Various Tai Chi punches can commonly be found in Chen style forms and there are more than a few different kinds of Tai Chi punches in Tai Chi. Even Yang style Tai Chi has punches in it. Most notable are the Tai Chi Parry and Punch and the Double Ram’s Fists moves. There is also the Tai Chi Fist under Elbow move that can be found in most Yang style long sets.
I will write a bit here on the application of Tai Chi Punches. The Parry and Punch move is, just as the name implies, a parry of an incoming punch followed by your own punch. The move works well in large frame mode to sweep an incoming frontal punch by circling it out of the center area and then counter punching to the most likely source of tension in the attackers diaphragm usually in the center or near the ribs. In small frame mode the attackers incoming punch is parried with a bit more of a wedging action even though the circular parry still occurs and then the follow up punch occurs much faster due to the minimal / economical movement on the part of the Tai Chi practitioner. Normally, the smaller frame movement can only be performed by a much more skilled practitioner.
Double Ram’s Fists has some other neat applications than just punching. Most beginners see the Double Ram’s Fists move as a double punch to the opponents temples and it certainly can be that. However, what is lesser known is the reason for drawing the fists behind your back before striking out and around with them. The beginning of the move is an excellent response to a lower body midsection strike such as an upper cut. Use the back of your forearms to strike and deflect the incoming hit and continue your motion so that your hands brush past your own ribs and then circle back up to the attacker striking them in the jaw ridge on both sides to turn their head (and their body follows suit) while delivering a double strike to the indentions on the jaw thus causing an instant knockout by the contact on these pressure points in this direction and angle. The attacker supplies the force by their body lurching forward response to the arm strike and parry that they received while trying to strike. The Ram’s Fists punches could be to the neck or temples just as easily depending on the attackers height and amount of body lurch after the initial contact. The Tai Chi punches in Double Ram’s Fists are hidden and due to the angle of the strikes returning they will probably not be seen by the attacker.
Hopefully by this point you are seeing that there is a bit more to Tai Chi Punches than most folks initially realize.
Please ask me any questions to help elaborate on these specific applications.
Best Regards
Until next Time.
