What is the difference between Tai Chi and Aikido?

Question

I got a book that talked about both of them. Both can be used as martial arts, but Tai Chi had pictures of mostly girls, and Aikido had pictures of mostly guys. I'm a guy, and I don't know which one to choose.

Answer 1

I don't know very much about Aikido but I can tell you lots about Taijiquan.

The techniques of taijiquan are focused on (more or less) dirty boxing and standing grappling - elbows, knees, punches, palm slaps, and, most of all, nasty throws pulled from shuai jiao. There are very few kicking techniques in the system, most of which are low kicks (knee level and lower) used as entrances to reach the clinch, or as trips when closer. Although kicks are scarce, there are a great number of kick catches in the system, presumably because other systems that involve kicking were common at the time of taiji's development.

The taijiquan fight strategy is to either preemptively close the distance to clinch range with a low-line kick, trip, step (footwork) or grab, or more often, to employ a "counter-punching" approach -- i.e. wait for him to attack, then attack/enter via the opening he leaves. Once in the clinch, strikes, throws are used to pound and sledge the opponent.

When it comes to training you will first perform a lot of slow excersises and learn forms which should aid you in understanding whole body mechanics and a deeper feeling of relaxation.

The Taijiquan arts have a variety of two person drills and exercises designed to cultivate a high degree of sensitivity in the practitioner. Using brute force or opposing anothers power with power directly is strictly discouraged. The goal of two person training is to develop sensitivty to the point that one may avoid the opponent's power and apply one's own whole body power wher the opponent is most vulnerable. One must cultivate the ability to "stick" to the opponent, smothering the others' power and destroying their balance. Finally, the formal combat techniques must be trained until they become a reflexive reaction.

HOWEVER, modified forms of Taijiquan for health have become popular worldwide in recent times because the benefits of training have been found to be very conducive to calming the mind, relaxing the body, relieving stress, and improving one's health in general. So becareful. Ask if they teach proper martial Taijiquan. These encourage competitive pushing hands. Here's an example of a match:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=q__o_5gNX0...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nYm5qpT8aq...

Answer 2

AIKIDO IS A PEACEFUL MARTIAL ART AND IS FAMOS FOR DEFAETING OPPONENTS WITHOUT HURTING THEM. mOST TAI CHI IS NON COMBAT BUT THE COMBAT VERSION IS GREAT. A POWERFUL ART IT IS IT USED THE PRINCIPLE TO FLOW LIKE WATER AND HAS A LOT TO DO WITH DIRECTION.

Answer 3

Choose either one, they're both fantastic systems of study. Tai Chi is not for girls only. This is known as THE most dangerous Martial Art to study, but it takes a very long time to get that good at it. Taiji is a vicious art with subtle movements.

Answer 4

If you choose Tai Chi, make sure you find a place that teaches push hands. You don't really learn the martial applications until you start doing push hands.

As has been said Tai Chi is Chinese Aikido is Japanese.

Answer 5

Depends on what you want out of your experience. If you truly want to learn to defend yourself, get into shape, and learn to be a diciplined, well rounded practitioner, start with jiu jitsu. Most schools that teach BJJ incorporate heavy self-defense and muy tai fighting.

Answer 6

i am amazed at the misinformation some people have.

the obvious difference....tai chi/ taiji is chinese. and aikido is japanese.

tai chi IS INDEED a fighting art..it always has been.

taijiquan (tai chi chuan) is "grand ultimate fist"...it is a chinese taoist martial art that is very very old. it is practiced slowly for specific reasons (try it sometime...it hurts) ...but it is full of combat applications. it is truly a kung fu system. it just happens to be great for health and longeivty too. it is one of 3 main "internall" styles of kung fu..along with bagua (pakua), and hsing i (xing yi).

you practice basics, forms, and applications. breathing exercises etc. ...it is much like any other martial art...but with very flowing movements done slowly (for "chi" reasons). once a form starts....motion never stops until the form is done. it concentrates heavily on whole body movement. all parts move together. everything from toes and ankles...to wrists and fingers.

aikido means "way of harmonizing energy" ai(harmonize) ki (energy) do (way) ...it is completely defensive in nature. mostly containing zero striking techniques (other than being the attacker or "uke") ...it emphasized a very peaceful and non destructive mind set. you do not want to injure anyone...though the potential is there. it concentrates heavily on throwing and joint locking techniques. with no strikes, and no groundfighting, wrestling, clinching. etc.

rather than fight your opponent...you blend (harmonize) with his force (energy or "ki") to bring about his downfall. it is in the same family of arts as aikijujutsu, jujutsu, and judo.

Answer 7

Aikido is a very defensive martial art. It uses circular motions to use the opponents momentum against them. With Tai Chi.... you breath. Go with Aikido.

Answer 8

Tai Chi is older and has been used to hide Fighting movements from the rulers. It's cool how the experts can send people flying 10 feet back with their gracfully strikes! I like to use the wrist strike and I could send someone back about 4-6 feet. It's mostly about using your stance and relaxing. It does get kinda weird with the spiritual stuff. Just ignore it and look at it as a martial art instead of a religion!

Answer 9

Tai chi juan is not really a fighting style. It is more a calesthetic exercise based on kung fu. Old people mostly, wake up early and do tai chi as exercise in china. Slow flowing movements that harness chi. while not a fighting style per se it is related to chinese kung fu.

Aikido is Japanese I think and is more of a hands on contact fighting style. So if you want to actually be fighting then choose Aikido. If you want to harness your chi and do some low impact aerobics then do tai chi.

Kung Fu people will tell you, you can't seriously study kung fu. It's too great a commitment for foriegners they say. Unless you want to live there for 12 years.

Answer 10

Tai Chi teaches movements that may be used in combat, but teaches no actual fighting.  Aikido is a very agressive combat technique for efficiently breaking bones and dislocating joints.

Answer 11

Katana, love your answers lol!!

Answer 12

Tai Chi is Chinese.

Aikido is Japanese.

Answer 13

Tai Chi can definetly be used for self defense. It can be devestating if somebody knows what they are doing. Tai Chi is Chinese.

Akido is actually a Japanese style that is an offshoot of Ju Jitsu. It heavily emphysizes using your opponents momentum against them, although Tai Chi does as well.

Both have fairly bad reputations as far as fighting goes, because many schools do not train the techniques within with progressive resistance or "aliveness".

Agin it comes down to how they are trained though, and trained right, either can work well for self defense.

Jason- Go home because I didn't see anything in the question about BJJ and Muay Thai. Another UFC nutgrabber.