Need opinion on Tai Chi schoo, and have a few noobie questions.

[Richdog]

Hello folks, i've just started Wing Chun under this school http://www.kamonwingchun.co.uk/index.asp formed by Kevin Chan. But when I went to the lesson there's no real emphasis on conditioning, you do a few stretches and warm-ups then thats it. I can't see any benefits of health out of it, and no increase in stamina over the long run.

To cut a long story short I want to start Chen Tai Chi too, not just for the health but for the Martial aspect, and i'm thinking about doing it as an accompaniment Wing Chun. What I want to know firstly is if anyone can tell me whether this is a good school and style of Tai Chi http://www.taichicentre.com/index.php and also this is a link to the masters http://www.chentaichi.co.uk/Instructor2.htm lastly is the class i'd be doing, in East Grinstead http://www.chentaichi.co.uk/EG%20Classes.htm

Does the school seem like a decent one, and is the martial aspect of it up to scratch?

Also, while I am fully aware that Tai Chi is a long process of understanding, how long would you say it takes before you can use it effectively as self-defence? 5 years?

Cheers for reading, and hopefully replying. :D

[Sandus]

Can't help you with the school part, but as far as using the art effectively, five years is a generous estimate. I'd say if you're really hardcore about it and you practice all the time, seven years is reasonable. I usually tell most people ten, though that may be an exagerration.

[Richdog]

Cheers for the reply bud. So is Chen a good style?

[daftyman]

Yes.
Yang is also good
Wu is also good
Sun is also good
CMC is also good

Better question would be about the teacher of the style.

Go along and see what you think.

Some guys will say its great, some might tell you that others are better. Whatever the case, you are the best person to find out. (Unless someone here already goes there).

[Shadowdh]

To answer all your questions in a word... yep... Chen is a very good style to my mind... although I would certainly recommend the other styles too... I have tried CMC and thought it was good (the first style I tried in fact)...

The instructor you have there is good.. he is a really nice guy who takes the art seriously and also knows the martial applications... I went to a seminar recently with him and also Shifu Liming Yue and they both were very good... I learnt alot just in that one day about the martial applications from them... also when Shifu Liming practices taiji its pretty incredible...

So all in all I would recommend the schools, and Shifus you have listed there... Wish I was closer to EG to go to Dan's classes but it just a whisker too far...

[Mad Yakker]

I have tried CMC and thought it was good (the first style I tried in fact)...


Cmc Tcc is also very good... Becos with the shorter form, it takes a shorter time to accelerate the learning process and here an example;Huang Sheng Shyan's video clip (http://www.taichischoolofgentleexercise.com/)search for the footages...

[Visage]

Chen is a very good style of Tai Chi. I practice Yang, which is also good. It all depends on what you're after.

Btw, are you a kick boxer??

[Richdog]

@ TeJitsuDo I'm basically after a style of Tai Chi which remains true to it's martial origins i.e. no watered-down crap, and from what i've seen of that instructor he's studied it expansively with many Grandmasters in China. Seems good to me, and i'm looking forward to some better mental focus and peace-of-mind too, it would do me a lot of good. Not to mention the ability to shoot bolts of pure Chi from my eyes and fingertips. :D

And no i'm not a kick-boxer, although i'm thinking of ditching the Wing Chun if i don't like it after a month, and starting Muay Thai instead as an accompaniment to the Tai Chi. :)

@ Shadowdh Glad to hear you reccommend the school/teacher, that's a good sign and pretty encouraging. :)