11
votes
Accepted
How do you call a practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan (or Kung Fu in general)?
It depends on context, skill and time spent training.
If they just start training they're a student 学生(xué'shēng), when they become an official disciple they'll be called 徒弟(tú'dì).
Then when they ...
- 226
11
votes
Accepted
What is happening physiologically when the whole body violently shakes during standing qigong?
Every individual muscle fiber cannot contract for long without being damaged. Therefore, in any static posture or exertion of strength over a significant period of time, muscle fibers within muscle ...
- 7,866
7
votes
Cheng Man-Ch'ing advises that breath should be: Fine, Long, Calm, and Slow. What does this mean?
I do not think it is necessary to seek out and translate primary sources for breathing. My understanding is that taiji, bagua, and xing yi share Daoist qi gong breathing; guidance from any of these ...
- 14.4k
6
votes
What does it mean to "uproot" someone in tai chi?
First we might want to define 'root'.
'Root' is simply the ability to resist a push.
This is most often done in "internal arts" as a 'relaxed' manner and paired with the not loosing of one's ...
- 61
5
votes
How do you call a practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan (or Kung Fu in general)?
There are several good answers here. I'll only add that there are specific names practitoners call other practitioners depending on relationship.
Very commonly utilized are the terms:
Si Hing ( ...
- 3,189
5
votes
How do you call a practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan (or Kung Fu in general)?
It is complicated in Chinese, and often depends on who is referring to whom, and what dialect is being used. In Japan, the term "-ka" is added (and in Korean "-in") to denote a "practitioner of". ...
- 4,141
5
votes
Snake Creeps Down
Yes it is possible; it is relatively easy to find video of people doing it. I am not a health professional and I would not presume to give health advice, but I am an aging practitioner with knee ...
- 3,291
5
votes
What elements of a typical Tai Chi curriculum are useful for fighting or combat sports?
You're not alone. Many Taiji (also spelled T'ai Chi) practitioners are not interested in the esoteric, mystical topics that often come along for the ride. They want practical, real skill that can be ...
- 19.5k
4
votes
Should I speed up my breathing or slow down my tai chi?
Slow down the movements if you're practicing alone. Adjust the breath to the movements if you're doing applications or partner exercises.
In the beginning it is better not to worry about the ...
- 286
4
votes
What is "seven star"?
I found in "Tai Chi Postures & Internal Power Enhancement Taijiquan Shi" by Xu Yu-Sheng another explanation (page 107):
The seven stars [the seven joints of the upper torso] unite as one, ant ...
- 79
4
votes
Snake Creeps Down
As in all Tai Chi postures, the knees should point in the direction of the toes. As the angle between the feet can vary from 90° to 135° in this posture, the knees should be very open. Only like this ...
- 286
4
votes
Accepted
What are basic kung fu stances?
Ma bu and gong bu are the most basic stances, and I'm sure every other martial art has them. Ma bu gets referred to as horse stance alot here. Gong bu is basically a standard attack stance. Pu bu is a ...
- 796
4
votes
How do you call a practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan (or Kung Fu in general)?
Adding on to Wigwam's answer, other options are
武者 （wǔ zhě）
武人（wǔ rén）
功夫者 （gōng fū zhě）
功夫达人（gōng fū dá rén）
Although the last one translates to something like "Kung fu expert", I've heard it used ...
- 413
4
votes
Meditative yet effective martial art
You really do not really need to choose a different style of martial art for gaining martial effectiveness. What you generally need is a different way to practice Taijiquan.
The big mistake is that ...
- 1,367
4
votes
Accepted
What is the technical name for this movement performed by Master Wong in Birth of the Dragon?
That movement is essentially a mix of a flying arm bar and a spinning arm bar with a bit of extra spinning added in to make it look more cinematic.
- 12.2k
3
votes
How do you call a practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan (or Kung Fu in general)?
By practitioner, I assume you mean someone who practices tài jì (taichi) regardless of skill level considerations.
As explained to me orally, and corroborated at least by the Wikipedia judoka ...
- 14.4k
3
votes
What are basic kung fu stances?
I am aware of two basic reasons to do stances. See Is it expected that all training stances/positions will have direct fighting applications?
Stances are directly for fighting
Stances are for ...
- 14.4k
3
votes
Can Martial Arts be learned alone?
I am not an expert, but I think this is the general answer to expect:
You can learn techniques, and understand concepts, just by watching videos or trying things out for yourself.
The issue is, if ...
- 103
3
votes
What does it mean to "uproot" someone in tai chi?
Having a root means being able to redirect any incoming force into the ground. In Tai Chi, learning to root yourself is a very important part of the training. The method is not to just lower the ...
- 286
3
votes
How does one progress from tai chi push hands to free-sparring?
Refer to the Tai Chi Classics, the modern oral tradition is 'all over the shop'.
There are the Original 13 Postures:
Ward Off, Rollback, Press, Push,
Pull, Split, Elbow, Shoulder,
Advance, ...
3
votes
What are tai chi's high-percentage push hands techniques?
In my experience:
Control the elbows
This can be done to spin an attacker around and grip them by the throat with the other hand controlling base of the spine, either gently or to crush the windpipe,...
- 3,189
3
votes
Accepted
Why am I overwhelmed by negative energy after training?
Exercise affects how you feel. Whether you describe this feeling in terms of meridians or dopamine is immaterial; you personally have no objective way to measure either of these things. You can think ...
- 14.4k
3
votes
How is "Tai Chi Chuan" pronounced in Cantonese?
I'm cantonese
It's pronounced: Tai 'cake' kuen
Taichi chuen is mandarin
- 697
3
votes
Accepted
How is Tai Chi different as a martial art in terms of self defense/combat?
Overall
Sinking of the joints is one of the core techniques, and a method of directing/re-directing force. It allows directing force even in unexpected directions. Sinking of the joints (wrists, ...
- 3,189
3
votes
How is Tai Chi different as a martial art in terms of self defense/combat?
The question asks for a detailed analysis of Taiji as it compares and contrasts with other martial arts. Looking beyond the specifics, there's an underlying question here about how Taiji is different ...
- 19.5k
2
votes
What are tai chi's high-percentage push hands techniques?
Grasp Sparrows Tail/Push Hands: "is like two man sawing", four postures going back and forth, round and round at four ounces. Push is neutralized by Rollback, Press is neutralized by Ward Off. ...
2
votes
How does one progress from tai chi push hands to free-sparring?
Hello Taijiquan advocates,
I enjoyed reading some of the responses especially the detailed one by "anon".
I just wanted to mention that after Push Hands level there is a 2 man fist form ...
- 21
2
votes
How, historically, did American push-hands get so restrictive in comparison to Chinese push-hands?
Fixed step flows into moving step and moving step into free sparring. Chen Village competitions are displaying the free sparring wrestling aspect which has always been the objective. Even other ...
2
votes
Yang tai chi breathing (when to inhale/exhale)
Your teacher is right, as ist the classic text you cited.
But...
Doing it the opposite way isn't necessarily wrong. In the beginning, it seems more "natural" to inhale while rising the arms and to ...
- 286
2
votes
Is it common and expected that shifus give theory classes about stuff like TCM, meridians and joints?
It's not uncommon, especially for internal styles. By my teacher was a Chinese national champion in internal and said it's not necessary. "Feeling" is essential, and I can elaborate more ...
- 3,189
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