I'm not familiar with how it is taught in the U.S. so that might be true here. What I know about it is from Taiwan, where my wife is from. Her brother in law showed me some pretty amazing things.
Self defense - Yoga?
- Thread starter Tom Brands
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Roninsensei
If it’s sharp, I’m your guy....
Usually what they use that seems actually combat effective is called Taiji Chin Na. It's a separate art but, usually taught alongside tai chi. Tai chi instructors rarely know or are taught the difference. They are separate art forms. However do to the efforts of one Chinese Dr they are now mostly taught as one art form. Historically they are not. Part of the confusion came from westerners who couldn't tell the difference between pronouncing tai chi and taiji. So the good Dr who taught both arts started teaching them together and changing his book title from Taiji Chin Na to Tai Chi Chin Na. Most Chinese martial arts have Chin Na (grappling) in them. These add a seemingly real aspect to there teaching. Their about as good as saying that skeet shooting prepares you for war. It may help learn to lead but, it ain't the same. And anyone who's been there knows.
all the training in the world will not prepare you for war,,,you can be taught to defend yourself and how to kill and shoot but when you see combat the first time,,,it takes a mental toughness that can not be taught
太極: t‘ai chi (Wade-Giles Romanization) taiji (Pinyin Romanization) - Both the same word, just different ways of writing it in English. It is an abbreviation of 太極拳 - tàijí quán
What you have to understand is that all tai chi (taiji) disciplines are simply applications of taiji philosophy. The underlying philosophy of most Chinese martial arts (or what we would call Kung Fu) is taiji.
From Wikipedia taiji is
The "Yin and Yang" symbol is the taijitu (symbolic representation of taiji)
The communists purged the traditional form of taiji during the Cultural Revolution because of the religious aspects. What my brother-in-law practices in Taiwan can't be found in mainland China anymore, and I would guess from what you said it is hard to find in the U.S. It is a religion, a medicinal art, and a martial art - all dealing with channeling energy. But in reality, the religion, medicinal art and martial art are all just specific applications of taiji philosophy.
What you have to understand is that all tai chi (taiji) disciplines are simply applications of taiji philosophy. The underlying philosophy of most Chinese martial arts (or what we would call Kung Fu) is taiji.
From Wikipedia taiji is
The "Yin and Yang" symbol is the taijitu (symbolic representation of taiji)
The communists purged the traditional form of taiji during the Cultural Revolution because of the religious aspects. What my brother-in-law practices in Taiwan can't be found in mainland China anymore, and I would guess from what you said it is hard to find in the U.S. It is a religion, a medicinal art, and a martial art - all dealing with channeling energy. But in reality, the religion, medicinal art and martial art are all just specific applications of taiji philosophy.
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Gazrok
A True Doomsday Prepper
I think that's why I like paintball. Even though it's only paint, there's something that flips in your mind, kind of a kill or be killed...and even a real fear of getting shot. Not because it hurts, it really doesn't, but more as a mirror of what it would be like if it wasn't just play. Even LEO and military friends I have, who do it, say it has many similarities, psychologically...which is why they use it for training.
Of course, it's also why LEOs and military types tend to LOSE at paintball, because the idea of sending decoys to be sacrificed is so alien to their training...hehe...
They have estimated that in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. troops expended a mind boggling 250,000 rounds per enemy soldier killed. A lot of that is suppressive fire, and probably includes training, but still, 250,000 rounds?
I've heard that in all wars, soldiers tend to shoot high. In The Great War (WWI), according to British Lieutenant George Roupell, the only way he could get his men to stop firing into the air was by drawing his sword, walking down the trench, "beating [them] on the backside and ... telling them to fire low"
So, yes, it is exceedingly difficult to prepare men (and women) for war. Having certain skills however, (like those acquired by hunting) will come in very handy if you overcome the mental barrier.
I've heard that in all wars, soldiers tend to shoot high. In The Great War (WWI), according to British Lieutenant George Roupell, the only way he could get his men to stop firing into the air was by drawing his sword, walking down the trench, "beating [them] on the backside and ... telling them to fire low"
So, yes, it is exceedingly difficult to prepare men (and women) for war. Having certain skills however, (like those acquired by hunting) will come in very handy if you overcome the mental barrier.
