Another Type of Sore Legs

[DukeReg]

First of all, please forgive me my ignorance of tai chi chuan. Much as I would like to learn, I can only go off what I have read on the internet for information, because classes are not available where I live.

One very instructive site by master Sifu Wong Kiew Kit shows applications of some tai chi movements. I was quite impressed.

However a friend of mine who practices hapkido got me thinking. Her idea of a good fight is (when she can't run or talk her way out of the situation of course!) to stomp on feet or kick knees and ankles until something breaks, and then run. On a similar note, many ruthless streetfighters will go for the knees in a fight, even over some minor thing.

I got the impression from websites that one tai chi principle is to move the feet as little as possible to avoid unneccesary expenditure of energy.

How does this work if someone is repeatedly stomping on your feet and knees hard enough to break them? Is the efficiency of a tai chi chuan defender reduced by someone making them move their feet out of the way of crippling blows?

Thank you in advance,
Reg.

[Mandeigh Wells]

what an interesting thought.....get so body conditioned that you can take continual blows...ouch..

In reality....taiji is practised rooted....but with agile footwork...so its not just a case of get into a position and stay there, rather to move but keep a low centre of gravity. In both Yang and Chen there is a lot of stepping in close and under your oponents centre...also the knees/legs are used as weapons.....not just raised but while in a stance too...you can drive your oponent off balance by driving your knee into your oponent.

this link was in another thread.....Chen Taiji (http://www.wushu-olympics.com/base/...iji/chen-256.rm) it does take a while to load, but will give you a good idea of what is happening.