Does Tai Chi actually work? and if so how far can i actually go...?

Question

i've been traveling around the world and learning a lot about martial arts and forms of self defense. whenever i reach a traditional dojo/dojang(for koreans) they tend to speak of some form of energy mainly chi/tai chi and something like inner meditation. i've devoted a lot of time and money into my learning and understanding of martial arts, and in many parts like korea and china and some colonies in japan everyone seemed to have a different spiritual side to it...

Answer 1

First Taijiquan (another way of spelling Tai Chi Chuan) the name has nothing to do with the word chi (also qi).  Qi means life energy and Taijiquan means "grand ultimate fist."  But as far as your question goes, what do you mean by "actually work?"  What is it that you are trying to accomplish with arts like Tai Chi?

If you are interested in the martial efficacy of Taijiquan, then yes it does work.  But you have to find a qualified instructor with a verifiable lineage to show you how it works.  It isn't just a meditation.  It is a genuine art that has been proven on the batlefields of ancient China.  And it still remains relevant today - even though it has been intensely watered down here in the West.

If you are looking into the art as a means of improving your life energy (qi) and overall health and wellbeing, then yes it does work also.  Taijiquan has been considered a form of martial qigong (life energy enhancing exercise).  Some have described it as a veritable fountain of youth (of sorts) that has improved the qualityof life of its practitioners, due to the numerous health benefits associated with it.

However if you think that the practice of Taijiquan will somehow grant you with superhuman abilities, well there is a lot of discussion about that.

What I want to know is, what do you mean by "how far can I actually go?"

Answer 2

Tai Chi, Just like Bagua Zhang and Hsing Yi are very powerful internal arts.

"OOH the spiritual side of "......OH B*LL SH*T

IF you can find a teacher that can show you how to use the total body mass power that can be generated with these arts then all of them work like a charm. Smaller people can defeat much larger opponents with this power.

The footwork is the key. Good footwork = big power.

If you want to learn to use "the force" then you've been watching too much Star Wars.

Good Luck

HA HA HA

Spiritualism Vs. Application

Answer 3

Chinese Martial Arts are divided into internal arts and external arts.  Taijiquan is a very effective internal art, but as pointed out to me, it takes a minimum of 5 years to develop into a good Taijiquan fighter.

A friend and I, both trained in Krav Maga have been taking the Wu form apart, piece by piece and adding ready pieces to our krav maga teacing.  Anyone who says Taijiquan is not a martial art knows very little about Taijiquan.

Some of the principles, in the book "Tai Chi Boxing Chronicles" elucidated the principles common to all fighting systems. Tai Chi Chuan develops both Qi  the concealed strengths of tin jin (listenig strength) nei jin (internal strength) and the explosiveness of fa jin (external strength).

The fact that it can be practiced by people into their old age is a testimony to the fact that this art relies on forces more important than just muscles.  In Taijiquan you can go as far as your instructor (sifu) and your mind will let you, just like in any other art.

Answer 4

Throughout most of the far east, dojos generally

will teach useful tai chi, if you stay awhile.

Especially in the west, many tai chi teachers

may not teach martial applications or stance.

How far you go depends on both the quality

of the teacher, and how much you practice.

In Chinese, 'kungfu' literally means spare time.

The essence of internal martial arts like tai chi resides in the opening stillness, the rooted

'horse stance'.

This meditation alone will enhance your other martial skills and your qi flow. See 'yichuan'.

'Qigong' or standing meditation also gently aligns your body and gradually allows you to root,

center, and totally integrate your muscle movements.

This internal strength moves from your root, through

the 'one point/hara/dantian' (3 fingers below the

bellybutton) out to any point on the body.

When using this internal power, the limbs and even the torso gain a whip-like energy 'reeling silk force'

rather than working as levers.

Along with forms and 2-person work, your serious daily practice may open the gate to your learning whole body motion, the explosive  'coil spring power' of oriental legends...

Answer 5

You must understand Grasshopper,

Most martial arts teach inner control/ the term spirtual could even be used.

Tai Chi, though not actually considered a Martial art, is.

All of those moves are similar to Kung Fu, and Karate

and when pracited enough, can be used to properly defend oneself from an attacker.

The spiritual ideal is inner self control and awareness around you thus, becoming one with nature  

"Master" of self opinions

Answer 6

the spiritual side is the most important side. Any form of Martial Arts is about balance. Not just physical balance of the body, but the mental balance of all things in life both inside you and surrounding you. All great Martial Artists learn to balance themselves through meditation, to allow themselves to put all of the energy and thought into their art, perfecting every step and movement. This is only possible because they have no other thought but the art in their mind because they have found their balance.

Answer 7

Chi is like "life force" in Taoist beliefs. Tai Chi is a graceful meditation of basic movements that are said to balance life force energy and maintain or restore mental, spiritual and physical health. I suppose it "works" if one follows the whole Taoist philosophy. Works more, the more the philosophy is followed and work less, the less it is followed. Can't hurt. Might help. It's another spiritual side of martial arts courtesy of the Chinese.

Answer 8

Scotticus knows 1/4 of 1/2 of what Tai Chi is. If you want to begin to understand what it is you study email me. I will leave my email up for four days. 4...

Anybody that thinks otherwise will not have an enjoyable weekend. Repteat "I want to learn"... It is simple to life while explaining our life to anybody but it is not easy for "anybody" to understand our life.