Common Tai Chi Mistakes: Relaxing Without Alignment

[@danvitale923]

Excellent explanation....

[@DarsanaMartialArts]

Thank you @danvitale923. Glad you got something out of it.

[@PeterBridenne]

Great lesson master. Thanks from France !

[@DarsanaMartialArts]

Thank you for appreciating my work. I'm glad you got something from it.

[@rabukan5842]

Well explained. I've been training/teaching MA since 1970. I used my skills in actual combat and I teach Marines and Special Forces combat skills based on the arts I have trained. When I do Tai Chi (which as I age has become my primary training art along with Kali,) I move as if each form is usable in combat. Yes, I "relax," which comes from experience, but there is also a lot of "resistance" in that relaxation, which is necessary for improvement. I avoid those kinds of "flowy/dance" like styles which do not increase my fighting abilities in the martial arts. So my Tai Chi alignment is no different from my alignment in Karate, Wing Chun, Hun Gar, Judo, Jujutsu, Chin-na, Escrima/Kali/Arnis, etc. And for me, Tai Chi forms make the most sense when we understand the connections between it and all these Asian arts. From that perspective, what you are describing is the foundation of all MA. Well done.

[@DarsanaMartialArts]

Hello @rabukan5842. Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience. I agree. To me, it's far more important for a martial artist to understand what unites the arts than what divides them. Fundamentaly, we're seeking universal, human truths. The different arts help us to see those truths in different ways. I think if one either studies deeply enough or broadly enough, they will come to the same truths. I appreciate your input. Regards, Grant

[@RobertAgarHutton]

Nice video - I recorded a video a couple of days ago: "Tai Chi - Relaxation / Song" and then today, I found your video which also covers the same thing but from a more in-depth and more Eastern viewpoint - so, as well as linking to my video, I have included a reference to your video in my November Tai Chi newsletter that I'll be sending out to my students in a day or so - I hope you get some more views and more subscribers from it.

[@DarsanaMartialArts]

Hello again, Robert. Thank you so much for your generous support. I'd love a link to your newsletter and your video.

[@RobertAgarHutton]

@@DarsanaMartialArts - Have posted a reply here three times but they don't seem to be showing??? I can send you an email if you like?

[@RobertAgarHutton]

I wonder if KZbin (or maybe your channel) won't allow links in comments????

[@DarsanaMartialArts]

Email me at [e-mail]

[@outerlast]

the flailing ones, like chen 108, some zhaobao, and yang water style, are actually more difficult because each moment, you need to have structure

[@DarsanaMartialArts]

Hello, @outerlast. Thank you for your comment. I agree, but I think there are many who may see such styles and emulate their movements without understanding what's going on within them. I feel that kind of softness is earned with a high level of internal alignment. This video is really aimed at those who may not understand that.

[@outerlast]

@@DarsanaMartialArts thank you for your reply. and yes, you're not wrong on that case. in one seminar, most people even those who had done taiji for a long time couldn't do it properly when tested. just imitating the movement wouldn't be beneficial except maybe for stretching. but the other way is, people who don't know may think the flailing ones are wrong, flashy, useless, etc, as they haven't met practitioners who can do it properly. this may be one of the reasons why those styles are not popular, and that's pretty unfortunate.

[@KelGhu]

The error is more Song (release) without Lián (connection, joining). Alignment is more of a consequence.

[@DarsanaMartialArts]

Hello @KelGhu, thank you for your comment and for following my work. I think, perhaps, the difference may be largely semantic. I feel one could also say that connection is the result of release with alignment. If we say alignment is something like lining up pathways as one might line up a set of water pipes to ensure no leaks occur, and we say release is the opening of the valves at the connections between those pipes (and perhaps clearing any blockages), then connection (the unbroken flow of water in this analogy) is the result. I think it depends on how you conceptualiz the term alignment in this case. For me, alignment is really about the unbroken "lines" of force-transferance in the body that creates connection, but I think we are really talking about the same thing.