Tai Chi Chuan
I picked up a book today by Wong Kiew Kit entitled The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan, and I'm learning why Tai Chi will never be a combat "sport."
There are no theatrics or machismo in Tai Chi.
Muay Thai, BJJ, Kickboxing, Greco-Roman, etc. all emphasize aggression, taking it to the opponent and taking him out in a variety of ways.
Tai Chi is more about the internal channeling of energy, and considers punching a bag or kicking a pole to be crude and unnecessary outside attempts to gain what can be attained through internal control and meditation.
A Muay Thai punch is a boney hammer, meant to bash through the opponent's body, regardless of cost to the puncher.
A Thai Chi punch is a bridge, allowing energy to flow from the exponent into the opponent, doing more damage while NOT hurting the puncher.
Unfortunately for Thai Chi, too many Americans see it as ONLY a meditation and healing technique, or ONLY a combat form.
The basic principle of Thai Chi is the commonly misinterpreted Yin-Yang, the unity seen by recognizing sets of relative opposites.
In this example, the Yin is the healing and meditation technique, and the Yang is combat.
Using too much of either prevents the user from gaining the full benefits of Thai Chi.
Too many martial artists punish their bodies in an effort to FORCE them to work harder, but not really achieving anything.
No matter how long you run on a treadmill, you will always end up panting if you allow the increase in your need for air to regulate your rate of breathing.
Your heart will also be working harder, your blood rushing unnaturally, which causes more stress and impairs your ability to think clearly, clouding your mind with adrenaline.
Thai Chi rejects this, and focuses on regulating the breathing through a trained MIND, thereby allowing the body greater stamina and keeping the mind open to react spontaneously.
Like I said, no theatrics. No anger. No emotional outburst of punches.
Control; "mind over matter"; literally using the mind to give the body more energy to work with, whether for healing or self-defense.
__________________
Brock Lesnar: 3-1
Lyoto Machida: 13-0
Anderson Silva: 23-4
Georges St. Pierre: 17-2
Tyson Griffin: 12-2
"The idea of Forrest Griffin naked is way too close to bestiality for me."
-my girlfriend
"It's better to know only one submission and a thousand ways to apply it, than a thousand submissions and only one way to apply them."
-Karo Parisyan
My octagon smells of rich mahogany...
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