Can you win a fight using Tai Chi?
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- Опубликовано: 16 май 2024
- Q&A with my viewers: how effective is taijiquan in the hands of a master?
Shanghai based MMA Coach and Kunlun Fight Combat League ringside commentator Ramsey Dewey answers questions from the viewers.
Thanks to the channel sponsor, No-Gi BJJ Gear. Use my code RAMSEY10 for a 10% discount on everything at www.nogibjjgear.com/?ref=AyJ_...
This channel features original music by Ramsey Dewey
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Short answer:
Spar.
Long answer:
Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar
Bruce Lee had a huge amount of respect for "Western" martial arts like boxing and fencing, I think because those are so heavy on actual sparring.
And that's the answer. My sifu used to say there are no better styles but better fighters.
@@Mcgiver699 true.......
@m ・ ́ω・ there are no videos of bruce lee sparring on youtube.. none whatsoever. if you think you have found one.. by all means, share it.
@@Mcgiver699 there are absolutely better styles. for example... wing chun sucks... absolutely sucks, as does tai chi... muay thai.. does not suck.
It's kind of natural though that some arts evolved into a health gymnastic in an age where health issues have more chance to kill you than an actual fight.
I hope Ramsay sees this.
Xu Xiaodong, a retired kickboxing MMA practitioner from China has stated that combative forms of Tai Chi is real and but almost no one actually teaches it since no one actually knows it.
Tai chi forms do serve as an underrated mediation tho.
health issues have always been the reason for the vast vast majority of death. in fact, in the past.. health issues were far more likely to kill you than today... because modern medicine.
@@daoyang223 So it's dead
@@thesecretlibrary890 it's dead essentially. The way xu made it sound. I think there are scriptures teaching combative tai chi but an actual Master teaching it is probably a far stretch tbh.
But I believe some Combative forms of tai chi has made its way into Shaolin. Probably still being taught to Shaolin monks right now since Shaolin arts is a mixture of all martial arts combative and expressive (east and west as well).
'Is that a Hadouken fireball? Absolutely not.'
Thanks, RIP my dreams.
Don't worry, it's a tiger shot.
@@TheAce736 HADOUKEN!
Your dreams suck
Hadouken or Kamahama what ever you want to call it. It was a bit of a dream killer huh? 🤣👍🏽
Ramsey telling a joke:
"So you might be asking that eternal...elusive....enigmatic...age old question. Why did the chicken in fact...cross the, ah...the road as it were. Some might call it the lane....or the street,...or the avenue, or as the Chinese say....the Lù. Right. And as you should know, Scottish engineer, John Loudon McAdam designed the first modern roads. He developed an inexpensive paving material of soil and stone aggregate (known as macadam). But very few people understand China had a road system that paralleled the Persian Royal Road and the Roman road network in time and purpose. Its major development began under Emperor Shihuangdi about 220 BC. Many of the roads were wide, surfaced with stone, and lined with trees; steep mountains were traversed by stone-paved stairways with broad treads and low steps. By AD 700 the network had grown to some 25,000 miles (about 40,000 kilometres). Traces of a key route near Xi’an are still visible. And no one knows these things about roads....because it's no longer taught. And here's another important question. Ok........Are roads just for traveling from point A to point B? No, absolutely not. This knowledge has sadly been lost over time. Roads serve many other purposes. This a concept we will explore later. But let's get back to our chicken that we found standing on one particular road at one particular time. Now some of you may be asking, where is this road? Why is this chicken on this road? What type chicken is this chicken? Are you being pragmatic? Do these questions help solve this conundrum? Absolutely not. These thinks are unimportant. These things are merely a distraction to our main goal. Sadly this ins't being taught anymore. Our question is, as it should be, regardless of how you feel about chickens or who builds better roads, or even who makes the very best chicken sandwich....why did this particular chicken cross this particular road? Now the answer may surprise you. The answer may be.....elusive. The answer may not make perfect logical sense. But it actually does....when you think about it. It's a simple answer. It is in fact the only answer.
The chicken....and let's be very clear here, it is the feathered bird. Fowl. Not a coward, or a yellow belly, or a fraidy-cat. I'm talking about an actual chicken my friends. The chicken crossed the road.....to get to the....and before we reveal this timelss punchline there are actually several very good videos you should check out on roads and on chickens, just go to..............
Mwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!
@@RamseyDewey Lol. No offense intended. I love your videos
xD Nice one! But it works. I already watched a lot of videos of roads and chicken..
That was pretty funny
LOLLL
This guy needs a pod cast or radio show.
Geddy bookings here it is
Well... Have I got news for you!
Agreed
Yeah... or a RUclips channel!
Yay
I haven't ever been in water but I can swim because I do all the forms.
You'd still be better off than the man who never swam, NOR ever practiced the forms.
In the cold North Sea of my country it dos not make any difference. It only take 2 seconds longer to drawn.
Interesting side point is life guarding is kinda martial art. One must learn to fight off the drowning person to avoid also being drown.
@@jpsholland and another 2 seconds to be quartered?
Great analogy
I am so grateful I met a legit Tai Chi master who took a liking to me and taught me some very, very good stuff. He wanted to show me that all martial arts do work and indeed he did. He also taught me a beautiful saying: "A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are for". And I believe it goes very well to what Ramsey is saying about the practical use of traditional martial arts is getting lost.
The practical use is mislead is because of some Tai Chi MA`s have been modernized for health purposes, but there`re fight styles of Tai Chi ( Chen Family, Sun, Fu family Styles) that will dust you off like a cloth rag.
stephen hamilton it's a really good meditation tho to be honest. I think it's something everybody should along with regular meditation and yoga.
You can find a lot of legit tai chi masters in Chen Jiagou, Hunan.
Whats your teachers` name?
You learned it in China?
This principle saved my life as a tai chi practitioner, literally from being ambushed
I really appreciate this because as a mixed martial artist, I took some tai chi on the side to try and see if there was anything worth applying. I thought I might learn some open palm strike or something but then I realized my grappling got better! Only two years later did I make the connection that the constant emphasis on fluidity and being aware of my body's weight distribution was making me better at my bjj. I highly recommend tai chi for more than just relaxation but also attuning yourself with how your body moves and applies weight and pressure.
Yeah, there's a relatively recent sports discovery about slow movements working muscles that don't normally get stressed. Also, training the muscles to move in a tight circular motion instead of just a gross straight-line movement; Mas Oyama used to have his students train their Kata slowly and in a circular way. My legs got stronger going upstairs slowly because they were lifting my body weight through a part of the motion that normally didn't have my full body weight because of momentum. Also, it worked the balancing muscles as well.
@@varanid9 This is so true especially when we consider how calisthenics show how slow push-ups or negative push-ups are most effective!
@@varanid9 moving slowly to improve strength has been something done for decades in calisthenics.
@@hoop6988 true, but I'm referring to the actual movements used for specific combat techniques (or whatever one is training for). For example, say, a ballerina does slow pirouettes rather than just squats alone.
Sure, or you could do gymnastics or dancing for the same effect or better.
It's like listening to Morpheus from The Matrix - "You think that's air you're breathing?" :D
singleta biggest miscast ever, should have been Ramsey
Your right! He is Morpheus!
Thats his fart.
Metric man
He speaks more like agent smith, Mr. Anderson.
The first actual fist fight I got in was with a Marine. I was shocked by how this guy was taking me apart. I thought that at least I could hold my own. I couldn’t. The only actual fighting form I had trained in at all was Greco-Roman wrestling in school, so I knew that my only chance was to get my opponent on the ground. Luckily, he had never trained in wrestling, so I managed to walk away with my dignity somewhat intact.
I learned a valuable lesson that day. Don’t go walking into a situation fooling yourself into thinking you can do what you cannot do. Self-deception is one of our greatest enemies.
whether he was or was not a marine has absolutely nothing to do with whether he could fight or not... marines do very little hand to hand combat training... as in hours, unless they chose to do it on their own.
@@Daniel-yo5es Your point? Because it appears that you have missed mine.
@@Saanichian my point is.... whether he was or was not a marine has absolutely nothing to do with whether he could fight or not... marines do very little hand to hand combat training... as in hours, unless they chose to do it on their own.
@@Daniel-yo5es My point is not contingent on the fact that he was a Marine or that he was an experienced fighter who loved to fight.
My point is that I found myself in over my head and I'm lucky that I was able to walk away having learned a lesson.
I don't know what you are trying to accomplish here, but I recommend that you spend your time and energy somewhere else.
@@Saanichian well.... I think that probably several people other than me thought that you were equating fighting prowess with being a marine... or why else would you even mention it? you wouldn't say I had a fight with a baker.... would you. I was merely pointing out that marines are no more expert in hand to hand fighting than anyone else.
Holy Shit! I've never looked at Kata that way. The "oral history" of martial arts techniques. That is an insanely interesting perspective.
In kung fu the main reason for forms apart from containing a lot of techincs is simply cardio. That was cardio training the old fashioned way
He left out the silent fact that the vassals and kings outlawed full-contact practice and had "gun control" (swords, Spears, etc.) in many cases in fear of rebellion so sparring became kata or forms and spears became staffs and many farming tools became weapons. You could be killed for full contact practice outside of the local lord's blessing.
@@KCJAM1 yeah that's true hence ai many weird kung fu forms using rakes or even benches. You are totally right
The purpose of kata/forms is to create a repository or moving book of striking and employment of leverage technique. The instructor is supposed to teach the meaning of the movements and each has more than 1 application.
Mcgiver699 oh and it helps me a lot for cardio. I’m huffing and puffing after popping out some forms. And the balance and flexibility conditioning too.
Also, they’re fun.
A wise friend of mine once said, "train your muscles the way you want to use them"
That is why I sit around alot...
@@pharmagator Small world. I train my muscles for beating off.
And that's why my right arm is fucking ripped
That's the excuse I told my parents when I told them I wanted to be a porn star.
This is probably your BEST video. I LOVE that you don't simply dismiss Tai Chi or any form as "useless" like so many keyboard (youtube) warriors. Even young instructors at my gym make fun of the traditional Chinese martial arts until they see what the movements are actually USED for in real combat. Why a 6'4 28 year old powerhouse can be taken down by a 40 year year old learning Tai Chi concepts about leverage and motion. In my experience training in Kung fu and Tai Chi is best done AFTER you learn your basic combat punches, kicks and grapples. That way you can interpret the "syllabus" to useful fighting moves. Without that experience, it looks like colorful dancing. When you understand the meaning behind the movement its like seeing colors for the first time.
Tai Chi is damn hard to learn, its one of the hardest styles.
+PadMAD3k
Ramsey explained why that difficulty exists. Kickboxing, boxing, wrestling, etc. would be similarly difficult to learn if the training happened primarily in one's imagination. A resisting opponent teaches timing, energy and movement in a more effective manner.
There are Taijiquan schools that have Sanda-style sparring as part of their curriculum. Or, take
bkLEGION3000's advice and do some (kick)boxing plus grappling first.
Thats true, when I started with Modern Wushu I already did Wing Chun for 4 years, and MMA for 2 years. The Wushu school really didn't teach applications of the flashy forms but I did understand the forms because I could see the applications in them while other students couldn't.
Sparring is damn important because only then you'll experience other factors like getting tired, being put under pressure, fear etc. Especially strength and stamina is so important, I had a few periods when I had no time to train and when I went to train again during sparring I noticed I sucked. It was much harder for me to keep on even with a couple beginners. Once you get tired you start making all kind of mistakes, that was the point when I realized how important sparring actually is.
True, learn the applications and fight in the basic fighting schools and then continue with some Tai Chi or Pau Kua and its a humble and relaxed powerful place to further grow in the martial arts for the rest of your life.
My dad is black belt in several martial arts and he agrees tai chi is best learned last because it doesn’t put stress on the body and it will improve your balance breathing and coordination in other disciplines.
Finally, an honest assessment. You Sir, are truly a Gentleman and a Scholar.
I love the ending "if we are honest about how to win a fight, we find what ACTUALLY works"
Beautiful 🙂
This guys voice alone could kick someone's ass! Great info!
"Because it's an armbar" Exactly...finally! Much respect to you my brother.
Absolutely right. The key is how you train the techniques, wether they're aikido, kung fu, boxing or whatever it might be and realistic sparring is key.
I've question and hypothesis why aikido isn't good in present days. I don't know history so I might be wrong. I think aikido was for samurai who fought with swords. And I think some techniques works with swords but doesn't work in hand to hand combat. Since we now don't fight with swords these techniques becomes obsolete.
I'm just interested in professional martial artists opinion. And what Ramsay thinks about that?
Part of it is because the samurai used to wear armour, which made them slower and more suceptible to wristlocks. However if you've got an "opposite" throw/joint manipulation planned, where the opponent's immediate resistance can be turned against him. Then it can work. Or if the person is drunk, I interviewed a pro MMA fighter who'd done it working as a boxer, he also talks about the samurai and how they used aikido, watch this part of the interview where he touches on it. Also many other interesting parts in the interview. ruclips.net/video/iVa-Qv7v2Ck/видео.html
Lol ohhh shit I'm also subbed to your channel Zen dragon
Zen-Dragon thnx for info. So basically aikido isn't bad. Just times changes and fighting stiles needs to change too.
That's good to hear :) I enjoy hearing Ramsey share his experience and perspective. Will continue making the best possible content I can on a consistent basis :)
That is the problem with some ways traditional MA is taught, so much context is lost by relying on forms only and tradition w/o explanation. It is a shame and a loss for all MA in general.
The MA`s were for hurting, maiming, or in extreme cases to kill your opponent. But in modern times a lot of MA`s have watered down the Primary Functionality of the MA for business, sport, etc.
@@WuChuan036 True. That's because the firearm had changed the nature of warfare. We should actually be thankful that people found alternate uses for martial arts or they wouldn't exist at all.
@@varanid9 I agree if for some reason firearms are taken MA`s have an advantage over the neophyte. It happened before history repeats itself.
@@WuChuan036 Research now shows that old Okinawan Karateka used it for brawling in red light districts. We now know that most Chinese arts have no connection to the original warrior monks. On the other hand, Jujutsu was used by warriors. In Renaissance Europe, it was discovered that soldiers couldn't beat duelist, but dueling arts were too fragile for warfare. There badly needs to be differentiation between combat sports and martial arts.
Aghhh, he forgot to tell why people hit the speed bag like they do!
A great shoulder building technique. Builds hand eye, hand-speed with timing, and FOOTWORK which is a good thing. Looks impressive to the other people who can't use it.
@@KCJAM1 because hammer fisting an opponent is the most common strike in a real street fight
james cagle except when hitting the speed bag you are supposed to make knuckle contact and not the side of your hand as with a hammer fist?!?! I am assuming that was a joke in any event but just figured I would clarify for the non-initiated!;)
@@KCJAM1 It was in jest...however, when going through the ground and pound, if your opponent is guarding or moving, your hammerfist will inevitably involve knuckle contact. There are several things in training that can cross apply. but whatever's clever, right
james cagle I am definitely picking up what you’re laying down brother! The word itself evokes my teenage sense of humor section of the brain and makes me snicker as if it’s a naughty word. “He’s in the front mount position and slipping in hammer-fists and is really taking a pounding . I don’t think his ass can take much more of this Joe!” I could also be: a). The next major album release from Tool: Hammerfist or b). The name of a 1983 speed metal band that opened for Metallica or Slayer, but spelled a like Hammerfyst. (Both of these possibilities live on genres that have a tendency towards the homoerotic, whether intended or accidental!)
One of the best explanations I've ever seen on this topic! It's like Bruce Lee used to say how he lost faith in Traditional Chinese Martial Arts because they were like learning to swim on dry land.
+George Ou Did Bruce lee ever jump in the ocean though? I see little evidence he was fighting or sparring himself and his 'tradition' hardly today boasts the best athletes and fighters. What makes him better than the rest of them?
Lee certainly did sparr, though he never participated in any form of fighting competition. But i think his greatest archievment was more of a philosophical nature. As far as i know he was the first person (at least after quite some time) to bring martial arts back to its fighting roots, when basically all martial art schools where mostly teachings forms only and there was no full body contact fighting like we see today with MMA. His second great archivement was, that he didnt just learn one style. He learned very different fighting styles and extracted those moves that could be usefull in a real fight, be it Kung Fu, be it Judo or boxing. For Lee it was important to win a fight. How you do it is of little consequens. I remember a quote from him, where he was asked, what he would do, if he was pinned to the ground and he basically said, bite the guy! Not very Martial Art like, but if your opponent dosent expect it, it might get you out of a tight spot. That meant breaking with a lot of traditions. But by doing this, he became, in a certain way, the father of MMA fighting.
+Daniel Can I be certain he did a lot of real sparring? I wouldn't attribute either of those achievements to him, the military has existed throughout all human history and there were already competition oriented combat sports being practiced all over the world from Thai kickboxing to wrestling in Europe and the US. As I see little evidence Lee was fighting I would also never consider him or his teaching combative and I'd actually need you to demonstrate Bruce lee's teachings in any way took martial arts 'back to their roots'.
I see little evidence Bruce lee was competent in any combative fighting style, why would I give him credit for 'learning' boxing and Judo for example let alone for 'extracting' the useful 'techniques' from either? I'm not convinced Bruce would last against a competent practitioner of either despite the apparent 'limitations' you seem to be suggesting exist there.
"he became the father of MMA' if you could show some sort of correlation and demonstrate there wasn't full contact fighting before Bruce lee I'd be happy to grant he achieved at least something even if only indirectly.
Bruce Lee had hundreds of street fights. Lots of sparring. Was in street fights before his parents put him into martial arts.
ruclips.net/video/_Yf-Cpvvucs/видео.html
THIS!!! OUTF&*KINGSTANDING!!
Hands down, the best explanation I've seen on real martial arts on RUclips. Period.
I've done Tai Chi Quan for 20 years, and taught It for over 6 of those years. As I always tell my students, the form and the application of the principles of the form are two entirely different things. They don't even look the same.
All martial arts have striking, kicking, chin na, and Shuai Jiao (Chinese fast wrestling). I don't care which one you learn. If your teacher isn't teaching you those primary techniques, find another teacher.
And you have to learn to apply them against a resisting opponent. Feedback is essential.
And you have to be able to execute automatically, without thinking.
99.9% of Tai Chi Quan that people see and learn these days Isn't actual Tai Chi Quan. It's been watered down over the past 100 years, with an understanding of the applications taken out of most schools. Now It's "for health". No standing posture training for one to two hours a day (a must for real conditioning). No training on grappling and throws. No Iron Body training. No training on how to strike utilizing the ground path to magnify your power. Almost all gone In the majority of Tai Chi schools, which is ironic, considering the fact that Tai Chi Quan means "Grand Ultimate Boxing".
As Ramsey so eloquently said, you've also got to train as a fighter. Conditioning work is basically the same, regardless of system. You've got to train for aerobic capacity, endurance, power, footwork, and strategy.
Ideally, being able to fight full tilt for 36 minutes (12 rounds).
Everyone likes to talk about "real" fighting on YT. Real fighting is brutal. It's not particularly pretty. And the Injuries are life-changing. People tend to delude themselves these days about this. MMA has rules. Boxing has rules. Real fights don't. Eye goughing, crushing of testicles, limb destruction, etc. happen In real fights.
You really laid out perfectly the proper perspective to take when learning real martial arts, and I thank you for It.
Cheers!
What's the standing posture training sir
Some really old martial arts did'nt have punching and kicking because they were supposed to be used with weapons, why punch him when you can cut him with your sword?
I did a little Tai chi as a kid and I can say it has helped me in fights. I wouldn't say I did whole "move" but learning the weight transfer and having that muscle memory helped a lot.
Super interesting what you said in this video.
My old karate sensei used to start training more than 50 years ago.
At that time, karate was still a martial art where fights included real impacts, not a point-based system. Thus, he never really wanted to engage with the federation too closely.
He used to tell me that when he opened his dojo in the 1970's, all kind of bikers and thugs tried to beat him in front of his students, sometimes when using weapons such as metal bars or chains.
They all lost. Period.
However, original karate was based on the element of competition and real sparring. Therefore, from the green belt onward, sparring was mandatory, ultimately leading to full-impact karate fight from the brownish/black belt onward.
It was based on all the forms that you previously learned and you had to somehow used them effectively against a real opponent.
In more than 40 years, his dojo only produced less than 10 black belts.
However, I would have never challenged any of these guys in a fight, whether a karate or street fight.
I can bs on all the "bikers and thugs" challenging him with weapons and winning every fight. That's a fairy tale.
Mr. Dewey, you get my full respect as a fellow martial artist. You are clearly knowledgeable across a broad spectrum of arts unlike so many BJJ practitioners who trumpet how cool and awesome their art is the best all around. You are a fair voice in the martial arts world.
Having spent time learning taichi, you have made some valid and important points. You touched on some of what I've seen described as key principles of taichi, which really are shared among all martial arts when trained properly. Yield; which you explained. Stick; fill any space your opponent gives you. Control; manipulate where and how your opponent moves to place them in the weakest possible position. Destroy; what it says on the tin.
Without pressure testing though all these principles can't really be applied.
Ramsey, I am honored that you recognized and mentioned my channel in this video. I have been watching your videos for some time and find your commentary refreshing and honest. I particularly enjoyed this video because I trained in Chen Style Taichi in Los Angeles for years from a teacher who taught Martial Taichi and I found it a complete and effective martial art. During this time my teacher sponsored some of the world best Chen Stylist like Chen Xiaowang, Chen Zenglei, and Tsu Tiancai and these older Masters displayed incredible martial skills. So Yes you can win a fight with Taichi, but like any other martial art and how you say- it has to be honest and the training has to be REAL. Thank you for the time and effort you take to educate the world thru your commentary and example. Although you see me primarily as a Karate stylist I am not a product of 100% Karate training for as I mentioned I have studied Taichi and many other arts including Kung Fu, Jujitsu, Aikido etc. I encourage everyone to study everything possible, observe, compare, borrow, adapt, and internalize from all arts and make your martial arts your own. It is not the style that makes the man it is the man that makes the art(s) come alive. If one cannot find the answers you seek where are are at today, go somewhere else and find a real teacher with some practical knowhow and life experience. Cheers, Angel Lemus
Thanks so much for the comment! I’m a big fan of your channel!
I have been doing Tai Chi for about 15 years, I recently started training with a wrestler for this very reason. It has been both humbling and enlightening.
Monday_Night_BloodBowl you haven’t been training your art right
@@feihungwong9482 How so?
You honestly give the best martial arts commentary on RUclips, and your voice is perfect for any type of narration! Thanks for all your work!
I'm always amazed at how you continuously hold my attention. I almost never get bored watching and listening to you. Great job!
This is the most respectful statement on all martial arts ever. Big respect to you sir.
Tai Chi started off as a system of hardcore combat. But, somehow it has been turned into a sort of health nut craze for older people. Same as Yoga. It was never meant to be some sort of stretching system for yoga-pants-women. Originally, it was religion in India. So much gets distorted as it travels through time.
Wasnt it invented to look like excersize but in reality it was designed to counter a style of Kung fu? When MA were banned by a Chinese dynasty and the farmers wanted to rebel.
That’s how it was taught to me in school
@@MacetazzOpina it was created around the 1600's and seemed to be a legit style and later on the government discouraged the practice of martial arts and then tai chi turned into what it is today. That's how it was taught to me. I'm not a historian or was alive during it's creation or ban though.
THANK YOU! the older systems are just nasty, well would be I'd imagine. Old text books should cover taichi with weapons. the whole point of starting without a weapon is so you have -limbs to brea- a grasp, solid fluid bad ass knowledge of the basics before turning a target dumby into swiish cheese. like hello; Cheng SWORD FORMS. What are you going to do: slice dice and turn an asshole into jullian fries. or these days turn their eyes into puddles run or or what ever. Yang: Spear and Knife Kata's. He conveniently left that out. He left out how pushhands was weight training (sort of) to break someones wrist if you had to. Not exactly nice stuff. And good point on yoga!
@@MacetazzOpina basically. chen, yang, and sun style were. but as I've said way to many times on his video: that's assuming they couldn't run or what ever. or didn't get turned into swiss cheese.
That is because exercise is far more important for most people than outdated hand to hand combat or polytheism.
Can you narrate audio books please?
I’ve done a lot of audio text books.
Hahaha... some seconds ago I commented the voice could be usef for Jhonny Bravo 😎.
@@RamseyDewey what books?
You need to record "To Kill a Mockingbird" and soon...Steven Colbert can't be the only modern Atticus Finch and his regular voice is nowhere near the same. You're almost there as a baseline.
Yaaassss! Any book 😂
As a student of the Japanese language, I like to think of the "Jiu" in jiujitsu as meaning "pliant." Like a tree that bends but does not break.
Pliant like an octopus.
What’s also lost in those blocks are the “hard blocks” that’s meant to hurt or injure the person throwing the technique. But many of those require making those contacts points hard.
Love your channel!!
Just subscribed.
Background in Irish defensives and street JJ, then club JJ, then different traditions of internal Gong-fu. I practice and teach different styles of Tai Chi. I'm in my 70th year and have been in martial arts for over 40.
One way of understanding the difference between form and fighting is to understand that the principle of the thing is not the thing. Forms are about principles; they are not the thing itself. So if you go into a fight having only practiced principle, you are probably going to get creamed.
Working on a speed bag, doing forms - all teach principles. The issue is to understand what is the thing you are after, and then how to connect what you are doing to that thing.
Good day! Your comment on Irish defence made me curious. I've recently discovered a set of fighting styles (mostly stick fighting there) supposedy based on Irish tradition, although people practicing it admit that it is not too different from other European or even African systems that we know about. Finding sources is pretty hard. But I'm very curious to learn a bit more, even if we aren't talking about things directly related to each other. What this system is? Where should I start looking if I want to learn more?
By "Irish defensives" do you mean "pikey combatatives"?
Dude, this is deep stuff. It applies to a lot more than "just" fighting.
I find this is true for most of Ramseys videos!
Very smart Man. I think you do know of what you speak. Great Commentary.
this is truly wisdom for life! He's full of practical wisdom in fighting
I really enjoy this guy's style of explaining things. It's clear, concise, yet also compelling.
It's an arm bar? Dang. Love absorbing Ramsey's wisdom and knowledge when I'm relaxing for bed.
The slowness in Tai Chi is like the slowness when wrestling or standing grappling.😎great video!👏👏
Thank you! I've just been having a discussion with someone without martial arts experience, trying to explain this very concept to him. Excellently explained, Sir! You just got yourself another subscriber!
Brilliant video mate.
I've been teaching Taiji for 17 years and have always said this, since I teach the fighting side, we use gloves and we spar.
But its great to see the same message being given by a competitive fighter like yourself, as I think more people will take it seriously, since I'm more of a teacher than a fighter myself.
what style do you teach?
@@ddmound Old Yang Style, from Yang shou hou line.
@@taichiworld Is that Northern tai chi Yang or kung-fu Yang? (not of the Southern China kung-fu 5 families either) Who are all outside of Southern Gung-fu. Can I see one of your forms?
And are you who they are calling Taiji? BC that was one of the nicknames Buddha gave to Chu'uan Fa who discovered martial Arts at Shaolin when it was Central China (563 AD)
Tai Chi "Chuan" was dedicated in its creation to him (Taijiquan later became his full nickname) after he completed it is 7 years from the day Buddha came into Shaolin. (who did not discover martial art)
And while Martial Arts was banned (leaving Northern Shaolin 'kung-fu' in tact) from China (Chu'uan Fa Wu Shu or Ken FAT IN Mandarin)) and went to Indonesia. It was then forever transposed to PaQua (Southern China Royal families) kuntao style ("Kune" the name bruce lee tried to steal) tao jeet kune do.
If you are in Southern China and want to learn martial Arts, most likely you have to become a triad. However, if you go to Harvest Studios (the ones who did Bruce in) and do their productions you will become a Martial Artists eventually.
You just have to find out who knows kuntao. If you mention the name "Liu" (like Lui Chilang) as great director somebody is going make themselves known. And just say you want to learn kuntao.
In America you have to find a Tong in New York, San Fransico or L.A. Chinatown. Otherwise you have to go to Ohio (East Cleveland) to find a non-Chinese who are all Masters. They are all black men whom the Grandmaster taught personally who were my Instructors 40 years ago to this date.
@@ddmound I've never heard is referred to as Northern Taiji yang.
Its the system said to have been developed by Yang Lu Chan.
I dont think anyone calls me Taiji.
Yes you can see a lot of what I do by clicking on my profile.
Thank you.
I was noticing while I was watching that you really understand both worlds. You understand the lingo of both traditional and modern martial arts. I know I used to believe only in traditional, then I only believed in those which trained for a "real fight." You do so well breaking the barriers between them, like explaining the armbar on one hand and bringing up the speedbag on the other hand. That right there is something I respect a lot.
This is the best martial arts explanation I've seen on the internet.A refreshing change from all the so called "fight realists" who bad mouth martial arts, while teaching their home spun rubbish.
The best way to make money with a fight school is to burn every style down and glorify your own dust bin fighting. RUclips is littered with such guys. They often have amazing numbers of loyal followers. A uncle of mine is a retired (very succesful) businessman and he always said: people want to be cheated.
"Book of Life" analogy, in the body-book ... man that was a moment of pure Sifu in the best possible way. Respect.
Ramsey , you have literally shattered all my fantasies and my hero worship misconceptions ... Since I started watching your videos and your in-depth , pragmatic reasoning for your arguments , I have learned a lot . I appreciate your taking the bull by the horns (pun intended ) and not intimidated by any backlash that was sure to follow .. Thanks brother for being real .. 🙏✊👍💖💖
I started out training in Isshyn ryu karate when I was stationed in Okinawa as a young jarhead. I had heard of Taijiquan or Tai Chi Chuan most of my adult life, but an instructor was non existent here for years. I live in a small southern town. Finally when I was fourty, I found an 85 year old master of Yang style Taiji. I studied with him until he died at 94. I learned Taiji jian or sword from him and Taiji fan as well as the short Beijing form and the long traditional form. He taught me Taiji guen or staff too. The form is like the index of chapters in a book. Really using the term form is inaccurate. It should be routine. The routine is a series of forms they call postures. Each posture is a form into itself. The transitions between postures contain martial applications too. Each posture can have one, two, three or four or more applications. It is your resource manual for the art. When the routine is performed slowly that serves two functions. First it trains it into your muscle memory. Also when it is done with the breathing routine, Taiji is a qigong too. It will develop your qi like a muscle and increase its flow through your meridians. Some people don't believe in that, but I do, I have felt it's effects. There is also sparring in Taiji, there are two person forms for the empty hand form and all the weapons as well. It is a deep and high level art and traditionally it is taught after you have learned the basics with an external/hard art like karate or gongfu. But, I have used the techniques in a fight before and I won. Now, it must be said it was against an untrained opponent but he was experienced in street fighting. I wasn't his first rodeo. One important concept in practicing martial arts forms is visualization. You know the form and what the movements mean. If you don't know what they mean, your teacher was negligent in teaching them to you, you practice each posture and its applications with a partner to learn this. The next important concept is intent. You practice the routine with intent. No distractions for this. Taiji is truly a nasty art for combat, it is full of joint locks and grappling techniques, blocking, kicking and punching and all are included in the long form. In Chinese arts, the approach was holistic, everything was included in the art. The Japanese were very analytical, they took the art and separated things out, the Chin-na element of gongfu became jiu jitsu or other grappling arts, the blocking and kicking and punching became karate. It all came from China though. I love Taiji and I do it for pleasure now. I haven't been in a fight in years. But, I know that if I ever do, it will come out of me like water flowing in a stream. Hopefully, I won't need to use it again.
Well they use the term FORM because through constant practice it FORMS you or rather molds you into more than you were before, more like a mold form that you pour concrete or other substance into it forms you as long as you think about what each movement could possibly be doing as you do the form. That is practice with intent or as you said visualization. then try and take pieces of the form and see how to apply them in sparring and in actual fight situations. You made some great points here.
Katchu jujutsu were complete curriculums. Jujutsu doesn't just simply mean grappling. They had a rich curriculum of striking and parrying/blocking they used on the battlefield to create the era of the shogun! They had a far richer curriculum of offensive and defensive strategies than any Japanese martial arts of today or any modern "jujutsu" (Suhada). While karate is partially derived from this, the hand to hand combat is nothing like karate. Look at the advanced forms and footwork of old katchu kenjutsu (Ex. Katori shinto ryu) and you will get an idea. Jujutsu was created directly from kenjutsu and the footwork and application is nearly identical. Many kamae in old jujutsu are exactly the same posture as the kenjutsu counterpart. If you watch the videos of the Katori practitioner doing sword 2 person kata just imagine them fighting a little closer, but replace outstretched swords with outstretched arms and you will have a good idea how samurai fought hand-to-hand. Seem anything like karate to you? You were right about one thing- martial arts came to Japan in the Heian era directly from the Shaolin temple. Jujutsu has always basically been taught in the classical Chinese system of Chin'na from which it is derived. Strikes - pressure points - locks - chokes - throws. This knowledge is virtually unknown to anyone in modern times.
This is so on point and incredibly true. People ridicule and mock literally every traditional martial art these days, claiming they all just plain suck and could never possibly benefit you in a fight. But the problem doesn't lie within the older martial arts, it's in how modern people train them.
This just enlightened me. I just love when I get plausible answers by just doing as little as watching a video. I couldn't imagine me ever getting to such an understanding. In short, you killed me.
Ive been forced to study karate as a kid , and i always wondered what the hell those movements mean, but i haven't thought about it since. Thanks for clearing that up.
It would help me with my training.
Ramsey! I really enjoy your thoughtful and intelligently presented videos. I'm pretty new to your channel but a long time martial artist. Couple of comments:
Years ago I saw a very old black and white film of Tai Chi "masters" sparring. It was not at all like the exercise in the park. Their movements were very circular, but FAST. It seemed to me that it could be very effective done that way.
Your comment about judo not being gentle made me smile. I am a facial surgeon. The hospital made a film about me, and in one part the said I "gently grasped the facial bones and easily re-positioned them to their normal position." This was after a midface fracture from an auto crash. What happened was I took the dysimpaction forceps inserted them into the nose and mouth and vice-gripped the bones, and with all my strength separated them from where they were crushed into the midface and then "easily re-positioned them to their normal position." lol
Best! Dr. J
Like having a racketball match against someone who knows how to place their shots, and you don't.. They'll have you running with their economy movement... wear you out.. I liked racketball..
I saw an experienced muai tai practitioner challenge a tai chi master to a friendly sparring session. The tai chi guy was able to intercept all the attacks with zero effort. However, this particular tai chi guy was also a black belt in karate, and an ex special unit in the army, with actual combat experience, years before he got into tai chi. But, he made the much bigger, stronger muai tai guy look like a novice fighter
It's always such a pure joy to hear a different martial artists realize what you have realized. That independent confirmation is priceless for a martial artist. The peer review of fighting.
Absolutely spot on! Love this vid and the information/perspective you have brutha!
lol - that bit about the TKD armbar - I had the massive honour to write a book with one of the original pioneers of ITF TKD (GM Rhee Ki Ha) - who was also a Judo/Korean wrestling practitioner in his youth - although that's not widely known. He explained that breakdown on the block just as you showed it!
He also lamented about the sad state of TKD as a sport/hobby and not a 'true martial art'. In his 80s - hands like bricks, forearms and shins like iron bars.
Sorry if I'm youtube stalking right now - am at work and running through all your videos whilst I work :) Great vids - glad to see you still have your faculties despite suffering some concussions. Good luck with everything in China - not an easy culture and society to break into!
This is one of the most interesting and thought provoking videos of yours
Dude, you're on top of it. Watched many of your videos previously, this one lead me to subscribe.
I just discovered your Channel and after years of Training MMA and traditional martial arts i see so much truth here maybe more than some can handle... Thank you so much for the great Content!
Tai Chi has more than 3, as you call them "levels of power". I appreciate your take on this subject; most people don't understand these things about martial arts.
You can subdivide or simplify fighting as much as you want. We could also say there are only 4 things that can happen in a fight: clinch fighting standing, standup fighting when not clinching, being the guy on top, being the guy on the bottom. And we could break any of those down all day long into codified systems of combat or martial arts or whatever you want to call them, but fighting is not as complicated as we like to pretend it is sometimes.
Excellent video as always. One of the best examples for this topic is Lyoto Machida. TMA practitioner who can fight.
Always worth a watch. Keep up the good work, Ramsey.
This is the first video of yours I have watched and I've now subscribed as the way you explain, demonstrate & open minds is top notch.👍
If one knows they can and uses Ta'i Chi combat techniques properly then the answer is yes. I know from my own experiences in fighting other men.
Absolutely. Tai chi was the first martial art I studied growing up, but I didn't really start grasping at how to use it till I started practicing muay thai. I started seeing so over lap as to where it would work for me especially so in the clinch. To this day I still thank my old instructor for encouraging me to cross train
Really good info! I 100% agree that you need to train for what you plan to do. It also makes me appreciate the semester of Tai Chi with bamboo sword I took in college much more. I wasn't wise enough to ask questions about general reasons behind Katas. Hearing your explanation was extremely informative and interesting. I did ask about one move we were learning with the sword as I it didn't make sense to me. The teacher informed me that we it was merely the first step in learning a more complex move meant to defend against multiple opponents. The move made much more sense then. Also, the first half of the semester was just starting to Tai Chi. There was 2 months of this before we even touched swords. In that time was a lot of push hands practice. Push hands had been practiced with someone else in which we alternating pushing to each other. The point is there was actual resistance applied. It was explained to us that push hands was meant to teach us to keep our center of balance, so at the time, it meant little to me. Hearing your description of Tai Chi (Well done and thank you!) makes me now realize that push hand is meant to teach the basics of redirection.
Two event later changed my thoughts on the push hands training. The first was a few months after the semester was over, I was out with friends at a metal concert and was on the edge of the mosh pit. One of the people in the pit was sent into me. What happened next surprised me a bit and everyone else nearby even more. At the time I was only 155lbs soaking wet and not at all muscular (ok. this part hasn't changed). However, I simply absorbed the person being pushed into me and followed up by shifting my weight from back foot to front foot and extending my arms much like push hands practice. As the person did not resist the push they were sent 12-15 feet through the pit. I didn't think too much of it until several people relocated themselves in the crowd to position me between themselves and the pit. I guess my point is that it is a real life example of how, as you state, practice creates muscle memory. There had been enough practice that when my body experienced similar resistance it just did what it was trained to do. Second, sometime later I learned a bit about sticky hands it instantly dawned on my that the simply push hands technique got you comfortable being that close to someone (common in an actual fight) and that you could easily shift from returning the push to a grapple for a take down attempt or a throw attempt. Both of these are techniques I am aware of, but would have to practice to put to use.
I like this guy, must be a great teacher.
Intense, but no-nonsense. Love that attitude.
Well said!
Tai Chi takes years. You need Triple D's Desire, dedication, & discipline! I know this because I've been training Tai Chi for almost 3 years & my master has only taught me 9 moves, there's 108 lol!! Its so much conditioning & training with each move. Conditioning from all different speeds & movements, starting with very small ones and then gradually larger, pushing your body repeatedly to its limits with balance and energy transfer. You're strengthening muscles to a level you've never thought about & experienced. I'm not even ready to start sparring yet, but my body strength is different than I've ever felt before. I used to be a muscle head with a 405 bench 70lb dumbbell curls, 900lb leg press & it's an entirely different kind of strength than burst power. I'm compelled to truly master this art, expand & make a real name for the art. It's been given such a bad rap & believed to only work in movies. The truth is, it's a wonderful art & really opens your mind to the possibilities.
Fat Dabaroonies, I’d love to see a video of your form training. I’ve memorized 1/3 of Wudang 28 form. It gives my legs one hell of a workout.
John Smith It’s too bad you don’t have any videos of him. Real masters are so rare. I’m dying to meet one.
John Smith I want to meet master Zhong Yun Long and his disciple Chen Shiyu in the Wudang mountains. Those 2 mesmerize me.
John Smith
You’ll enjoy this master in Vietnam.
ruclips.net/video/XMD3puPaUJI/видео.html
Hard tai chi starts around 23:00
I'm very fortunate to have a legit master of the art and vouchers with plenty of fighting experience to back it up.
Finally! A knowledgeable westerner who knows his stuff.
Refreshing to see a video from someone who truly understands the martial arts. Too often today, we see so called martial artists putting down other styles because they do not understand them, watch a competition between two different arts and claims one is better than the other, rather than the competition only shows who is the better martial ARTIST, not art. Too often I see people putting down demonstrations, often of beginning techniques and base their entire judgement of that art on that basic technique video. Thanks for having a real understanding.
I just found your channel yesterday and I love your videos. You also seem like a good guy. I have learned a lot from you already.
I think the tai chi practice of push hands has a very practical application toward balance and sensitivity in a fight..and if you do enough of the forms...you also learn the rooted stance and when you get in a fight you will be able to be creative and it will come from a rooted stance with the expusion of chi...very explosive in real life.
This would be one of your best videos. Very educational I thought. I did Tae Kwon Do as a kid and always wondered why we did these moves. Growing up...yesterday even, I always wondered why a particular martial art did such things which in a street fight would get you knocked out. But tonight, I have finally found the reason. Love your videos. Love the fact that you still respond to the comments even months after you have released a video.
What can I say? I love reading comments!
Love your voice, and dramatic storytelling style. Thank you.
Loved the forms explained. I did Taekwando as a kid, and thought forms were to prove how long you’ve been practicing.
Yet again a great video full of wise content. Thank You.
That's why I say:
Every Thing is Kung Fu
If you understand The meaning of The word Kung Fu...
Alot of good points. I have a BJJ teacher that also trains taichi and grappling with him just feels so different than other guys. His level of control and sensitivity is just on another level, and I asked him about it and he told me practicing Taichi pushing hands helped him a lot with grappling and handfighting. Bruce Lee said it himself " “Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough we must do.” Any art that doesn't apply the techniques in a pressure tested environment will not be useful in real combat, whether that be Taichi or Muay Thai or BJJ or any martial art.
Bruce Lee's first art was actually Tai Chi before Wing Chun he then saw Muhamad Ali and wanted to incorporate boxing footwork and techniques along with fencing and grappling then started blending the parts that worked best for him to create Jeet Kun Do
So relaxing watching your video. Good work.
Thank you good Sir. Always a pleasure to hear your incites in these matters. :-)
Wow. That whole idea that the out-to-in block (what we called it in my dojo) is an arm bar. That's got me thinking about all the other blocks we had too: the low block, the high block, the in-to-out block, and the weirdest one I have experience with, the open-handed low block. With regards to pulling our arms back, what we were told was it was an exchange of energy--help generating the force necessary to use the technique with real power. Also, we were instructed to hold our arms high and really create a point with our elbows the point being that it trained us how to use our elbows defensively if someone attacked us from behind.
As to the whole, no one remembers why it's done that way anymore, it brings to my mind Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA). Since hand-to-hand combat was dropped in Europe after the proliferation of firearms, the combat techniques were no longer practiced, but as a result were preserved in their purest forms without being desaturated with pointless "forms". Hence why with the onset of HEMA, why students are both stumbling in the dark and trying to figure things out on their own, but because techniques weren't spoiled, we still have all the practical explanations behind why techniques are the way they are. Within medieval fencing, it is said that within every attack there is a defense, and within every defense a counter-attack. It's actually quite a unique blessing that these old martial arts were forgotten and then rediscovered.
Thanks Tien for another great video!
Your way of speaking is so down to earth. And understandable. Keep it up!
Well said. Great insight. Thank you
My experience with Taichi after 9 years following a master, I must say your description is right on. I also applied the principle of Taichi on my golf swing, and I believe it’s the correct way to go about all sports and our daily activities.
Practicing Tai Chi corrected my slice off the tee box. First of many improvements tai chi made in my life.
No longer play golf but still practice tai chi.
My goals in MA are to stay healthy and make sure I can make it home safely. I dislike fighting since it brings back memories of domestic violence. I can’t use elbows due to physical trauma but I can palm, slap, and chop just fine. I use open hands since my hands are delicate and I can’t fight my way out of a wet towel but I have to try for my sake and the sake of all that I love. I really like your videos and wonder if you’ll ever do one on open hand strikes.
Thank you for your wisdom. I am speechless for the moment.
Thanks for the post. Loved the slow methodical approach 👍
Learning Taijiquan and Liu he ba fa technique and applications atm
I think this is the guy I've been looking for
I love the fact that you analyse martial arts in a respectful manner. I practice aikido myself and I agree with your analysis. All arts work. It is the manner of training. I picked up some boxing now as well to find out how it is to actually get punched. Therefore, as a martial artist I have improved.
Howling1978Hound
Aikido doesnt work
Howling1978Hound I have practiced aikido / jujitsu for 23 years.. I've worked in a prison for 10 years . Using it for real every week ..
Aikido with sparring real attacks and pressure testing works .. attacks for real are nearly always ambushes especially in prison. . Aikido works great like that .. jujitsu is also great ..you learn very quickly regardless of how well it works in mma. . You go on the floor in a prison fight you are getting hurt ... it is all about the sparring and mental preparation. ..
Ian Moody bullshit
If you'd use aikido you'd get fucked up
Maybe your aidkido is just a light version of judo or smth
I completely agree with you. My boxing instructor practices Krav Maga himself and he showed me some moves. We use similar techniques in aikido. These techniques use the same principles. You are right about pressure testing. Problem with aikido is that many practitioners aren’t “fighters”. The ones that are can absolutely take care of themselves.
drsandkastenschaufel
How long have you trained in aikido to master it and decided that it doesn’t work?
Awesome! You're are really this rare kind of people who can think differentiate and follow a more complex thought through
I like your explanation of the 3 types of forces. I remembered that in one of the sparring sessions in a TaiJi class, the instructor was teaching the difference between yielding and running away ( and timing, spacing, predictability...).
this guy should do voiceovers, amazing tone and beat.
love the video Ramsey and you sound like Adam West!
I saw it be done in a very convincing way. My strong ground rooting was repeatedly uprooted with just a few ounces of pressure.
Your wisdom and analytical breakdowns are of the highest quality.
Thank you.
I have to say, I'm really enjoying your videos. My experience with Taijiquan and its practitioners is exactly what you're saying. Every taiji person that I've known who could fight using taiji had done lots of sparring, and often had done other combat sports or styles. That being said, if it's done with good body mechanics and no sparring, I still think it's great if your opponent is disease or the aging process.
As a former Tae Kwon Do practitioner I found this enlightening. Nobody explained that background ever to me!
Same. No one ever gave a decent answer as to the practicality of the movements in the forms (like chambering the hands, function of front stance ect.)
We did a self-defence class at university that often used tai chi concepts and moves. It works great. I don't think it's really that unique though, as stated any of the good ideas will be found in other styles.
You used your art then?
As a first responder I have been on a lot of incidents dealing with combative patients. It was through that experience that I have to anticipate every move that a combative patient is going to throw at me, and counter that move without causing any harm to that patient and protect myself at the same time.
It was during the time I was studying to be a parmedic and we had different martial art instructors teach us self defence moves and different anatomical locks, and it really works because we (paramedic students) practiced it to perfection.
It really saved my hide in the streets keeping me injury free each time I had to deal with a very combative patient. I remember one istructor told us, "the first rule when someone throws a punch at you is .....don't be there". It's a good rule one I like to live by.
I can tell you are an excellent teacher of the Arts. You're very well spoken....thanks for your knowledgeable input.
that was a pretty damn good speech ,
with some serious SERIOUS wisdom .
Brilliant !