combining the arts

[gr455h0pp3r]

Hi,

Is it possible to mix say wing chun with an internal art like tai chi quan or whatever..... Personally i think the two would mix well , even if i focus mainly on the wing chun , and slowly work on my tai chi seperatly, maybe even after realy getting to know the two i could combine both arts...

Would this work ?
Bad idea? it sounds fun...

[sean_stonehart]

Not a good idea...

Taiji & Wing Chun share ideas & theories, but aren't the same & really aren't even in the same ball park.

Best to pick one & become proficient before trying to branch out & do other things.

IMHO...

[Mandeigh Wells]

I don't really know anything about wing chun, my teacher practised it for a number of years, at the same time as taijiquan, but I think she favoured the taijiquan. principles in taijiquan are that it is a whole body exercise, based on bio-mechanical structure and the ability to keep the body without tension. I supposed something like sticking hands may be a little similar to wing chun on a basic level?

[gr455h0pp3r]

So you do taijiquan as a self defense Mandeigh?
As far as i know tai chi is a energy channel thing. Does it also incorporate strikes and all ?
And what is "Sticking handS"?
Can Wing Chun be practiced in your back yard if say the desired ammount of classes couldn't be offered like warmups, exercises, some type of practice?

[Mandeigh Wells]

I practice taijiquan as martial art.....defence??? well I can punch and slap pretty efficiently, I am not the best blocker in the world...sometimes I find it really hard to yeild.... :up: Taiji is a martial art first and foremost, the training is excellent for balance and body control, to be really efficient you need to be able to work without tension in the muscles, which is why people have decided that taiji is a relaxing exercise :rolleyes: Taijiquan contains moves that can be worked various ways, it is a combination of strikes, blokes, locks and even throws (but I don't do those) there is alot of talk about energy, but even qi itself can be taken in a variety of contexts......if you want energy cultivation qigong is what to practice.

Sticking hands is an exercise which is pretty much as it sounds.....sticking to your partner, there is push hands too, similar, but can be structured or free style....usually ends up looking like a sumo wrestling match... :eek:

click here for link (http://www.nytaichi.com/pushhand1.mpg )

this is a sticking hands clip....it pretty much gives you an idea of one exercise although the guys reactions are a tad over the top... :)

[gr455h0pp3r]

Cool mandeigh that looks a real art the way that guys doing it, is the other guy trying to compete or is he letting himself be manipulated?
Do you have a whole group of people who fight this art together ?
That looks like it would be heaps of fun!

hehe though i do see the exaggerration in the falls ... slightly ;)

[sreisin547]

Sticking hands is an exercise which is pretty much as it sounds.....sticking to your partner, there is push hands too, similar, but can be structured or free style....usually ends up looking like a sumo wrestling match... :eek:

I mean no offense here, so please don't take any...but that was spoken by someone who has never really experienced wing chun, as that is NOT what chi sau should be like.
as for doing both arts, yes. In fact, or sifu encourages us to do taiji as well and I can honestly say it improved my wing chun skills greatly!

Mandeigh, if you have a sifu that actually teaches the combat applications considder yourself VERY lucky, as they are few and far between! Unfortunately most of the people just teach it as a health or relaxation thing and don't have the foggiest idea of it's martial side (which is quite impressive if properly taught!)

[Mandeigh Wells]

Mandeigh, if you have a sifu that actually teaches the combat applications considder yourself VERY lucky, as they are few and far between! Unfortunately most of the people just teach it as a health or relaxation thing and don't have the foggiest idea of it's martial side (which is quite impressive if properly taught!) I am very lucky...I have 2 teachers who are both martial artists one Yang and one Chen....+ are both women, one in her late forties and one early fifties.
. I am actually finding more and more people who do 'real' taijiquan, and its interesting that both of my teachers train regularly in China and both teachers train with the family 'heads' (or as close as possible) and I think thats where the difference is, I have seen a fair amount of 'something that looks a bit like taiji' over here, and it tends to come from the people who haven't seen any good stuff themselves. The problem with some forms of 'combat' taiji is that it is really no more taiji than the airy fairy stuff. like I mentioned the pushing hands wrestling match. there are a number of practitioners in the UK, who profess to be great taiji fighters, but most of them have come from karate backgrounds and think that because they can do an application they are doing taiji....even if they violate every principle.

[sreisin547]

I agree! I started doing Yang short form, right up until I asked the sifu about a combat application of a movement and was answered with "we don't do combat applications here, this is taiji..."
needless to say, I left and didn't return. :mad:

As far as people thinking they can do an art "their way", I know what you mean there as well....I'm also a member of the Bujinkan and am sooooo sick of seeing these tae kwon do guys putting on black gi's and saying they are doing ninjutsu! :mad: