| | | | | difficult, just as jogging is extremely difficult for |
| The Benefits of Tai Chi and Internal Martial Arts | | | | the beginner. But after years of practice, the |
| for Self-defense: Part 1 of 2 | | | | internal martial artist’s body starts to change, |
| Internal Martial arts such as Tai Chi, or Ba Gua | | | | and they start to see the health and martial |
| can be extremely effective for self defense if | | | | benefits as they begin to move as a functional |
| trained correctly. There are a few strategic | | | | unit and cease using “awkward force”. |
| principles in Chinese internal Martial Arts that can | | | | They also get damaged less often in hard martial |
| provide a tactical advantage in melee combat. I | | | | arts sparring. This body changing also includes |
| will outline them in the following sections: Body | | | | tendon conditioning, thus making an internal artist |
| Alignment and Changing, Friction and Sensitivity, | | | | “seem” stronger as they move as a |
| Timing, Initiative (these last two I will explain in | | | | more functional unit. Tendons are as strong as |
| part two of this article). You will notice there is no | | | | steel. If you can learn to use them, and to |
| magic to any of this – it is all science. For | | | | strengthen them, then you will move as a more |
| more information on tai chi, self-defence and kung | | | | functional and solid (yet fluid) unit. |
| fu please visit Martial Arts London Ontario (MALO). | | | | Friction and Sensitivity |
| Body Alignment / Posture and Body Changing | | | | Another key aspect in internal arts like Tai Chi, or |
| The first thing about internal chinese martial arts | | | | Ba Gua (Cheng Sher and Magui), is friction, or |
| like Tai Chi and Ba Gua is that they are based off | | | | what is sometimes called sticky hands. With this |
| of the chinese system of medicine. This system | | | | body changing, and two person “push”, |
| has been well aware of things that chiropractors | | | | “search”, or “sticky” hands |
| and sports physiotherapists are just starting to | | | | practice, practitioners become more sensitive to |
| learn about the human nervous system and spinal | | | | the movements of others, and by using this |
| cord, meditative benefits, and muscle/tendon | | | | sensitivity, internal martial artists can use a |
| functional excellence. Like gymnasts and dancers, | | | | foe’s force against them by placing them off |
| internal arts practitioners do difficult and challenging | | | | balance. And by using friction, the practitioner can |
| exercises, drills, and forms in order to literally | | | | deliver more kinetic energy per second than a |
| change their body’s metabolism, balance, | | | | straight punch. All boxers know that more friction |
| structure, tendon strength, speed and flexibility. | | | | means more damage, so too does this apply to |
| The more serious one is with their body changing | | | | throws and arm drags. The more friction when |
| training, the more results they will see. Doing Tai | | | | throwing an opponent, the more kinetic energy |
| Chi once per week without the requisite secrets is | | | | you deliver into them, the faster they hit the |
| not good enough. At first this training is extremely | | | | ground. |