but it's interesting that both YCF and WCC left Beijing to set up shop in Shanghai at the same time.
Well, my main point is that there are three relevant distances that can actually be reduced to two. Either the opponent is within arm's reach, or he is not. I mean, that's why people distrust the idea of "no touch" martial arts. If the argument is that close means that tcc is a grappling art, fine. But, then everybody asks why we don't see it in the ufc. And, why are there so many obvious strikes and kicks, including back fists, chops, etc., if the art is primarily for grappling? Otoh, what's wrong with close range striking? There are elbows and knees, for ex.
Um, the thing is, there's always the other guy. If he's good, he also has a plan. He's not going to let himself get hit, and he's going to want to hit, grab, or throw you. Unfortunately, most of the tcc people who compete are just low-level. That's why it doesn't look the way tcc should. They don't have role models to show them the way, so they just do the best they can in the circumstances.
"A man is rich when he has time and freewill. How he chooses to invest both will determine the return on his investment."