Tai Chi in a Serious Fight

OK, not so serious, but this is a lighthearted video from Scott at Weakness With a Twist on the application of the "single whip." The production quality leaves something to be desired, even by my low standards (see the TDA Training Video category for examples), but it illustrates the effectiveness of the seemingly esoteric Tai Chi techniques you've probably seen at the rec center. I like the "play ground" reference, too!

When I was running my own schools, I allowed a Cambodian Tai Chi instructor to use a location during off hours, and learned first-hand about the combat effectiveness of the "internal" martial art (IMA) of Tai Chi. I'd had some very brief exposure to it, but discounted it as theoretical nonsense. A discerning viewer will pick up the practical moves in the video above. If you have a chance, head over to Weakness, Dojo Rat, and Formosa Neijia for more on IMA.

Technorati Tags: Tai Chi

Internal Arm Movement

Formosa Nejia has a very good post attempting to dispel the "The myth of independent arm movement," which is that Chinese Internal Martial Arts (IMA) are superior because of the "rooting" that they emphasize as fundamentals. In other words, they derive force from the base of their stance and using the core and hips to deliver their transfer of power into the target.

The author correctly notes that, "No good boxer, MMA fighter, or karate guy is going to punch with his arm only. It’s just crazy. Where do people get these ideas?"

From what I have seen, bad internal martial artist use more arm strength or disjointed body mechanics, and thus are weak, but good ones use superior mechanics that come from driving up from the ground. This is actually true of ALL martial arts and martial sports (or any sport, for that matter) not using projectile weapons.

Of all techniques I know, only the eye jab doesn't require that coordination and "rooted" delivery to which the IMA stylists are referring. In other words, as my brother used to say (when he was a service writer), "parts is parts!" Fighting is fighting, good technique is good technique!

So there.

Ok, now you IMAs can tear me apart in the comments. :-)

 

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Chin Na Grab Defense

At Dojo Rat. I like the technique, but think there's an unusual amount of attention paid to the keg of beer. Those guys have some unusual, but effective training methods! Click either pic to head over and watch!

Technorati Tags: Chin Na

Formations in Ancient Warfare

Scott at Weakness with a Twist has posted on something in which I have a great deal of interest in his excellent "Rooting, the Spear, and the Phalanx." Actually, several things that he somehow ties into a single post: rooting techniques, the use of the phalanx, cavalry, and ancient Roman battle gear, then ties it to American Football, billiards, and push-hands!

Photo: Warfare in the Ancient Greek World

"American style football and the game of pool are both leftovers from the days of the Phalanx. Few armies have ever been as well organized as Julius Caesar’s were, so the Phalanx continued to have play in the fields of battle until the gun.

Rooting techniques have some application in stand-up styles of wrestling, but their main application is being able to hold a long spear, shoulder to shoulder with other men, while you are facing a solid wall of on coming spears."

Great fun. Read!

Dojo Rat videos up on YouTube

I noticed that Dojo Rat, our favorite internal/external style (both) MA blogger, has also added a video bar on his site (the copycat!), but I wanted to make sure you had quick access to all of them at YouTube. Watch and learn!