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Combat Tai Chi Vol 1 B – Dynamics of Movement $197 $147

In this video you will learn:

• They Attack First. I Strike First, and How to apply this principle in the street.
• Leading into Emptiness
• Lu Rollback
• More Quick & Effective Street Applications
• More ways to combine Steel Wrapped in Cotton with the street apps for devastating results
• Fa Jing
• And Much More…

Format: NTSC DVD-R | Run Time: 156 min.

Combat Tai Chi Vol 1 B – Dynamics of Movement $197 $147

If you don’t have Vol 1 A – Standing Dynamics Click Here to order both of them together and Save.

Tai Chi Grappling consists of

1. Chi Na / Qi Na seizing and holds
   • nerves
   • tendons
   • pressure points & meridians
   • airways
   • muscles
   • veins
2. Locks
3. Throws
4. Breaks
5. Counter Locks
6. Evasions
7. Escapes
8. Counter throws
9. Rotations

At any decent level of skill in Tai Chi the Tai Chi Grappling arts are considered an essential part of the Dim Mak arsenal. Tai Chi Grappling is simply another tool that makes it so that once contact is made the Tai Chi practitioner can economize their motion and work from wherever they are and not need to gain a different contact point or position on the opponent.

An essential part of the Tai Chi Grappling arts is the Tai Chi counter grappling methods. Locking, seizing and throwing are very well known skills to most Chinese martial art practitioners and Tai Chi Chuan would not be considered a real martial art without them.

Tai Chi Strategy is to end the fight with as little force as possible. The idea is to end the confrontation by blending with the attacker such that the attacker has nowhere to strike. The other Tai Chi strategy when this is not possible is for the practitioner to strike second but hit first. I addressed this idea a bit in a prior post on Tai Chi Fighting Strategy.

One of my favorite analogies for Tai Chi strategy in physical terms is to think of a hanging towel or shower curtain. If you strike a hanging towel or shower curtain hard and fast it normally just moves and bends. Try to put a hole in it and learn a lesson in frustration. It does not break because it simply gives way. If you look at the flowing aspect of Tai Chi movement in comparison to the towel or shower curtain then it will make more sense why and how you want your Tai Chi movement to really flow.

Can you be soft and flowing enough that a hit cannot easily penetrate you? The answer is yes but it may take quite a bit of practice to think and move this way. Use the idea of suddenly being one piece of connected body so that your entire body weight is all present at one time as a whole that can be transmitted through any contact point and then you will be working the other side of the coin.

If you can go from soft and flowing like a towel or shower curtain to one solid and connected piece at will (like a 150 – 200 pound steel wrapped in cotton statue) then you can really display the yin and yang in your fighting art. Soft and relaxed until the moment you want to strike and then all of your body weight is transferred in an instant at the most opportune time as you choose. I like to say float like a butterfly and then sting like a brick wall. This is a proper application of real Tai Chi Chuan Strategy in motion.

If you would like to see this fighting Tai Chi strategy it is demonstrated on our Combat Tai Chi video 1 B How to move with Tai Chi and on our Light & Heavy Tai Chi video.

Tai Chi Breaking Techniques include bone breaking of small joints, longer limbs and vertebrae as well as internal damage such as organ rupturing etc.. This may sound quite violent for an art with such a reputation for peace but when you consider the origins of the art then it makes quite a bit more sense.

The older masters of the last generation of Tai Chi (including Dr Wu the head of my original Tai Chi family) tended to be Chinese medicine practitioners with long family histories of acupuncture, bone setting, Tui Na Massage and chi energy manipulation (Fa Gung and External Chi Healing). Dr Wu’s Family history in medicine traces back over 500 years. This means that they understood the body and its functions very well.

The refined touch and movement needed to really apply light force and correct leverage can be refined by the applied practice of the healing arts. As you work with the body and begin to understand the body better you also begin to really understand the body’s frailties and what it takes for a bone, organ or muscle to be moved, displaced, broken or otherwise damaged.

Tai Chi Breaking Techniques include proper placement of a hand, elbow, arm, shoulder or torso such that all that is required to finish the technique is the proper application of force at the point of contact and the internal ability to make the force and weight transfer and express where and when desired. This is a mainstay of real Tai Chi training and is also part of the purpose of skilled Push Hands practice.

I recently stumbled across this post that asks the question: What Is The “On Guard” Position In Tai Chi Chuan?
Here’s my 2 cents:

Tai Chi trains to fight against surprise attacks starting with the hands down at your side and then raising into a defensive position. The primary defensive position being Play Guitar, Strum the Lute, Play the Pipa, Patting Horse, Three-Point Concentration, Seven Stars, and Big Dipper as named by other instructors. This is not so much a start as it is a position that is designed to deflect an incoming attack.

Arms start at your sides and then are raised to ward off an incoming attack.

For known attackers the primary fighting position in Tai Chi is the top of the first movement in the forms. It is known as Opening the Form, Rise and Fall and Place hands on Jade Table as well as by other names.

The point of the position is that the attacker has to come into the range and within reach of the Tai Chi player and all the Tai Chi player has to do is use gravity to defend themselves. It may be the same position as the one Andrew Dale referred to being used by TT Tchoung and it does usually look like the practitioner is saying “come try me” although it can be used to say “Stop”, “Get Back”, “Stay Away from me” or “I am Ready’ with equal effectiveness.

How to use and fight from this position is taught on “Combat Tai Chi Vol 2″ (coming in April.)

Tai Chi Throwing can be accomplished a number of different ways. As an exercise one of my teachers had us stand in the strongest position we could and he walked through the room effortlessly touching each of us one at a time. He touched everyone in a different spot and had absolutely no trouble tossing each of us. He was making a number of points and one of them is that the basic human condition of standing is unstable and easily moved or thrown.

5 different Ways of Tai Chi Throwing

1. Feel the source and direction of power from your opponent and use it to add a bit of your own power in the direction they are already going. The Tai Chi throw is accomplished when the opponent thought they had you and so does not counter the force you are adding to them because they do not realize you have them until it is to late.
2. Trap the opponents limb(s) as you step across them sinking down as you progress forward thus causing the throw.
3. Move and lead the opponent into an over-extended position so that they are easy to toss by using the leverage of the over-extension and /or tension.
4. Find a point of imbalance inside the opponent and causing the opponent to fall over / past this point so that they cannot stop themselves from being thrown.
5. Find a point of tension inside the opponent and using it as a pivot point. When properly applied this method will quite commonly cause the opponent to go air-born.

I have listed 5 common ways of Tai Chi Throwing. There are other ways as well. if you have a particular favorite please add a post about it. Also, please post any other Tai Chi Throws that you think are worth mentioning because they are used a lot by most Tai Chi Chuan styles.

Tai Chi Fighting Strategy is written about in the Tai Chi classics and includes the where, when and how of the application of power.

One of the most important Tai Chi Fighting Strategy points written about is the idea that the enemy attacks first and that the Tai Chi practitioner actually makes contact first. The key to actually doing this is, of course, timing, distance, movement and placement of techniques. Understanding this aspect of Tai Chi fighting is essential to really use Tai Chi as a fighting art and specifically refers to the economy of motion that is central to how Tai Chi is used and practiced.

Tai Chi is a walking art. The way that distance and space are used is essential in order for the art to be utilized as it is intended. Understanding critical distances from just beyond reach with a kick to up close body contact is the essence of the physical strategic aspect of Tai Chi. Walking out of range or into range when an attacker is unprepared for it can really tilt the outcome of a fight in your favor.

One scenario that can be used to understand this concept is as follows. My enemy attacks from 9 feet away. They have to cover most of the 9 feet just to reach me. While they are trying to cover the distance to reach me I am already ready to strike and counter attack. When the attacker can be reached I hit them as they are still approaching. They were attacking first but I landed the first hit.

Another way to look at this from a physical standpoint is that the Tai Chi practitioner is soft and flowing evading the strikes of the attacker until the attacker is in a bad position. Then, the Tai Chi practitioner strikes the attacker hitting them at their weakest point with the best hit for the position, direction and speed at the time. Once again, the attacker was striking first but the Tai Chi practitioner actually hit first (and ideally last).

These methods are taught in the Combat Tai Chi program and the basics can be found on Video 1 B (coming in March.)

How you protect your energy or Energy Protection is probably the # 1 question that I get asked by folks who are already energy healers.

It is a common theme that energy healers, including massage therapists and chiropractors, who have their hands on ill and otherwise troubled people for hours every day become more sensitive and are invested mentally, emotionally and financially in their work. As a result they begin to pick up negative feelings, emotions and energy from those who they are attempting to heal. Over time many serious health professionals tend to feel weak and overpowered by the negative energy of others, and of course, then they look for Energy Protection methods.

I will present some Energy Protection methods here to try to help. Realize that the methods I am presenting here are very basic and should be expanded upon.

1. When you work with / on someone make sure that they want the healing work and that they are willing to do their part in the healing process. Essentially the energy worker is a facilitator not the healer. The individual is the healer. This must be understood by both parties for real healing to occur. The energy worker may need to make a living from what they do but that does not lessen the personal responsibility of the person who is seeking to be healed. So, part of the treatment process is establishing this and acknowledging “what” the individual seeking treatment is doing and can do for healing.
2. If my job is to massage and/or release tension, strain etc then my work is to do that. When the individuals energy flows freely again I do not let it flow into me. Instead I let the released physical and mental energy flow through them and out of them into the ground or back to source where it is renewed as energy without any good or bad intent. As a healing practitioner I make sure that the recipient of a treatment understands all of this. So, the recipient knows that I will not be receiving their negative energy.
3. I establish an environment that is predicated on items 1 and 2 of this post and if the individual wants me to work on them without meeting their personal responsibility to themselves and to me as a facilitator then I will not work with / on them.
4. Part of establishing the correct environment is that the individual / student / patient has work to do. Even if their job is only to relax and breathe then they need to do that job. Commonly in my own practice I have students perform and utilize posture (usually Wu Chi), relaxation, breathing, and various forms of mental focus or attention while I am working on / with them.
5. Prepare your own mind and body in a very correct state before performing any healing work. I actually tend to charge the air around me with this same energy so that I am protected by an energy shield as well as being in a mental and spiritual state that is difficult for others to penetrate.
6. If you are not able or strong enough to do this then under normal conditions you are probably not strong enough to heal at this time and should refrain.
7. If I pick up some negative energy from the student / patient / individual then I immediately stop and work to get it off and out of me through utilizing my own focus, breathing and posture as well as prayer and cold water washing down my arms. I have the student / patient / recipient continue to do their part while I am dispelling the negative energy.

To expand on the Energy Protection methods I recommend that you study materials such as my Protect Your Energy video and study the sections of my Chi Energy book that are designed specifically for this purpose. Also, spend some time with a Master healer who understands and can apply the more advanced methods of mind intent including Yi or I and Shen.

I have students who have picked up on some of the advanced methods without any explanation just because they spent time with me while I was working on / with someone. Students that I have allowed to do this are able to perceive my mind intent working and filling the area and been able to learn how it feels to the degree that they are able to duplicate some of the effect. I do have a program that is designed to teach others how to duplicate this but I have found that it has to be studied one on one through direct transmission.

Eventually with understanding and practice you will be able to Protect Your Energy and really direct and affect the mental and spiritual energy by your thoughts alone. You must be able to feel the energy and mentally be able to direct the energy first in a very real way. I have met many who say that they can do this and then when I ask them to manipulate or push me with their mind or energy or even just send real energy to me they are unable. Tangible real results and affects can be accomplished.

So few have real ability because they have allowed themselves to be fooled into thinking that a very small amount of ability and a bit of mental thinking is a lot more ability than they really have. Real and truly powerful results can be gained but the real work to get it must be done first. I have spent the majority of my life researching these skills and reaped the rewards for having done so. I am offering to help those of you who are serious to get the same impressive results. I am able to help you accomplish these skills with much less time and money than I had to spend just to find quality teachers. But, there still is a cost in time, money and commitment that is required in order to get the real high level skills. Finding a skilled teacher is often difficult and finding a skilled teacher who is willing to teach you is often another level of difficulty altogether.

I am not the most skilled practitioner of these arts on planet Earth by a long shot. I am not willing to teach every last person who walks in my door. You must be of good moral and ethical character desiring to help and protect yourself and others. You must also be very understanding that I am a human being with an American mentality with a family and bills (including business overhead such as paying for a building and an internet expert who works for me full time) and have to get paid for my time, effort and knowledge.

As a teacher I am very open and I have worked and continue to work (for over 30 years now) very hard to attain the best skills and ability that I can. I believe that my skill shows best in the quality of the students and practitioners that I produce.

I sincerely wish you good training and excellent results.

There are many different types of Tai Chi Applications. Although Tai Chi is not usually considered a fighting art Tai Chi is in fact a complete martial art. That is not to say that I would expect you to find a Tai Chi Master fighting in the UFC anytime soon. You will find that there are some very well respected Tai Chi fighters in Asia.

Tai Chi Applications include but are not limited to:

• Bone Breaking Techniques
• Evasionary Techniques
• Defense against getting broken bones
• Open Hand transfer of power
• Slapping Techniques
• Fist and Punching Techniques
• Elbow & Knee Techniques
• Foot Stomping Techniques
• Chi Na
• Grappling & Seizing Techniques including Trapping Locks and Holds
• Counter Grappling & Escapes
• Throwing Techniques
• Kicking
• Finger Strikes
• Whole Body Frame striking (using the whole body to hit)
• Pressure Point Strikes

A young Tai Chi practitioner sent me an email question asking what Electric Jing is and it occurred to me that others may also benefit by my reply so here goes.

Regarding Electric Jing. When the human energy system is properly connected in Wu Chi the Chi starts flowing through both the Micro and Macro Cosmic Orbit without you having to make it happen. You can easily test it by seeing if you automatically have an energy ball between your hands without having to form one. When you bring your palms towards each other the energy is simply there.

Once you get used to this jing then when you have the electrical flow turned on you can feel it without having to bring your hands together. Then when you practice your Tai Chi set every time the energy stops flowing you know that your posture is off or that you are holding tension somewhere and so then the energy helps you to make the corrections because you adjust until the energy begins flowing again.

A lot of the ravaging effects of old age and disease occurs due to blockages and lack of energy flow. The electrical jing helps you with this. At more advanced levels of practice you can transmit the electrical jing flow to a recipient for healing or self defense purposes.