Is this what i want?

[Choices]

Hello,

i am fairly new to tai chi, been practicing it now for about 7 to 8 weeks. And so far, i have noticed nothing of the Martial art side of it. There is almost no pushing hands in the trainings.

I am not familiar with how progression is on tai chi, but i would most definately like to get all the lessons i can have from tai chi, which is also the Martial side of it. Do you think that i am in too much in an early stage to be thinking of the martial side of tai chi?

Any thoughts on this? Should i perhaps think of somewhere else to learn tai chi? I hope you guys can give me some thoughts on it :)

[gedhab]

You probably need to learn the basics before moving on to pushing hands. Tajiquan is a MA where you have to invest ALOT of time before the martial side becomes proficient. On the other hand, it may be you school'instructor as some schools do not focus on the martial side at all and just teach relaxation etc.

You should talk to your teacher about how he/she progresses the teaching of students and whether they teach push hands at all. Also, talk to some of the students, senior and junior and see what they think and get an insight into the syllabus taught.

good luck. :)

BTW-where are you at?

[gt3]

Just ask your teacher when he starts teaching pushhands.. Its often not taught till you've learned at least 2/3 of the form. But it depends on your teacher and/or style of taiji. Chen style taiji tends to have you doing more martial things sooner usually.

[Syd]

Hello,

i am fairly new to tai chi, been practicing it now for about 7 to 8 weeks. And so far, i have noticed nothing of the Martial art side of it. There is almost no pushing hands in the trainings.

You say almost? Are you doing push hands or not?

# What style are you learning?
# How long is the form?
# What age groups are the other people in your school?
# How far into the form are you?

I am not familiar with how progression is on tai chi, but i would most definately like to get all the lessons i can have from tai chi, which is also the Martial side of it. Do you think that i am in too much in an early stage to be thinking of the martial side of tai chi?

Your never to early to think of the Martial side, but the doing is a different story. You need to remember that everything you are training in your form work is actually an abstract/subconscious method of learning the proper body mechanics for the specific methods of fighting in Taijiquan. Try and understand that when you think your not training martially you really are as everything you do, every posture has a martial application, you just can't see the forest for tree's right now.

Any thoughts on this? Should i perhaps think of somewhere else to learn tai chi? I hope you guys can give me some thoughts on it :)

I would firstly ask your teacher for a curriculum which shows some kind of positive progression in combat training and also ask them flat out whether they emphasize the combat aspects of Taijiquan. If they don't meet your criterion then find a good Taijiquan school that teaches it as a Martial Art ... the way it should be taught. Where are you based?

Best Syd.

[Choices]

You say almost? Are you doing push hands or not?

# What style are you learning?
# How long is the form?
# What age groups are the other people in your school?
# How far into the form are you?

Well, we once did sticking hands, i dont know if that is the correct term for it. Not really pushing hands, but something similar.

#Yang style
#24
#No age groups, just advanced, and beginners in one group, and they split us up during training.
#well, i don't know the name other then; Monkey-walk? Which where you first start walking backwards.

I would firstly ask your teacher for a curriculum which shows some kind of positive progression in combat training and also ask them flat out whether they emphasize the combat aspects of Taijiquan. If they don't meet your criterion then find a good Taijiquan school that teaches it as a Martial Art ... the way it should be taught. Where are you based?

Best Syd.

In holland, Utrecht.

[Syd]

Well, we once did sticking hands, i dont know if that is the correct term for it. Not really pushing hands, but something similar.

Chi Sau ... there's nothing wrong with that, it's a sensitivity exercise but you'll still have to ask your teacher where all this is leading.

#Yang style
#24
#No age groups, just advanced, and beginners in one group, and they split us up during training.
#well, i don't know the name other then; Monkey-walk? Which where you first start walking backwards.

Ok 24 form, thats usually practiced by schools not necessarily focussed on the Martial aspects, there may be a few exceptions but thats my guess. It generally seems to follow though. Monkey Walk? So your up to Repulse Monkey in the 24 form ... ok.

In holland, Utrecht.

I'd ask your teacher about his curriculum and if it is not combat oriented with the healing and Qigong aspects then look for another school.

[gt3]

"monkey walking" isn't the same as "respulse monkey" its an exercise developed by the creator of the 'alexander technique' that works on correct posture. Look it up its a great technique to learn for anyone.

[nzric]

Yep, talk to the more advanced students about how long it took them, and talk to your teacher. He may even be willing to give you a demo of a couple of forms/applications.

[Syd]

"monkey walking" isn't the same as "respulse monkey" its an exercise developed by the creator of the 'alexander technique' that works on correct posture. Look it up its a great technique to learn for anyone.

I asked him where in the form he was up to ... don't tell me they've started adding Alexander Techniques to the Yang 24 form!

Aaiiiieeeeeyeeeeeeeee!!!! :D

He's actually probably referring to Repulse Monkey.

[gt3]

syd, no seriously the alexander technique is a great compliment to taiji training and i know of taiji instructors who teach its 'monkey' technique. In fact my book 'the tai chi workbook' -crompton, even goes over it.

[Syd]

I'm not knocking the Alexander Technique, I used to sell allot of that stuff years ago when I was in the Metaphysical book trade, just that it's inclusion in the form would be horrendous.

[gt3]

'in the form' yeah hehe. i thought he meant he was just practicing monkey walking separately. I didnt read it right where he said 'walking backward' yeah i guess he probably did mean repulse monkey.. my bad ;)

[Shadowdh]

Another thought is... is the 24 form just a precursor to the longer form... ie does your teacher first teach the 24 form then move onto the longer forms and push hands etc... but as the others have said... talk to your teacher... its better to find out now and go to another class that provides what you are looking for than get disillusioned with this one and give up all together...

[Wu_W3i]

Taiji is a martial art an nothing else, if you cant find a instructor teaching it as a fighting art with both slow form and fajing, explosive fast movments aimed at vunrebule spots on the opponents body then I would recommend you instead try and find someone teaching Bagua(pakua) or Xingyi(Hsing-I). Or even go and practice some boxing/mma/bjj etc as this will make you a better fighter than you ever will be just doing slow form day in and day out.

[Choices]

Well i asked my teacher today, about two things:

Fa-jing, And whether they teach the martial form of tai chi.

Fa-jing was something she'd never heard of, :P. And they do not teach the martial form of tai chi. When i asked her whether it was possible for me to learn it, the martial application of tai chi, she said that it would be possible, but only if i would be very very advanced in ' their' style of tai chi. :S.

Not the answer i was looking for, so i am currently looking for a new School of tai chi, which is teaching the original style of tai chi, with martial application. In holland.
Does anyone know where in holland i could get lessons of the martial side of tai chi (true tai chi that is)? I live near Utrecht, many thanks!

[Syd]

I was under the impression you had been given a contact in Utrecht from my referal? Did you not follow it up?

[Choices]

I was under the impression you had been given a contact in Utrecht from my referal? Did you not follow it up?

Yes, i did. But he said he did not teach tai chi yet. to quote him (though let me translate it in english):
"i don't teach taji yet, due to studies which keep me occupied at the moment'

This is kind of what he said. :).

[Syd]

Oh, what a drag ... sorry to hear that. I was under the impression we had helped you make the right connection. Maybe ask him if he recommend anybody in your area?

[Choices]

Oh, what a drag ... sorry to hear that. I was under the impression we had helped you make the right connection. Maybe ask him if he recommend anybody in your area?

Syd, you did help me. Through your contact i've been able to get some free instruction video's so i get started. In the meantime i will save some money so i will be able to visit your contact every now and then.

so .. yes, thank you. This is about the only solution there is to it, i reckon. And i am well pleased with it.

[Syd]

I'm glad it worked out for you and that I could help in some way, let us know how it's going for you! :)

[Eternity]

Choices, have a look here, you can find a list with teachers here:

www.taijiquan.nl

Maybe it's of some use to you. Good luck! :)