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What form are you studying? I started with Yang, which is the most common one you find in the US, but also usually taught in a way that is very soft and the be

What form are you studying? I started with Yang, which is the most common one you find in the US, but also usually taught in a way that is very soft and the benefits are mild. I travelled to china and started with a Chen New style instructor, and it blew me away. Dripping sweat, exhausted, sparring regularly. Lots more stretching and Qigong. Pretty much standard martial arts training. But way more effective than Yang at building skills and mindfulness.

hinkley 4y ago
Chen if you can find it for sure. The body mechanics of Chen is more obsessed with avoiding locked joints, and when I see videos of people who make me want to complain, it’s either Yang or someone who has split off from Chen more recently. The legend of Yang Style is that it was started by one of the first outsiders ever allowed to study at Chen village. As with most things Eastern, the early expats we’nt always representative of the way things were done back in China. You’re right about the sweat. It’s as hard a workout as you make it. My sifu joked once, “this is difficult at the beginning but don’t worry, as you progress it will get harder.” The interesting thing is laugh response. When you don’t know how on earth you’re going to hold this pose, people end up laughing nervously. Pro tips for anyone thinking of dropping into a class: I highly, highly recommend starting the next morning with as vigorous a walk as you can manage. Even a brief power walk will blow a lot of the lactic acid out of muscles you aren’t used to using. And you are going to fart. Everyone goes through it at first. You are going to engage your core in ways you never have before, and some of that pressure is going to escape. Maybe avoid spicy foods the day before though.
tootie 4y ago
Yeah all Tai Chi is a combat art. Practicing the forms slowly is just a technique to emphasize the fine details of the movement. It's also typically a very feet-on-the-ground approach without a lot of kicks or acrobatics. I practiced a Southern style a while ago and we did the slow, meditative forms but also sparring so we knew how the moves were applicable. It's popular with old folks because you the movements are low impact.

hinkley 4y ago

Chen if you can find it for sure. The body mechanics of Chen is more obsessed with avoiding locked joints, and when I see videos of people who make me want to complain, it’s either Yang or someone who has split off from Chen more recently. The legend of Yang Style is that it was started by one of the first outsiders ever allowed to study at Chen village. As with most things Eastern, the early expats we’nt always representative of the way things were done back in China. You’re right about the sweat. It’s as hard a workout as you make it. My sifu joked once, “this is difficult at the beginning but don’t worry, as you progress it will get harder.” The interesting thing is laugh response. When you don’t know how on earth you’re going to hold this pose, people end up laughing nervously. Pro tips for anyone thinking of dropping into a class: I highly, highly recommend starting the next morning with as vigorous a walk as you can manage. Even a brief power walk will blow a lot of the lactic acid out of muscles you aren’t used to using. And you are going to fart. Everyone goes through it at first. You are going to engage your core in ways you never have before, and some of that pressure is going to escape. Maybe avoid spicy foods the day before though.

tootie 4y ago

Yeah all Tai Chi is a combat art. Practicing the forms slowly is just a technique to emphasize the fine details of the movement. It's also typically a very feet-on-the-ground approach without a lot of kicks or acrobatics. I practiced a Southern style a while ago and we did the slow, meditative forms but also sparring so we knew how the moves were applicable. It's popular with old folks because you the movements are low impact.