Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
The Journey Inside: Transitioning to Tàijíquán from External Martial Arts
Perhaps the greatest challenge for external stylists lies in releasing ingrained patterns of tension and forceful movement.
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Perhaps the greatest challenge for external stylists lies in releasing ingrained patterns of tension and forceful movement.
I definitely agree with the first four words quoted above. It allows for so many opportunities for learning and understanding. Seeing old things with new eyes can get you excited all over again.From the article..
"1. Maintain a Beginner’s Mind and an open mind about new ways of…well, of everything. Remember: Tàijíquán can never replace what you’ve studied and it will make no effort to deny your prior Art.
"You can keep your earlier Art(s) and still invite Tàijíquán in to complement both your Art and your self."
Wondering how many having made the transition would agree with the statement ?
I now and then go through a couple karate katas that I worked very much on back in those days, they kind of call me saying - “ hey. try me out, se if you remember!” And I must say I have come to some enlightenment about them through my now many years of taijiquan( and Xingyiquan) practice. Practice karate as it’s commonly practiced and also practice TJQ as it should be done is not optional, those two methods are different, and if one do both of them one of them has to change - But there are a group of karate(Shotokan) katas named Taiji (taikyuku)From the article..
"1. Maintain a Beginner’s Mind and an open mind about new ways of…well, of everything. Remember: Tàijíquán can never replace what you’ve studied and it will make no effort to deny your prior Art.
"You can keep your earlier Art(s) and still invite Tàijíquán in to complement both your Art and your self."
Wondering how many having made the transition would agree with the statement ?
I can't comment on taiji + other art comparisons since I've never studied taiji. But in general, it seems that one's initial mind set in some arts is to yield to an attacker's force while in others it is to deliver your own force.
I now and then go through a couple karate katas that I worked very much on back in those days, they kind of call me saying - “ hey. try me out, se if you remember!”
It's like a BJJ guy starts to train the ground skill before training the throwing skill. No matter how good your ground skill may be, if you can't take your opponent down, you can't apply your ground skill.In reality, there is no "yielding" in the passive sense; rather, there is preempting, joining, and neutralizing.
Semantics, again. How does one define "yielding?" From my viewpoint, it doesn't necessarily imply weakness or passivity (as may be a common interpretation by some). I agree that some active mechanics are required to achieve an effective yielding as I think you allude to by listing "preempting, joining, and neutralizing."This seems to be a common mindset about "taiji" that it involves "yielding to an attacker's force."
In reality, there is no "yielding" in the passive sense; rather, there is preempting, joining, and neutralizing.
Semantics, again. How does one define "yielding?" From my viewpoint, it doesn't necessarily imply weakness or passivity (as may be a common interpretation by some). I agree that some active mechanics are required to achieve an effective yielding as I think you allude to by listing "preempting, joining, and neutralizing."
In contrast, the "external" arts such as karate and some kung fu styles are more likely to attack (block) the opponent's strike, taking a more direct route to a counter. The instinctual initial response would be the main doctrine they've practiced. It's difficult to switch between the two approaches.
Yes, the implication of "uke=receiving" does hint of a less aggressive, defensive technique, but this should not be taken as "soft" as most karate blocks are done hard. There is a saying in Okinawan karate that "there are no blocks" and that is certainly the attitude in isshinryu. We don't receive anything. We attack the opponent's strike, causing injury, or at least pain whenever possible.Blocking/blocks was mentioned
Interestingly karate blocks as they are named in Japanese refer to “receiving” with the word “uke” - age-uke, uchi-uke…and so on..with the exception of the downward “block” that’s named gedan-barai meaning downward sweep.
This would imply karate is supposed to be less brutish board breaking machismo but more soft, flowing and Taiji like, steel wrapped in cotton
I meant this part to be agreeing with you, that "yielding" need not be seen as passive/weak, even though it...No one mentioned any of the things you mentioned based on your viewpoint. IE weakness , passivity ect.
I think we're on the same page on this point.may be a common interpretation by some.
My style, and most Okinawan TMA doctrine (though some schools don't realize this) are in full agreement with your statement above. I have posted several times on this subject. There are no blocks - this infers "defense." Our doctrine is every move is an attack or directly facilitates an attack. In our forms, even stepping backwards is practically non-existent. It's rather aggressive. We are the General Patton of karate. I do not differentiate between offense and defense. Ideally, our offense neutralizes any counter by the opponent. As you say, "they are integrated."The concepts of offense and defense in Taiji are different; they are integrated and not seen as separate actions.
... or till the opponent is double weighted, not necessarily unbalanced nor energy expended.Semantics, again. How does one define "yielding?" From my viewpoint, it doesn't necessarily imply weakness or passivity (as may be a common interpretation by some). I agree that some active mechanics are required to achieve an effective yielding as I think you allude to by listing "preempting, joining, and neutralizing."
In MA, I see "yielding" as allowing the opponent's motion to continue (in a fashion he had not intended) ultimately resulting in neutralizing its efficacy. This can be done actively by taking control of his movement and extending it beyond his center of balance or till the attack's energy is expended.
Yes.It can also be accomplished passively by simply moving out of the way from an overcommitted attack. In either case, the opponent is now vulnerable due to weakness in balance or position/angle.
Karate has simultaneous block and punch, go no sen timing. In yin-yang, there is no doctrine.While such strategy is present in the "external" arts like karate, my understanding (perhaps wrongly) is that it's the major default doctrine of the "internal" arts.
Block then counter is less direct than just counter. In kumite, there is less blocking. Posted overhand punch videos show that most KOs happen without blocking suggesting it's more effective.In contrast, the "external" arts such as karate and some kung fu styles are more likely to attack (block) the opponent's strike, taking a more direct route to a counter. The instinctual initial response would be the main doctrine they've practiced. It's difficult to switch between the two approaches.
... which can be considered "chasing hands" and using force against force. Their strike can be a feint to set up a counter. The limbs are easier to move than the center (e.g., body, head).Yes, the implication of "uke=receiving" does hint of a less aggressive, defensive technique, but this should not be taken as "soft" as most karate blocks are done hard. There is a saying in Okinawan karate that "there are no blocks" and that is certainly the attitude in isshinryu. We don't receive anything. We attack the opponent's strike, causing injury, or at least pain whenever possible.
Tim Cartmell said:The primary combat strategy of Tai Ji Quan can be summed up in the phrase "Entice (the opponent) to advance, (cause the opponent to) fall into emptiness, unite (with the opponent) then throw (the opponent) out" [Yin jin, luo kong, he ji chu]. Enticing the opponent to advance (advance refers to the opponent's aggressive forward momentum) can be as simple as standing in front, presenting an open target or launching a preemptive attack designed to draw a reaction. Enticing the opponent into aggressive forward momentum has several advantages...
Finally, enticing an opponent into aggressive forward motion locks his mentality into the attack mode. With committed focus on attacking, the opponent will be slow in changing to the defensive mind set as the Tai Ji Quan fighter counterattacks. The opponent's reaction time is delayed, further increasing the counterattacks odds of success; this allows the Tai Ji Quan fighter to "leave after yet arrive first..."
Stick and Adhere refer to connecting with the opponent in a soft and nonconfrontational manner and maintaining this connection as you both move (blocking an opponent's incoming force inevitably results in the opponent being knocked away. This makes it impossible to join with the opponent and one is doomed to remaining double weighted).
Most often, the Tai Ji Quan fighter will seek to stick to and control the opponent's center through contact with his arms and/or upper torso, using these regions as handles to the opponent's center.
It's more 5 elements strategies that "internal" and external.We don't receive anything. We attack the opponent's strike, causing injury, or at least pain whenever possible.
If the punches are "non-committed" there is no need for me to go after them. I'll just blast thru, stuffing his guard, and go right for the body/head. Or lure him into a committed attack that I can counter.If your opponent uses fire strategy that dancing around with fast non-committed punches, it may be harder for you to use your arm to hurt his arm.
When you try to lure your opponent into a committed attack, you have changed your "metal" strategy into "water" strategy.If the punches are "non-committed" there is no need for me to go after them. I'll just blast thru, stuffing his guard, and go right for the body/head. Or lure him into a committed attack that I can counter.
If you can lure your opponent into a committed attack, then they can lure you to "go after them" with feints or fakes.If the punches are "non-committed" there is no need for me to go after them. I'll just blast thru,
Or lure him into a committed attack that I can counter.
We don't receive anything. We attack the opponent's strike, causing injury, or at least pain whenever possible.
When using force against force (or feints), you are not enticing the opponent into emptiness.When you try to lure your opponent into a committed attack, you have changed your "metal" strategy into "water" strategy.
There is only 5 elements strategy change. there is no "internal" vs external. "internal" is part of the 5 elements strategy, the "water" strategy. You want your opponent to commit, so you can sticky, yield, follow, ...You try to ignore all non-committed attack.