TaiJi for Self Defence 6

05/02/2025

TaiJi and XingYi For Self Defence Part 6

With coordination between above and below, the opponent will hardly find a way in.

In this line the importance of agile and balanced footwork is stated as is the importance of making sure that the footwork and hand techniques are coordinated and complementary to each other. Footwork makes important contributions to our fighting strategy in two crucial ways; control of distance and control of angle, that is to say the distance and angle between our opponent and ourselves. The importance of footwork was mentioned in an earlier TaiJI classic; Wang Zongyue’s TaiJI Boxing Treatise. The earliest known written version of this Treatise was published around 1880, it covers many strategies but to keep focused on footwork, distancing etc. I’ll look at just three short excerpts. 

Tai Ji for Self Defence 5

13/01/2025

TaiJi and XingYi For Self Defence Part 5

So, assuming you’ve read the earlier brief explanations of the individual lines and terminology let’s look at how we can use these concepts to help formulate some training objectives. Due to the range of potential applications and methodologies that could be used, I have to limit myself to a few simple examples, hopefully it will be enough to help you get a flavour of what we are talking about.

Tai Ji for Self Defence 4

16/10/2024

TaiJi and XingYi For Self Defence Part 4

In a previous post I referenced an early “classic” text, although often known as the ‘Pushing Hands Song’ it more accurately translates as clashing hands and by inference fighter’s song. 

The below is an early version from around 1880. The date is important because it is around thirty years before the end of the Imperial period in China and therefore it reflects the theoretical understanding of TaiJi when it was still a military activity rather than a leisure pursuit.

Tai Ji for Self Defence 3

30/09/2024

TaiJi and XingYi For Self Defence Part 3

I mentioned in my previous post the value of doing some relatively heavy contact sparring in particular the importance of getting accustomed to being hit. In martial arts in general there is a lot of focus on theoretical ideas and theoretical application as “revealed” in the Form or Kata. There is no doubt that such areas of study have value and can be interesting, but if you want to utilise such knowledge in a practical way you need a solid real world understanding of how violence works in the world outside of the training hall and off the competition mat.