Tai Chi vs. Power Punches: How to Defend Using Fascia Mastery

[@InternalTaiChi]

I really appreciated that you offered a practice drill at the end. That is extremely helpful. I watch many videos that just demonstrate and teach but do not tell us how to get there or to practice to get there. You address that nicely at the end of the video. Thank you!

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Yes! These videos are to help you improve your skill and understanding. Even if the skill is advanced, requires some foundation, hopefully you can experience a little bit of it through practice so you have an understanding to guide your growth in that direction!

[@RobertMiller-sh7gb]

Very interesting instruction. Makes perfect sense. Aligns with Wing Chun principles quite nicely.

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Thank you! Glad to hear it makes sense for you. That's great that you can find these ideas to be valuable and to align with other styles that you enjoy!

[@congamike1]

This demo and tutorial is great! Thanks!

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

I'm glad you find it helpful! Thank you for confirming. 😃🙏

[@CharlesEBusa]

Great explanation! Thank you!

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Thank you for the comment! 🙏

[@braedenmoses]

This idea carries over beautifully when grappling. If someone’s really coming for you striking…move your feet and take an angle…:) Great explanation and demonstration 🌱

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Thank you for sharing applications of this concept beyond what I had shown! I appreciate it!

[@arnaudh4789]

Thank you very much Sifu for these explanations and this demonstration on the power of fascias and their uses in martial arts!

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

You're very welcome! I'm happy to share. 🙏

[@ragemydream]

Thanks for making this video. 😁

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

You're welcome! I'll continue to share to help people totally understand all of Tai Chi beyond what is commonly known. 😁

[@KingoftheJiangl]

When you roll your arm around, You're also changing directions all the time so it's very difficult to resist and you actually end up spinning your opponents limb out Learned a lot this time!

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

You're right about change. I always want to have that capacity for change, especially when my opponent can not change. I'm very happy to hear that you're learning a lot! These videos are for you and everyone else in exactly that way! 🙌

[@luisbonnet3957]

These are great principles I have learned in Xingyi Quan.

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Yes! Very good point! Xingyi Quan has its roots in spear use and that means they have a very deep understanding of parries that glide over the attack and continues into a thrust. Because being able to instantly turn defense into offense is tremendously advantageous, is it not? Thanks for sharing your experience and perspective! 🙏

[@buddhikagamage2526]

Thank you very much, it help me to change my way of practice too

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Very cool! I'm glad that it opened you up to some new possibilities! What do you practice?

[@buddhikagamage2526]

Yiquan

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

@@buddhikagamage2526 Yiquan is a wonderful art! It helped me understand some things much better!

[@mrvgranfield]

5 ways 1 for each yang element then another 5 ways 1 for each yin element at least 10 ways minimum but thank you for a great explanation for that one .

[@kenkimball4100]

I really have been enjoying your Fascia Mastery course!

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

That's so wonderful to hear and thank you so much for sharing that feedback. Because beyond all the videos one can watch and the learning they haven't enjoyed yet, the experience you share, as someone who went through the course, is the most meaningful feedback for people who share your goal of learning the wonderful internal art of Tai Chi, to realize the potential ahead for them! So that means, thank you for sharing, it's truly helpful! 🙏

[@momoghost]

@@phoenixmountaintaichithis shoul be tought every martial art gym in america taichi that’s why begginners are scared to spar

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

​@@momoghostI would love for beginners to feel more confident to begin a martial arts journey to become stronger, more confident, more wise. There are many effective and practical methods taught in martial arts gyms, and I look forward to one day seeing that Tai Chi is appreciated as one of them! 😃🙏

[@MyqOMatic]

I’m new to your channel but I love it. Have you done a video on how to deal with multiple punches from a boxer? I have my own theory but I haven’t seen any other tai chi players demonstrating this. I’ve very curious if I’m on the direction. Thank you

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Welcome to our community! I've talked briefly before about dealing with multiple punch combinations. I can definitely make a new detailed one on that topic because aside from dealing with one big punch, there must be, inside of Tai Chi, a way to deal with all of the punches, right? So you are right to think there is a method and maybe your theory is just like it, or a different but also good idea. I'll share it soon and we'll see! 🙌

[@MyqOMatic]

Thank you sir. I’m anxious to see what you have to share. I’ve been practicing against this lately, I honestly don’t think I’m doing it in a strictly tai chi way. I’m always open to a better solution. Thanks so much.

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

​@@MyqOMaticI'll keep you posted! 🙌

[@nvisblfist1]

Good work

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Thank you for commenting! 🙏

[@komunikolog]

That's like a secret revealed! Amazing! Thank you for showing it!

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Thank you! Yes I think instead of keeping secrets, it's time we share them so we can research, experiment, and get better together!

[@komunikolog]

@@phoenixmountaintaichi I do appreciate this approach; in my field of expertise I assume the same philosophy :)

[@qigong-mit-sturm]

Thank you for the very successful and exciting videos! 🙏 The method of relaxation and use of fascia offers many possibilities. May I ask: In your opinion, what reasons are there for using tension and pure muscle strength? Are there any situations in which pure muscle strength makes more sense than fascia methods? Or would you say that the methods of Tai Chi always offer more advantages than, for example, the use of force in boxing? 🍀☯️

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Great question! Fascia methods let you borrow muscle force from your opponent. So one time where that would not be helpful is when they don't have fascia. If you are fighting a robot, you will need raw muscle force! Similarly, another time is when you need to deal with the environment. Maybe like to run and jump over an obstacle! Thanks for asking a fun question!

[@qigong-mit-sturm]

@@phoenixmountaintaichi Thank you! But it wasn't meant as a fun question. Because many fighting styles or fighters often forego deeper considerations about the importance of fascia and its benefits. This may be due to ignorance or conscious choice. However, I have the impression that fascia theory should be consciously taken into account much more in other styles and in everyday life. That's why I was interested in your opinion. Perhaps karate would change significantly if fascia theory were paid more attention there.

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

​@@qigong-mit-sturm Great points. I totally agree with you! I also think fascia theory is very helpful and valuable and that's why I'm sharing and bringing our awareness to it. I train some people whose primary interest is MMA or other combat styles. They enjoy incorporating elements of internal arts to their fighting. The key challenge for them is that the mentality is different. Because in these fascia related internal styles, your intention is on gliding lightly along the surface of the body. Whereas in many other styles the intention is to strike, push, or pull directly into the mass of the opponent. It's like driving a race car where sometimes you're supposed to stay close to the walls, and other times you're supposed to go in the middle and ram other cars. The switching of intention and game plan causes gaps, and if you don't shift gear completely, neither strategy will be fully effective. That means a commitment to a single method is generally easier. For me personally, my Tai Chi had a big jump in effectiveness when I went from 98% Song relaxed to 100% Song relaxed. And that was very insightful to me about how impactful dedicating myself completely, can be.

[@qigong-mit-sturm]

@@phoenixmountaintaichi Thank you very much for the great answer! 🙏🍀☯️

[@sinbachatanovivire5122]

It is very interesting. Instead of that, it seem that you don't use the same movement when you say ''i use fascia'' and when ''i don't use'', more tangential in the first case. So the question is '' is the effect really due to fascias or due to the change of arm movement?

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Your observation is totally correct. When using fascia, the force geometry is tangential to the contact surface because “using fascia” in this case means applying a shearing force to the contact surface. Is this all that is causing the effect? It’s a big part of it. Other parts include a certain state of relaxation that in Taichi is called Song. The idea of “using fascia” is a state of mind and intention that encompasses doing both of these things. It’s like if you are doing a punch and you think “punch through the opponent” or “punch through the brick” it will in fact cause observable changes in your body mechanics and improvement in the result. So is the effect really due to “punch through the opponent” or is it due to change of arm movement, it’s both, and for the practitioner, the change in intention is what causes the change in arm movement, is it not? Does this all make sense? Thank you for your great question. You have a keen observation skills and a curious, open mind. 😃🙏

[@Eternaprimavera73]

NICE

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Thank you! 😃🙌

[@KingoftheJiangl]

Do you ever get asked what you think about the role of strength training with weights when it comes to internal peactice?

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

All the time! I think we should indeed strength train, as we aspire to be as strong and healthy as we can be, in a manner that is totally safe and sustainable. Because a robust body is a powerful and dependable foundation for internal development, and the awareness and balance you develop through internal training becomes an excellent guide to how to live in a way that is nourishing, empowering, and aligned with your highest self. Thank you for asking the great question. 😃🙏

[@aaRulas]

i think this is useful as a first strike defense, useless if the guy goes with a flurry of punches

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

You're right that is great when they go for one big punch. It can be useful against flurries of punches to give you an opportunity to interrupt them. Thank you for sharing your strategic thoughts on the idea! 🙏

[@paulpells1864]

Will this work with both fighters having say a coat on for whatever reason, thanks.

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Depending on the skill level, yes. When you first do this you rely more on friction, and as your skill grows you make more use of manipulating intention. As you shift away from friction towards Intention, you will be able to do it over coats and slippery clothing. This is a rather advanced skill but I want people to have a sense of what is possible and interesting as our skill in Tai Chi grows. 😃 Thank you for asking, you have a good pragmatic mind!

[@paulpells1864]

@@phoenixmountaintaichi 🙏

[@hongdekungfu]

Respect

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Respect to you too! 🫸🤛 I see you practice the ten roads smashing fist on your channel. I learned that too when I was a little kid! You do an excellent performance of it!

[@bajuszpal172]

Really O, K but why can´t we hear the word of isomewetric resistance? Paul,68

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Hi Paul, sorry but I'm not sure I understand your question. Can you explain?

[@lelfet3177]

Aïkido can do a lot ... defense active, sense of physics, returned strength. You need to be very quick and focused...don't block unless absolutely needed.😊 Not MMA, survival

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Very true! Quick, and focused. I demonstrated here larger movements than would be optimal, because it's easier to see. And smaller, tighter movements will be better in use. Thanks for being up good points! 🙌

[@GonzaloGutierrez-qg8gf]

Please do this in a real soparring match. Otherwise I call BS

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

I understand that it looks different than what you've seen before and so I understand that you would want to call it BS. I have some footage of this in sparring matches, and I am collecting more with a variety of people so that we can see how it affects all kinds of people not just one person here. And for my students it's educational and helpful to see how it affects different attacks in different ways. That means I'll be able to make a useful educational video about it beyond just showing something to prove something. Because above the need to prove right or wrong, I want to help people elevate their skills in a way that is easy to understand and beneficial to their life! Thanks for your comment! 🙏

[@citystone1324]

I keep seeing this guy come up in my feed for some reason. So, I'll take a moment to say that he clearly can't fight very well. People who know how to fight do not move like that in response to powerful crosses, especially if the puncher is bigger than they are. If you want to learn how to fight, watch what combat sports athletes do, not what "martial artists" do.

[@braedenmoses]

I don’t think any one here is trying to “learn to fight with tai chi” mate, it’s a tool just like weight lifting, instead it focuses more upon the unseen and “feeling” of certain movement. Personally, I do find these “soft fascial unbalances” very applicable to the Kuzushi portion of grappling. Tai chi’s martial components are not found in its striking but instead is a grappling practice.

[@senchalhatton9690]

I had to laugh out loud at your comment, because "This guy" your talking about, is a great master I was lucky to find, and study with for years. When he shows the basics of a particular lesson, he will often focus on one thing for better understanding and practice, then build on that. If you were really attacking him, its like fighting the wind. The more powerful you think you are, the faster you would be defeated.

[@andrealuigilaplaca1291]

You don’t know what you’re talking about bud 💁‍♂️ Eat your ice cream and scroll on to other videos more worthy of the BS you’ve just embarrassed yourself with 😇

[@Bevallalom]

I kindly disagree with the explanation. You redirect the incoming force with changing force vector as you push not on the side but 'rubbing' your arm on his arm. The muscles can't follow circular force. That is all to it. English is not my native language so I may not be too clear... sorry about that. What you show works but nothing to do with fascia. Except relaxation 😉

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and your English is working fine! 😃 You are right to point out the importance of rubbing on the surface. And you are really wise to point out the importance of relaxation. If you do this without relaxation it will not work, and I didn't mention that in the video! So that's very helpful for you to point out. Beyond what you said about rubbing the surface, the role of fascia is that it is the "material" which completely connects all of the body together. And it plays an important role in how they coordinate their movement. That means, as we cause a change in their balance and direction, it is because of the fascia connecting the contact points and the all of their body. You can conduct an experiment like this, if you drop a medicine ball, football, or something similar, try rubbing the surface in circular motion as it falls. It will spin, but it will not really change direction. And yet only in a person (or animal) with fascia, you can now deflect them substantially. So that means you won't see me with a "Deflect cannon balls using fascia mastery" video. 😆 Thanks for sharing your comment, I appreciate it!

[@riptiz]

@@phoenixmountaintaichiI think some people use parts of their body without realising it, having studied karate and aikido for many years I can apply as you show but until studying tai chi never heard fascia mentioned in training. Interestingly fascia has only been mentioned in the west until recently as if it’s just been discovered and yet tai chi has been using it for a long time. Regards, Dave

[@tonywalman]

"Song" exhibits miracle power !

[@johntay3831]

Hey, it works and that’s all it matters. Keep training, experimenting.

[@azlaroc12]

I think it qualifies as facial movement of one kind or another. To activate fascia as opposed to muscular contraction, you have to use your intention or mind in a specific but relaxed way to get the body to do it. It takes a lot of practice to be free of surplus tension. Rubbing or shaving is one of the many ways of receiving incoming force, but it fails utterly with a tense mind/ body action.

[@文哥-i4e]

you assume you are always blocking from outside. What if your opponent pounch inside. in your video, if you opponent pounch you with left hand, i do NOT think you are in the right position to block outside.

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Yes you are right. If the punch comes from the outside you would do a different technique. It’s good that you think about different situations beyond any one lesson. Thank you for your comment! 😃🙏