Internal martial arts - any recommendations?

[Martial Mark]

Hello fellow MAP'rs.

I have been doing Lau Gar kung fu for a while now and although I dont go to as many classes anymore I still practice everyday, about a month ago I done a 2 hour class and in the second class the teacher taught us some internal martial arts things to practice, breathing and movements with certain forms kind of like tai chi, I really enjoyed this as I have a very open mind when it comes to things like this but the other students just thought it was stupid and didn't want to partake, this has kind of annoyed me mainly because Im a beleiver in tradition and feel that this should be part of MA training as it forms a complete system.

Can anyone advise us on a any martial arts which mainly focus on this kind of training, maybe something that could comliment my Kung Fu training.

Please advise.

[gerard]

Try any of the IMA:

Taiji, Bagua or Hsing-I.

[RobP]

Or Systema.

[Guo_Xing_Yi]

go for xing yi.

You will only find one decent combat orientated tai chi school in the UK, a couple of bagua schools, and a few xing yi schools.

Systema passed its 'cool phase' when combat trousers went out of fashion ;-)

:woo:

[Matt_Bernius]

My suggestion, as terrible as this sounds, is go to all of you're local IMA schools and cross hands with their students and instructors. People from a good program should be able to run you around the room. If they can't keep looking, becuase you don't want to buy what they are selling.

- Matt

[RobP]

"You will only find one decent combat orientated tai chi school in the UK"

Whodat?

If you are in the north and you want hsing i or "comabt" tai chi I can put you in touch with someone.

"Systema passed its 'cool phase' when combat trousers went out of fashion ;-)"

Good - I'd hate to think of it as being "cool" :-)

[Guo_Xing_Yi]

Sifu Raymond Rands' lot down in Bath/Bristol.

[RobP]

Ah. The only one? Jim Uglow, Docherty, Montaigue, Dave Nicholson all spring to mind as practicality orientated tai chi too.

Mind you (Graham?) you did say combat orientated, so I guess that covers knife work, mass attack, sentry neutralisation and defensive driving tai chi ;)

[Guo_Xing_Yi]

Sorry, I aint Graham, he's off on his honeymoon still I guess.

I will say however, that the group is the dogs wotsits and yes they could cover what you've described.

Though sentry neutralisation - isnt that the same thing as 'air strike'? :)