It's the first time that I've seen someone else that I follow reference Chen Zhonghua. His perspective feels so different from others schools that it is nice to finally see a connection between his teaching and that of others.
OUTSTANDING!! I'm stealing that for my class just so you know LOL!! Excellent visual with the balls. I always talk to my students about "hitting the opponent with as much of the gravitational mass of the planet as you can access from the ground path", but the ball visual shows it very clearly. Truly next level teaching Ian. Kudos. Cheers!
Great explanation. Beautifully demonstrated. One cannot impart force without resistance. This is why those who resist end up receiving more force. Focus, not force.
I have done so. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. The only thing it proves is that nothing will silence the doubters. I believe it is important that they should not be silenced.
So when can we expect to see the natural product of doubt? (generally we call that testing) Also just a general question - if you realize you won't be doing any technique in a practical application, why don't you just observe what you actually do, and call that the technique? You could then just train to do that.
I actively resist against Ian. It's not easy to see on the outside but when it's happening to you there is a lot going on. It's really like being a kung fu panda. You get beat up and you're thinking "Awesomeeee!" The whole time.
Excellent video! Not much instructors are this articulate. Thanks to you Ian Sinclair I know more and understand tai chi and Bagua now more than when I was actually in a school. The fundamental principles are what I work with now.
Hi Ian, great lesson. Do you have the video showing Chen Zhonghua performing the shotgun move on you? It'd be really interesting to see the experiment performed on you.
Sam Van Chen Zhonghua has his own RUclips channel called "Practical Methods". He mostly uses it to promote his paid content, but you can still see him in action in some videos.
Sensei Rae, of KJWA - USA, teaching aikido and kyushojitsu, as well as some advanced weapon and survival skills in the midsouth (Memphis area) Some good points are made in this video. I especially like the bit about how "we train techniques but we don't use them" I've been preaching this for years; techniques are just training tools used to communicate principles in a physical way. You shouldn't try to perform techniques in a fight. Rather once you fully integrate the principles into your body, "technique" flows naturally. People don't move the way you want them to in a real fight. You have to adapt dynamically from one instant to the next. Techniques, therefore, will rarely pan out like the do in practice. It's not that martial arts "don't work on the street" it's that people need to stop trying to do "moves" and just become one with the art. Fine work sifu Sinclair!
I liked the riff on "notice", i.e. observe, and leave the sub-conscious to dictate appropriate action, also described as "flow". Two comments from the perspective of Consciousness Studies. An Altered State of Consciousness, with conscious awareness dissociated into Monitoring (ie. observe/notice) rather than Control (choice, action), is recognised as the most effective for high-level high-speed response in sport and music-making. "Listen to the sound of your violin, feel the bow on the string" rather than "Make this sound, move the bow like this". In Feldenkrais Method (which is very hypnotic, even though this is not formally part of the training), a typical instruction in an Awareness through Movement session is "Notice" eg as you lie on your back, "Notice which points along your spine are in contact with the floor. Don't do anything about it, just notice". Of course, the process of observation changes the situation (cf Schrodinger's Cat!), but the instruction "just notice" is intended to maintain Monitoring rather than conscious Control. I think this relates to a few of your discussions on "beyond technique". Keep up the excellent work!
Love your attitude my friend. I also love your animated opening. I've learned a lot watching your videos and if we're ever in the same neighborhood, I'll come train with you. Thanks.
I found it interesting that you note the techniques of a Taiji style/form are not always used, unless there is an opportunity in the moment. In my private study of the Yang style Michuan, I came to the conclusion that the form is an hour long exploration into various was to fajin. This allows for a theory to be applied from the variety of techniques more than static, isolated maneuvers (which can be used, but are not the summation of form and technique). Then again, I've always enjoyed your videos. If I ever make it up to Canada, I hope I can pay your school a visit.
Love this demo Ian - I think there's something to it, however I don't think it's only a question of mass, in this case, but of elasticity - a geometric or exponential function, maybe, in compounding the elasticity of both balls as they impact one another and the ground. Also, not sure what you mean by "centripetal" in this case, or how that applies. Someone who know more physics than me please weigh in.
When considering an elastic collision the modulus and the elastic limit of each object must be taken into account. These are especially important factors when contemplating a demonstration of this kind. The small ball in this case had a very low modulus. This is for everyone’s safety, especially in the stunt at the beginning. Had I used a golf ball, injury and damage to the light fixtures would have been all but guaranteed. Had I used two steel balls, which have a high modulus, death would have been highly likely. As far as I know, I am the only person who uses the term “point of ideal centripetal engagement” with regards to Martial Arts, or anywhere else for that matter. It is a concept unique to my particular teaching method.
With a high modulus of elasticity, the objects colliding are less likely to deform and stretch thus transmitting the force over a shorter time period rather than the time it would take with a low modulus of elasticity. However because the window that the mass would transmit the force is short, the impact and subsequent loss of energy in the collision would be closer to an inelastic collision rather than an elastic collision. I think if you tried the experiment with 2 steel balls, you would find it extremely difficult to create an elastic collision between the steel ball and the ground as well as between the 2 steel balls. That said. Something more forgiving like a golf ball and a bowling ball on the other hand would yeld much more reliable and deadly results. In the end you are demonstrating the reaction force exerted by the earth on the basketball transferring it in an elastic collision to the smaller lighter ball. Since you can't increase the acceleration due to gravity, you have to increase the mass instead for more force. Locking in more mass to increase force also works for striking techniques as well. A push kick is a good example that locks your body weight into your forward step to generate force with unimpressive speed compared to other kicks. In boxing they also lock thier weight in when they throw a hook punch as it brings rotational energy from the hips and waist into thier torso for a KO. I think the real trick is to try to break your opponents connection to the ground via leverage. By gaining an mechanical advantage, you can move mountains.
Indeed. In the steel ball version, I had designed an apparatus with a solid cylinder, a solid ball, a pair of concentric tubes, and a base plate, all made of steel. It was slightly ambitious for a high school project. I expect that the steel balls, having such a high modulus, might have been more of a bomb, with the smaller ball and part of one of the tubes producing shrapnel, the amount of which might depend on the velocity of the collision. The steel might survive a low p collision better than a billiard ball would. But at a higher velocity, people could have died. For the stunt in this video, I specifically chose a hockey ball instead of a golf ball, due to the fact that the modulus of the hockey ball is very low, and its diameter of the ball is considerably larger than my eye socket.
Ian Sinclair Hey Ian, my point was that there may be something incongruous here. Assuming the elastic collision demo to have some bearing on taiji (which I think it might), then when you translate this demo to tuishou or taji combat in general you may be missing a component - it may not only a question of applying a greater mass to a smaller one, but perhaps also of an elastic collision - of somehow releasing stored energy (as your joints compress and expand, and the fascia/tendons load up, etc.). I didn't watch every second of the vid and I only skimmed the replies here, so apologies if I missed something, but that's my opinion. You can drop a tiny ball on a big one and if they are inelastic you will not get the same result. In other words, it is not just a question of masses interacting, and the absolute value of those masses, but of HOW they interact (elastically, plastically, etc.), which may be easier to think of in terms of energy, in some regards.
I am highly, highly disturbed at how much that guy in the shorts looks and dresses like me. Tell him to get some ankle length socks for wearing with shorts tho, cause right now that's embarrassing us. (also, tell him to keep up the good work and keep on training with such an awesome taiji instructor).
Technic is a pedagogic strategy, it's a mean but not the Objective. Masters believe that by repeating certain technics, the disciple will eventually have a declic ... someday ... But 99% of the time there will be no declic.
Hey Ian, Just a detail, in the Ek= (mv^2)/2 it's the product divided by 2 not the mass. You're still correct about it's usage but to be exact in math terms ;)
@@IanSinclairTaiChi The function grows as a second degree in terms of speed and as a first degree in terms of mass, that is a completly correct comparison that is able to illustrate that principle. Anyways I don't mean to take anything away from you. Have a good day :)
I watched this video with apprehension. Fully expecting it to be BS Bullshido, but it strangely appealed to me. The maths analogies relating to momentum, leverage, connection were interesting ideas and demystified some Tai Chi principles. Could you please clarify what you mean by increasing your mass with the Earth's mass via connection/rooting? Mass is a constant at a particular time, so how do you increase your mass? I'm assuming that you mean increasing your momentum from channelling energy from the floor to the hips. Bending the knees to recruit energy from the ground and using Newton's 3rd Law (i.e. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction), by transferring this power to the hips and core i.e. storing potential energy in the muscles. Then exploiting lack of structure in the opponent with this stored energy i.e. leverage to off-balance him. Is this an accurate analysis, or am I missing something, Ian? Thank you.
The short answer is that you are not creating action, so there is no reaction from what you do. You align the partner's force with increasing amounts of mass. It is like being a wall that is pushed on, except that you need to be fluid and adaptive in order to maintain the effect.
Thank you for your reply, Ian. Interesting explanation, but how do you increase your mass, if it is a constant at a specific time? Could you please elaborate on how you increase your mass? It appears to contradict the laws of Physics, but i'm obviously missing something. I gather that you are somehow increasing your mass via being connected to the Earth. Do you mean adding incremental parts of mass from your total mass by leaning forward slightly (i.e. weight distribution more on toes than heels), to equilibrate with the opponent's force, which has to be fluid, in response to the opponent's variable pressure/force? Alternatively, could it be interpreted as changing your structure, which creates a variable centre of mass/centre of gravity position in your body, which you utilise to exploit weak points in an opponents 'structure'? Sorry for the questions, but i'm genuinely interested, in regard to the Bio-mechanics of Tai Chi. As the Tai Chi principles are the salient concern, rather than technique itself, which manifests organically out of those principles. Thank you.
In Tai Chi, a lot of practitioners speak of flow and energy. Directing energy from your opponent into the ground or vice versa. I like to think of it as the opposite of punching. Normally when you punch, you initiate the force from you legs initially exert force from you feet, the motion is then further enhanced by rotation of the hips and subsequent torso and finally arm into a fist. This is called kinetic linking and is the principle of a powerful punch. An extreme example of this would be the fabled 1 inch punch(thats actually 3 inches away...) In Tai Chi, your aim is to take this energy that your opponent is throwing at you and redirect it by borrowing the ground, IE you are acting as a kinetic link and dissipating the energy through the ground by making use of its reactive force. I think by increasing mass, what he means is to make yourself one with the ground (borrowing its mass) as a stable base and only pushing back as hard as you are really hit. Using different parts of your body to push back recruits more mass in motion and therefore momentum. Its like there are many ways to throw a roundhouse kick, if you throw your arm and particularly your head in the direction of the kick, you can increase the force exerted by recruiting the mass of your arm and your head if you can link the movements kinetically. Similarly in Tai Chi, you can block and deflect with only your arms and hand or move and push with your feet, knees, hip, waist and leaning your weight into the attack to generate stupid amounts of force with very little movement. Its like a steel pole balanced on the floor on its end vs a steel pole that is thrust into the floor.
Thank you for taking the time, for such a detailed explanation. It makes perfect sense :-). Dissipating energy into the ground and recruiting kinetic mass from different body parts i.e. hips, waist, arms, etc. to increase momentum. I study MMA, but like the nuance in Tai Chi. If properly understood and applied, I do see the martial applications from the Bio-mechanics of Tai Chi. Regardless of that recent bout between a supposed Tai Chi master and the MMA instructor. You can't judge an entire art based on 1 hyped-up sport fight IMHO.
Ian Sinclair Hi, I believe he has to be contacted by a mail at least a month before the seminars because after there is no place! The list of the seminars is on his web site Patrick Kelly tai ji! Greetings!
Wonderful teaching. By any chance, can you recommend a really good school/ teacher in the LA area? There are so many fakes. So many opportunists. I’d love to know if there’s a clone of you over here. Many thanks.
I suggest hat you try the school directory at taichicentral.com and shop around. Not every teacher is right for every student, and not every student is right for every school.
I also think Practical Method Chen Style Taiji by Chen Zhonghua is quite similar to Ian's style in this video. Master Chen is also very articulate and generous is explaining his Taiji style
Mr. Evan Cutts, Ad someone who started out in Taiji and gave up on it then took a bunch of stand up arts plus Gracie JJ and then back to Taiji and now BJJ. I can tell you this. Using the principles of Taiji definitely works. It is very rare for someone to take me down and have me on my back. And if they were able to do it the first time. So far, no one are able to do it the second time. Not saying I am anything special but in my school. My classmates think of fun ways to take me to the ground. It is fun for me too, using BJJ to test my Taiji Can you use it to fight? The fighting aspect of Taiji is not taught to a lot of people anymore. But you can definitely apply it to an art of your choosing. Respectfully P S. Don't let a few videos of fake Taiji masters losing dissuade you. There are people out there that really can fight using Taiji.
Push hands is a focused training exercise. It applies to any time you make contact with another individual. If your Tai Chi guy actively practices striking/grappling, he will be a dangerous guy. A lot of tai chi people get sucked into the game of push hands because it is very fun and deep, like chess, and neglect the combat application/preparedness required for martial engagement. Funny story, the guy in Searching for Bobby Fisher (Joshua Waitzkin) played chess, practiced competitive tui shou (in china I believe), and is now a BJJ black belt.
It's the first time that I've seen someone else that I follow reference Chen Zhonghua. His perspective feels so different from others schools that it is nice to finally see a connection between his teaching and that of others.
OUTSTANDING!! I'm stealing that for my class just so you know LOL!! Excellent visual with the balls. I always talk to my students about "hitting the opponent with as much of the gravitational mass of the planet as you can access from the ground path", but the ball visual shows it very clearly. Truly next level teaching Ian. Kudos. Cheers!
The simplest explanation of energy (inner chi) transfer with intention applied. Good work! PEACE
Great explanation. Beautifully demonstrated. One cannot impart force without resistance. This is why those who resist end up receiving more force. Focus, not force.
This looks pretty awesome. You should definitely test it out against a trained fighter who is actively resisting to silence all the doubters.
I have done so. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. The only thing it proves is that nothing will silence the doubters. I believe it is important that they should not be silenced.
Silent doubters are indeed hard to come by, or at least hard to sense.
I find that doubt is far less dangerous than absolute certainty. If we fear doubters, then we should not trust our own confidence.
So when can we expect to see the natural product of doubt? (generally we call that testing) Also just a general question - if you realize you won't be doing any technique in a practical application, why don't you just observe what you actually do, and call that the technique? You could then just train to do that.
I actively resist against Ian. It's not easy to see on the outside but when it's happening to you there is a lot going on. It's really like being a kung fu panda. You get beat up and you're thinking "Awesomeeee!" The whole time.
Excellent....Thanks
You are a most excellent teacher indeed !
Excellent video! Not much instructors are this articulate. Thanks to you Ian Sinclair I know more and understand tai chi and Bagua now more than when I was actually in a school. The fundamental principles are what I work with now.
Excellent understanding of using body structure to transfer your mass into the force. Good job. F=MA
From Markham, Ontario.
Hi Ian, great lesson. Do you have the video showing Chen Zhonghua performing the shotgun move on you? It'd be really interesting to see the experiment performed on you.
Sam Van Chen Zhonghua has his own RUclips channel called "Practical Methods". He mostly uses it to promote his paid content, but you can still see him in action in some videos.
Sensei Rae, of KJWA - USA, teaching aikido and kyushojitsu, as well as some advanced weapon and survival skills in the midsouth (Memphis area)
Some good points are made in this video. I especially like the bit about how "we train techniques but we don't use them"
I've been preaching this for years; techniques are just training tools used to communicate principles in a physical way. You shouldn't try to perform techniques in a fight. Rather once you fully integrate the principles into your body, "technique" flows naturally. People don't move the way you want them to in a real fight. You have to adapt dynamically from one instant to the next. Techniques, therefore, will rarely pan out like the do in practice. It's not that martial arts "don't work on the street" it's that people need to stop trying to do "moves" and just become one with the art.
Fine work sifu Sinclair!
I liked the riff on "notice", i.e. observe, and leave the sub-conscious to dictate appropriate action, also described as "flow". Two comments from the perspective of Consciousness Studies.
An Altered State of Consciousness, with conscious awareness dissociated into Monitoring (ie. observe/notice) rather than Control (choice, action), is recognised as the most effective for high-level high-speed response in sport and music-making. "Listen to the sound of your violin, feel the bow on the string" rather than "Make this sound, move the bow like this".
In Feldenkrais Method (which is very hypnotic, even though this is not formally part of the training), a typical instruction in an Awareness through Movement session is "Notice" eg as you lie on your back, "Notice which points along your spine are in contact with the floor. Don't do anything about it, just notice". Of course, the process of observation changes the situation (cf Schrodinger's Cat!), but the instruction "just notice" is intended to maintain Monitoring rather than conscious Control.
I think this relates to a few of your discussions on "beyond technique".
Keep up the excellent work!
Likewise...and thank you for your insight, my friend. That may find its way into my book, if I may quote you.
This post on notice vs control is excellent- I find when I visualize I try to do so very gently and casually and not "push"
Ian Sinclair thanks- you are always looking for the truth and sharing
Love your attitude my friend. I also love your animated opening. I've learned a lot watching your videos and if we're ever in the same neighborhood, I'll come train with you. Thanks.
This is great. I love his way of teaching.
Without a partner, I practice steering the car with the Kwas .
@ 5:26 do you say Chen Xiaowang ?
@Slack I believe he said Chen Zhonghua. He's the founder of Practical Method Chen Style Taiji.
Wonderful analogies, thank You, and Your associates, for sharing perceptions.
I found it interesting that you note the techniques of a Taiji style/form are not always used, unless there is an opportunity in the moment. In my private study of the Yang style Michuan, I came to the conclusion that the form is an hour long exploration into various was to fajin. This allows for a theory to be applied from the variety of techniques more than static, isolated maneuvers (which can be used, but are not the summation of form and technique). Then again, I've always enjoyed your videos. If I ever make it up to Canada, I hope I can pay your school a visit.
Nice... great information...great demonstration...great overstanding...thank you...
Thank you for your constant quality of knowledge. I would love to train with you : )
Love this demo Ian - I think there's something to it, however I don't think it's only a question of mass, in this case, but of elasticity - a geometric or exponential function, maybe, in compounding the elasticity of both balls as they impact one another and the ground. Also, not sure what you mean by "centripetal" in this case, or how that applies. Someone who know more physics than me please weigh in.
When considering an elastic collision the modulus and the elastic limit of each object must be taken into account. These are especially important factors when contemplating a demonstration of this kind. The small ball in this case had a very low modulus. This is for everyone’s safety, especially in the stunt at the beginning. Had I used a golf ball, injury and damage to the light fixtures would have been all but guaranteed. Had I used two steel balls, which have a high modulus, death would have been highly likely.
As far as I know, I am the only person who uses the term “point of ideal centripetal engagement” with regards to Martial Arts, or anywhere else for that matter. It is a concept unique to my particular teaching method.
With a high modulus of elasticity, the objects colliding are less likely to deform and stretch thus transmitting the force over a shorter time period rather than the time it would take with a low modulus of elasticity.
However because the window that the mass would transmit the force is short, the impact and subsequent loss of energy in the collision would be closer to an inelastic collision rather than an elastic collision.
I think if you tried the experiment with 2 steel balls, you would find it extremely difficult to create an elastic collision between the steel ball and the ground as well as between the 2 steel balls.
That said. Something more forgiving like a golf ball and a bowling ball on the other hand would yeld much more reliable and deadly results.
In the end you are demonstrating the reaction force exerted by the earth on the basketball transferring it in an elastic collision to the smaller lighter ball. Since you can't increase the acceleration due to gravity, you have to increase the mass instead for more force.
Locking in more mass to increase force also works for striking techniques as well. A push kick is a good example that locks your body weight into your forward step to generate force with unimpressive speed compared to other kicks.
In boxing they also lock thier weight in when they throw a hook punch as it brings rotational energy from the hips and waist into thier torso for a KO.
I think the real trick is to try to break your opponents connection to the ground via leverage. By gaining an mechanical advantage, you can move mountains.
Indeed. In the steel ball version, I had designed an apparatus with a solid cylinder, a solid ball, a pair of concentric tubes, and a base plate, all made of steel. It was slightly ambitious for a high school project. I expect that the steel balls, having such a high modulus, might have been more of a bomb, with the smaller ball and part of one of the tubes producing shrapnel, the amount of which might depend on the velocity of the collision. The steel might survive a low p collision better than a billiard ball would. But at a higher velocity, people could have died.
For the stunt in this video, I specifically chose a hockey ball instead of a golf ball, due to the fact that the modulus of the hockey ball is very low, and its diameter of the ball is considerably larger than my eye socket.
Ian Sinclair Hey Ian, my point was that there may be something incongruous here. Assuming the elastic collision demo to have some bearing on taiji (which I think it might), then when you translate this demo to tuishou or taji combat in general you may be missing a component - it may not only a question of applying a greater mass to a smaller one, but perhaps also of an elastic collision - of somehow releasing stored energy (as your joints compress and expand, and the fascia/tendons load up, etc.). I didn't watch every second of the vid and I only skimmed the replies here, so apologies if I missed something, but that's my opinion. You can drop a tiny ball on a big one and if they are inelastic you will not get the same result. In other words, it is not just a question of masses interacting, and the absolute value of those masses, but of HOW they interact (elastically, plastically, etc.), which may be easier to think of in terms of energy, in some regards.
Great video + the ball explanation !!!
That was very insightful. I'm trying to start with Taiji/QiGong but have a hard time working around the esoteric components. It's a struggle :/
Nice vid Ian 👍 To the point,with great concise demo to go with it.
I am highly, highly disturbed at how much that guy in the shorts looks and dresses like me. Tell him to get some ankle length socks for wearing with shorts tho, cause right now that's embarrassing us.
(also, tell him to keep up the good work and keep on training with such an awesome taiji instructor).
You mean that's not you?😂
Genius 😃
Ahhh oh brother that was just too funny... :D..love your channel, great lessons
Technic is a pedagogic strategy, it's a mean but not the Objective. Masters believe that by repeating certain technics, the disciple will eventually have a declic ... someday ... But 99% of the time there will be no declic.
Excellent instruction.
Hey Ian,
Just a detail, in the Ek= (mv^2)/2 it's the product divided by 2 not the mass.
You're still correct about it's usage but to be exact in math terms ;)
Thanks. I find that since ½m • v² is equal to (mv²)/2, the former is slightly better able to illustrate the point.
@@IanSinclairTaiChi The function grows as a second degree in terms of speed and as a first degree in terms of mass, that is a completly correct comparison that is able to illustrate that principle. Anyways I don't mean to take anything away from you. Have a good day :)
Excellent video
I watched this video with apprehension. Fully expecting it to be BS Bullshido, but it strangely appealed to me. The maths analogies relating to momentum, leverage, connection were interesting ideas and demystified some Tai Chi principles. Could you please clarify what you mean by increasing your mass with the Earth's mass via connection/rooting? Mass is a constant at a particular time, so how do you increase your mass? I'm assuming that you mean increasing your momentum from channelling energy from the floor to the hips. Bending the knees to recruit energy from the ground and using Newton's 3rd Law (i.e. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction), by transferring this power to the hips and core i.e. storing potential energy in the muscles. Then exploiting lack of structure in the opponent with this stored energy i.e. leverage to off-balance him. Is this an accurate analysis, or am I missing something, Ian? Thank you.
The short answer is that you are not creating action, so there is no reaction from what you do. You align the partner's force with increasing amounts of mass. It is like being a wall that is pushed on, except that you need to be fluid and adaptive in order to maintain the effect.
Thank you for your reply, Ian. Interesting explanation, but how do you increase your mass, if it is a constant at a specific time? Could you please elaborate on how you increase your mass? It appears to contradict the laws of Physics, but i'm obviously missing something. I gather that you are somehow increasing your mass via being connected to the Earth. Do you mean adding incremental parts of mass from your total mass by leaning forward slightly (i.e. weight distribution more on toes than heels), to equilibrate with the opponent's force, which has to be fluid, in response to the opponent's variable pressure/force? Alternatively, could it be interpreted as changing your structure, which creates a variable centre of mass/centre of gravity position in your body, which you utilise to exploit weak points in an opponents 'structure'? Sorry for the questions, but i'm genuinely interested, in regard to the Bio-mechanics of Tai Chi. As the Tai Chi principles are the salient concern, rather than technique itself, which manifests organically out of those principles. Thank you.
In Tai Chi, a lot of practitioners speak of flow and energy. Directing energy from your opponent into the ground or vice versa.
I like to think of it as the opposite of punching. Normally when you punch, you initiate the force from you legs initially exert force from you feet, the motion is then further enhanced by rotation of the hips and subsequent torso and finally arm into a fist.
This is called kinetic linking and is the principle of a powerful punch. An extreme example of this would be the fabled 1 inch punch(thats actually 3 inches away...)
In Tai Chi, your aim is to take this energy that your opponent is throwing at you and redirect it by borrowing the ground, IE you are acting as a kinetic link and dissipating the energy through the ground by making use of its reactive force.
I think by increasing mass, what he means is to make yourself one with the ground (borrowing its mass) as a stable base and only pushing back as hard as you are really hit.
Using different parts of your body to push back recruits more mass in motion and therefore momentum.
Its like there are many ways to throw a roundhouse kick, if you throw your arm and particularly your head in the direction of the kick, you can increase the force exerted by recruiting the mass of your arm and your head if you can link the movements kinetically.
Similarly in Tai Chi, you can block and deflect with only your arms and hand or move and push with your feet, knees, hip, waist and leaning your weight into the attack to generate stupid amounts of force with very little movement.
Its like a steel pole balanced on the floor on its end vs a steel pole that is thrust into the floor.
Actually, maybe steel pole is a bad example. Bamboo pole is better since it flexes
Thank you for taking the time, for such a detailed explanation. It makes perfect sense :-). Dissipating energy into the ground and recruiting kinetic mass from different body parts i.e. hips, waist, arms, etc. to increase momentum. I study MMA, but like the nuance in Tai Chi. If properly understood and applied, I do see the martial applications from the Bio-mechanics of Tai Chi. Regardless of that recent bout between a supposed Tai Chi master and the MMA instructor. You can't judge an entire art based on 1 hyped-up sport fight IMHO.
I'm just here to learn how to defend, brother. Much love. 🖖
Hope to see you in a seminar with Patrick Kelly. Greetings
That would be my privilege. I have never met that Patrick Kelly. I would like to.
Ian Sinclair Hi, I believe he has to be contacted by a mail at least a month before the seminars because after there is no place! The list of the seminars is on his web site Patrick Kelly tai ji! Greetings!
Wonderful teaching. By any chance, can you recommend a really good school/ teacher in the LA area? There are so many fakes. So many opportunists. I’d love to know if there’s a clone of you over here. Many thanks.
I suggest hat you try the school directory at taichicentral.com and shop around. Not every teacher is right for every student, and not every student is right for every school.
You can try searching Practical Method availability in your area. Ian mentioned Chen Zhonghua name in the video, Practical Method Chen Taichi.
I also think Practical Method Chen Style Taiji by Chen Zhonghua is quite similar to Ian's style in this video. Master Chen is also very articulate and generous is explaining his Taiji style
You should try that on Joe Rogan, he loves this stuff.
This video blew my mind
I wish it made sense
Superb!
Excellent
Humbled.
Nice video! No GREAT video!!!
Respect
Its not it. Real internal is without movement
Would you really describe what your doing as a martial art? None of this seems practical or even realistic.
A wheel is not an automobile.
Being rooted to the ground and know how to use leverage intuitive is very practical I think.
Mr. Evan Cutts,
Ad someone who started out in Taiji and gave up on it then took a bunch of stand up arts plus Gracie JJ and then back to Taiji and now BJJ.
I can tell you this. Using the principles of Taiji definitely works. It is very rare for someone to take me down and have me on my back. And if they were able to do it the first time. So far, no one are able to do it the second time. Not saying I am anything special but in my school. My classmates think of fun ways to take me to the ground. It is fun for me too, using BJJ to test my Taiji
Can you use it to fight? The fighting aspect of Taiji is not taught to a lot of people anymore. But you can definitely apply it to an art of your choosing.
Respectfully
P S. Don't let a few videos of fake Taiji masters losing dissuade you. There are people out there that really can fight using Taiji.
Push hands is a focused training exercise. It applies to any time you make contact with another individual. If your Tai Chi guy actively practices striking/grappling, he will be a dangerous guy. A lot of tai chi people get sucked into the game of push hands because it is very fun and deep, like chess, and neglect the combat application/preparedness required for martial engagement.
Funny story, the guy in Searching for Bobby Fisher (Joshua Waitzkin) played chess, practiced competitive tui shou (in china I believe), and is now a BJJ black belt.
@@IanSinclairTaiChi Well said.