Is Tai Chi a Martial Art?
The easy answer, and one that most instructors will spit out, is that Tai Chi is a martial art but…
They will then tell you it is far too deadly to teach beginners or that you must learn the self-defence aspects for without them, Tai Chi is nothing but Bean Curd Boxing. (A quality that I believe is sadly misconstrued)
So let’s take a look at these arguments a little closer.
TAI CHI AS A DEADLY MARTIAL ART
There is little doubt that the art was once practised as a martial art. Much of its development followed this path, but this is just one aspect of its history. Tai Chi also has a history as a health art, a philosophy as well as a spiritual practice.
What we do know is that if you want to learn an effective form of street defence, then you are better off learning Brazilian Jujitsu or boxing.
What most instructors show (those that have an inkling) are applications to postures that work only with the compliance of students. (A criticism not exclusive to Tai Chi).
Google “Bullshido” and you’ll see plenty of examples. But despite this, the explanations are so varied and diverse that they render the art meaningless as each teacher claims the “correct” interpretation.
Don’t get me wrong. I love looking at applications. I love teaching Sword and find it has lots to teach us about why we do the things we do today.
A MARTIAL BACKGROUND
I speak this as someone who came to Tai Chi from other martial arts. I came from a background in karate, aikido and wing chun. I came looking for the fighting techniques.
But I soon discovered that much of what I was shown was nonsense. At best well-intentioned applications, at worse dangerously delusional in an age of 'smart' bombs, 'intelligent' warfare, cyber-wars and drone strikes.
I didn’t mind too much though, as I found something far more significant than a fighting method. I found something more powerful and deep within the art that had little to do with prowess, speed or explosive energy techniques. I found a deep training in rooting, grounding, yielding, structural strength, breathing, co-ordination and balance that had little to do with competition.
TAI CHI AS A LIVING IDEOLOGY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
It even made me question the notion of what it meant to win in combat. It was an art rich in philosophy and an art that epitomised cultural diversity whilst offering tools to embrace change and evolution.
Tai Chi is such a diverse and historically broad discipline that it’s impossible for it to be all things to all people. Ever since its creation, the art has been evolving, seeking an audience for its many variations.
Now, whether your school is still frozen in 19th century China or migrated to other lands, whether your school has chosen to employ Tai Chi in the exclusive field of martial, health, spirituality, environmentalism, politics, growing-sprouts, surfing, stamp-collecting or Cartesian philosophy - hey, that's fine, but realise it's not one thing. And a lot of it is down to you.
ASK YOURSELF WHERE YOU ARE
Seems a bit of a shame to me though if your'e still in the 19th century combat mode. Bit like spending years developing callouses on your knuckles in order to gain an 'Iron Fist' only to find yourself getting Tasered in your first fight.
At some point, believe me this will happen and you will then need to ask yourself: Is there a more productive way of spending my time? Of all the world's challenges - poverty, housing, climate change, corruption - In my training am I focussing on the real enemy here?
Like to learn the classical interpretations of the main Tai Chi postures? Their meaning literally, figuratively, historically, culturally and in terms of health and martial applications? Then take a look at the Complete Tai Chi Course.
