Welcome to what I hope will become a series for the beginner to learn about Tai Chi, Chinese Martial Arts ( Wu Shu) often called mistakenly Kung Fu and the culture that makes this such a wonderful experience for personal growth.
I began martial arts back in 1961 when a bully with a little experience in judo beat up my little brother. I went and kicked that kids butt for him, even though he was my age a little taller and a green belt in judo. As I think about it now it's so funny how it empowered me to think all of martial arts was crap! That was until a friend introduced me to Shotokan Karate. I had that view point until he showed me how easily he could defeat me. I immediately started my voyage in martial arts which continues today forty-five years later. After year five and believing Karate was the best in the world. I met my Pai Hao Chuan (White Crane Boxing) teacher who taught me the short comings of only having kicks and punches to defend myself with. At year 12 a Tai Chi teacher tried to show me the value of Tai Chi but it was lost to my youth, strength, and stubbornness! At year 14 I met a Shuai Chiao Instructor who showed that Tai Chi combined with kicks, locks, punches, and throws is a complete package that will help you in protection, apprehension, subject restraint, while at the same time giving you a healthy form of exercise and an excellent means for relaxation and recreation! My view point today is it's all good as long as you continue to use reason, continue to learn, and continue to practice!
KUNG FU let's start here with one of the most mis-interpreted words in all of martial art! The term kung fu means skill developed or achieved over a period of time. This skill could be in anything from brick laying, to cooking, art, medicine, or yes even martial arts! The word was first misused in where else? .... America! Where workers in the 1860's on the Trans Continental Railroad would spar or wrestle after working all day and when a person of high skill would be victorious they would be called having achieved kung fu. The white foremen and engineers thought they were saying that they were doing Kung Fu and so the term stuck. It has stuck so strongly that even back in China now in many places they associate the word with Kou Shu martial arts!
Tai Chi Chuan today is becoming fast the most practiced martial art in the world. Tens of millions in China know what they have know since the Yellow Emperor's time in his classics that water in motion is much more purer than water that sits and stagnates, so it's reasoned that a body in motion will stay much more healthier that one that sits and does no exercises. Thus the great dances were born.
Tai Chi Chuan means Grand Ultimate Fist, it was used in the1500's to teach military not only how to punch and kick, but how to lock and throw as well making it a complete package for total self defense. It's when combining the techniques with a clam mind that adds to the players better results when defending themselves.
There are many folk legends that revolve around Chinese Martial Arts and some are pure myth while others have empirical evidence to support their claims. In days to come we will discuss the fact from the myth and try to engage in a process that can help the reader to find a path from which to explore this subject.
My experience comes from studying a wide variety of martial arts American Boxing, White Crane Boxing, Shotokan Karate, Tang Soo Do Tae Kwon Do, Yang Tai Chi, Chen Tai Chi, Chang Tai Chi, and Pao Ting Shuai Chiao. I do not pretend to be an expert on the entirely of the arts listed but I have been a diligent student and have kept excellent notes and practiced in earnest.
Some accomplishments include the first to teach Tai Chi for College accreditation in Texas, Produced a Training Tape for DPS State Law Enforcement on Subject Apprehension and Restraint, Advisor to the United States Kung Fu Wu Shu Federation, Advisor to the Amateur Athletic Union's Chinese Martial Arts Division, as well as being the present National Chairman of the Chinese Martail Arts Division of the AAU, and Chief Executive Operations Officer for the World Shuai Chiao Society.
Though this blog I hope to make friends and spread the values of Shuai Chiao and Tai Chi. In the words of one of the greatest martial artist I ever had the privilege to train there is plenty of sky for us all to stand under.
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