Tai Chi and Other Martial Arts – How a Blend of Skills Can Benefit You…
While this site is devoted to the study of Tai Chi, it as a subject does not exist in a vacuum relative to other martial arts. While I understand that some do not practice Tai Chi for it’s martial benefits, it’s origins in great part are rooted in self defense.
My Style is Better Than Your Style
More than not, most martial artists contend that their particular style or system is superior to others, I feel strongly that when looked at as a whole a well rounded set of skills or tools can help you to deal with specific and unpredictable situations in life.
Don’t Take Is So Hard
Take for instance Judo. As you probably know, or maybe not, the primary focus in Judo is in throwing, sweeping or grappling (wrestling) with your opponent – “Hands On” stuff. However the first thing that I learned when studying Judo was to fall – and when I say fall, I mean FALL HARD!
Somebody’s throwing you, you’re going down… you don’t have time to think about it… you best know how to land… right?
True Story
Here’s a tribute to this that if not told by whom it was I would have a hard time believing it happened…
I was having coffee with a good friend – Lorenzo a while back – he’s in his mid 70’s and has never studied Judo or any other martial art… However his son has been taking Aikido (Judo on steroids) for a while.
During a visit between my friend and his son, they discussed and worked the basic principals and mechanics of falling, specifically a forward roll… Now please understand that this is a special family and all in this “clan” are VERY good communicators… So the “Lesson” is taught and they go on with their lives…
A short time later, Lorenzo is walking out the back door of his sons house, slips on the step, falls forward, tucks, rolls, does a 360 and lands STANDING ON HIS FEET! One lesson that perhaps saved him from serious injury. No joke, witnesses present – it happened…
The Moral of the Story
So the moral to this story is to be open to developing other skills, whether you are studying Tai Chi, or Karate or whatever, sooner or later, you are going to lose your balance, you are going down and you are going to hit the deck. In Lorenzo’s case, his training consisted of probably a 30 minute discussion and demonstration – it really does not matter.
Be open to learning all the time; if you are trained in a “hands off” style like Karate or Kung Fu, get comfortable with sweeps, throws or at least falling. If you are into Judo or Aikido, you might want to investigate “hands on” styles… You get the idea…
Until next time… keep practicing… Rick
