Does Tai Chi have any practical use? Why do many Tai Chi forms have no practical use?

Tai Chi is a martial arts sport that conforms to the principles of boxing and has combative qualities. The boxing principles here refer to the fact that Tai Chi movements conform to the laws of attack and defense, have offensive and defensive meanings, and can produce certain offensive and defensive effects. This is both the basic difference between Tai Chi movements and other sports such as gymnastics, dance, and qigong, and is also one of the essential differences. So, does Tai Chi have a practical effect? ​​Why do many Tai Chi movements have no practical effect? ​​Let's take a look at the introduction of Encyclopedia Knowledge Network to answer these questions!

Contents of this article

1. Does Tai Chi have any practical effect?

2. Why are many Tai Chi exercises not useful in actual combat?

3. How to practice Tai Chi if it is slow?

Does Tai Chi have any practical effect?

Tai Chi is a martial art. In the old days, the purpose of practicing martial arts was to fight. From the first day of the emergence of martial arts, fighting skills were its core function. Even today, fighting skills are still the ultimate goal pursued by many martial arts enthusiasts. As a major school of Chinese martial arts, Tai Chi's original main function was also practical fighting skills. Yang Luchan, who learned Tai Chi in Yongnian, Hebei, fought with many martial arts masters in Beijing and was undefeated, so he was called "Yang Invincible". It can be seen that Tai Chi has a practical effect.

Why are many Tai Chi techniques not useful in actual combat?

After 1949, Tai Chi was uniformly adapted by the State Sports Commission as a gymnastics exercise, performance, and sports competition for physical fitness. After China's reform and opening up, some of its original appearance was restored; it was then divided into Tai Chi for competition, Tai Chi exercises for gymnastics, and Tai Chi push hands. Today, the function of Tai Chi has changed. Most people, especially the middle-aged and elderly, practice Tai Chi exercises and Tai Chi push hands for health preservation, rather than Tai Chi for fighting in the ring. Therefore, many people see the elderly practicing Tai Chi and think that Tai Chi has no practical effect.

To learn Martial Arts Tai Chi, one needs a professional master to lead and guide them, and it takes a very long time. However, it is very difficult to find a truly skilled master. In addition, Martial Arts Tai Chi is very difficult to learn and master, so many people only learn the form but not the meaning, which results in the Tai Chi they learn having no practical use.

How to practice Tai Chi if it is slow

Tai Chi is very slow when practicing, but it does not mean that it will be that slow in actual combat. The purpose of practicing Tai Chi is to help practitioners master the harmony of breath and muscles, the opening of waist and hips, the conversion between reality and illusion, the feeling of force, etc. Martial arts emphasize "fast", "accurate" and "ruthless". Tai Chi is no exception. In addition, Tai Chi is good at using clever force, relying on flexible movements to make up for its own weaknesses in strength and speed.