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Olympic at the Sydney Games.
Russian Martial Art derives its name ROSS from "ROSSIYA" which
is the Russian spelling for the word RUSSIA. ROSS, a Russian
acronym standing for "Russian Native Martial Art" was developed by
Commander Alexander Retuinskih, President of the All-Russian
Federation of Russian Martial Art (RFRMA), Chairman of the
International Combat Sambo Commission, Chairman of the Russian Combat
Sambo Committee, officer General of the Cossack Military. In 1991,
the RFRMA was sanctioned by the Russian Olympic Committee as the sole
representative of Russian Martial Art. ROSS is taught to trainers
of Russian Spetsnaz units of the Ministries of Internal Affairs,
Defense and protective services, Russian Marine troops, VDV, OMON,
and Minsk's "Alpha" units in Byelorussia, special MVD units "Vityaz",
frontier troops of Lithuania and many others.
In Russian Martial Art, the main goal of a person is to render the
adversary harmless while minimizing losses for both self and foe:
to work efficiently in any situation. Learning Russian Martial Art,
students acquire great power as fighters, but more importantly as a
human beings, increasing ones value for health and life, for both self
and others. Both in combat and in life, students treat other creatures
with awareness and compassion. When necessary, firm action is issued,
but never in a callous or careless manner, and when all other option
have been considered. "Your life is not your alone; it belongs to your
friends, family and community" (Alexander Ivanovich Retuinskih), or as
is said in the Cossack Cadet Code: "The life of your friend is always
more valuable than your own. You can die yourself, but rescue your
friend."
ROSS undertakes training in 8 directions:
1. Russian-Style Close-Quarters Combat and Survival
2. Renovated SAMBO (see FAQ entry on SAMBO)
3. Executive and Close Protection Training
4. Bayonet-Fencing
5. Advanced Sports Biomechanics
6. Acrobatic Dance, Stunt and Theatrical Combat
7. Russian System of Health and Wellness
8. Russian Fisticuffs
16.31) SAMBO
(Contributor: Alex Levitas - alevitas@iil.intel.com)
Intro:
SAMBO is an acronym of Russian words "SAMozaschita Bez Orujiya" -
"Self-Defence Without Weapon".
Origin: Russia
History:
SAMBO was created in the 1930's. Official recognition of new art was
in 1938. At first it was named "free-style wrestling", then "free
wrestling," and in 1946 was renamed "SAMBO." This system is
compilation of techniques from a number of martial arts including
Japanese and Chinese martial arts; national martial arts of USSR area
natives (Georgians, Armenians, Mongols, Russians etc.); French
wrestling and other arts. At the time of the 2nd world war the system
was widely "tested" by the Soviet army. "Special" techniques were
added at the time, for example fighting in cells, quick-and-quiet
sentry killing, and so on. Because of the number of criminals in the
Soviet army at that time (during WWII each prisoner was "invited" to
the front with each year at the front worth two or so years of their
sentence) SAMBO experts acquired many lessons on criminal street
fighting, and a number of these techniques were included in SAMBO.
SAMBO continues to accept new techniques and modify old ones.
Description:
Today, SAMBO is built from 3 parts: the sportive part (Olympic sport),
the self-defense part, and the special or combat part.
The sportive part is similar to Judo but with some differences in
allowed techniques. SAMBO allows leg locks were Judo does not, but
Judo allows choking but SAMBO does not. There are somewhat more
techniques in SAMBO than in Judo.
The self-defense part of SAMBO is similar in form to Aikijujutsu
because it is intended to be entirely defensive. The founder of SAMBO
said this about the self-defense part:
"We give defensive weapons to citizens. Some people say that this
kind of martial art may be learned by criminals or hooligans and
used against citizens. Don't worry! This art does not include even
one attacking technique! If a hooligan will learn, he will be able
to apply it only against another hooligan who will attack him, but
never against a citizen."
There are many specific techniques for defending specific attacks,
including escaping from grips and chokes, defenses against punches and
kicks, defenses against weapons (knife, stick etc.), and
floor-fighting. The self-defense part of SAMBO is based on body
movements and locks with a few punches and kicks. The object is to
allow defense but not to injure the opponent more than necessary
because this part was created for citizens. In the former Soviet
Union the law was that if you injure your opponent more than needed in
a self-defense situation you could receive a 5 year prison term. Some
of the self-defense techniques are based on sportive SAMBO.
The third part - combat SAMBO - was created for the army and police.
It is a very severe, and dangerous system. If the idea of sportive
SAMBO is "Take points and win," and the idea of the self-defence part
is "Don't allow to attacker injure you," the idea of combat SAMBO is
"Survive, and if someone hinders you - injure or kill him." Combat
SAMBO includes sportive and self-defence techniques, but uses them in
different ways. For example, sportive SAMBO uses the traditional
shoulder throw of Judo and Jujutsu. In combative SAMBO the throw is
done with the opponents arm rotated up and locked at the elbow, and
can be done to throw the opponent on his head. If the opponent
attempts to counter by lowering his center of gravity and pulling
backwards (as is taught in sportive SAMBO) the arm will be broken.
Combative SAMBO teaches shoulder throw counters that might be able to
deal with a locked arm like kicking out the opponents knee and pulling
back by the hair or eye sockets.
In addition to modified sportive and self-defence techniques, combat
SAMBO includes kicks, punches, "dangerous throwing" (throws that can't
be include into sportive part because they cause injury), locks on the
spine, things that are prohibited in sportive wrestling (biting, for
example), many "sadistic dirty things," working against weapons (with
or without a weapon of your own), tricks like putting your coat on
your opponents head (works nicely), floor fighting (very strong),
fighting in closed space (small room, pit, stairs), quick-and-quiet
sentry killing, and so forth. Students also learn strategy and
tactics of fighting alone or in groups against single or multiple
opponents. SAMBO is less popular today in Russia because the influx
of oriental martial arts in recent years. But, the development of
SAMBO has continued and elements of it are incorporated into other
modern combat systems.
16.32) Sanshou
(Contributor: Edmund Tsoi - nelumbo@globalserve.net)
Intro:
In Chinese, Sanshou (loose hands) refers to the free application of
all the realistic hand-to-hand combat skills of Gongfu. It is
divided into three categories: Sport Sanshou (Chinese Kickboxing),
Civilian Sanshou, and Military Sanshou (AKA Qinna Gedou).
Origin: China
History:
After fighting directly with the superior American forces during the
Korean War, the Chinese government realized that new scientific R&D is
important for its military forces. Army chief Peng Dehuai directed a
great military training campaign (Da Be Wu) after the war. Martial
arts masters from each of China's 92 provinces were brought together
with medical experts to compare and evaluate their techniques. A new
hand-to-hand combat system was developed based on three criteria:
simplicity, directness, and effectiveness against a larger, stronger
opponent. This system of fighting was thoroughly tested in training
camps throughout China, and in border conflicts with Soviet troops.
The Chinese military published manuals on Sanshou in 1963 and 1972.
Besides military Sanshou, civilian Sanshou continued to be developed
by underground martial arts schools and individual martial artists in
communist China. Civilian Sanshou warriors sharpened their skills by
street championships where they challenged each other. These kinds of
challenges were very popular during the cultural revolution (1966-76)
and usually ended by being broken up by the police.
In recent years, sport Sanshou has been developed and promoted by the
Chinese government. In the early years (1980s), there were no formal
championships for Sanshou. Only demonstrations were available on
national T.V. Most of the Sanshou participants were military and
police men. Therefore, sport Sanshou kept its flavour of military
kickboxing and wrestling. Lately, the Chinese government have
promoted Sanshou into a nation-wide sport and held formal national
and international championships every year.
Description:
The Sanshou as practiced by the Chinese military is based on the
Chinese Art of War, physics, anatomy, bio-mechanics, and human
physiology. It is a complete system of realistic unarmed combat
covering the skills of striking, grappling, wrestling, groundfighting,
and weapon defenses taken from various Chinese and foreign martial
arts and hand-to-hand combat styles. It focuses on applying the
principles of combat rather than on techniques. The various
divisions of the military and police force have slight differences in
technique, but they all employ the same principles.
Because of the increase of violent crimes in China, civilian Sanshou
was created by the Chinese government so that Chinese civilians can
learn self defense skills. It is also a complete system of striking
and grappling, but without the lethal techniques that are required in
the military. Many "underground" martial artists also developed
Sanshou fighting skills.
The sport of Sanshou is rising in popularity all over the world. It
is a kickboxing style that is fought on a platform called a "Lei Tai".
Fighters wear boxing gloves, headgear, and body protectors. It is
full contact kicking and punching with throws and sweeps allowed.
Knees, elbows, headbutts, joint manipulation and chokes are not
allowed, but fighters can be thrown off the platform.
Training:
Military and civilian Sanshou training involves many punching,
kicking, grappling, wrestling, groundfighting, and weapon defense
drills with a partner. Contact sparring with protective gear is also
emphasized. This is where the different skills are blended together
into one fluid art. There are no forms or formal stances, and no
qigong exercises.
Sport Sanshou training is similar to kickboxing training, except that
throws and sweeps are also drilled extensively. Physical conditioning
is also important in sport full-contact fighting.
In Toronto Canada, Sanshou instruction is available through Chinese
Self-Defense Studies, the first and only organization outside of China
that teaches Military Sanshou. Information on Chinese Self-Defense
Studies can be found at the following
http://www.globalserve.net/~nelumbo/sanshou.htm.
Sub-styles:
Military Sanshou (AKA Qinna Gedou)
Civilian Sanshou
Sport Sanshou (Chinese Kickboxing)
16.33) Savate
(Contributor: Tobias Ratschiller - tRatschiller@pass.dnet.it)
Intro: A native French kicking style.
Origin: France
History:
It was developed in the last century, and its origins and
relationships, if any, to other Martial Arts are unclear. There are
stories about French sailors picking up techniques in Eastern ports,
bringing them home and integrating them with local foot fighting and
fencing techniques.
"French Boxing-Savate" was founded in 1970 in France. It consists
mainly of precise striking with the hands and low foot-striking and
appropriate defense-techniques. The hand-techniques are similar to
boxing. Special attention is paid to develop elegant and soft
movements.
Description:
It primarily encompasses kicking techniques somewhat similar to Tae
Kwon Do or Karate. It includes punching techiques from Western Boxing
and stick fighting techniques based on French rapier fighting. It is
very stylized and more extended than most Eastern kicking arts.
Training:
Three different forms are taught:
- Assaut: technical fighting, the opponent must not (or nearly not)
be hit.
- Combat Technique: fighting with semi-contact
- Combat Total: full-contact fight with KO allowed.
Usually together with Savate is taught "La Canne", a mostly defensive
art using wooden sticks."
16.34) Shogerijutsu
(Contributor: Chris Butts - dapoet@juno.com)
Shogerijutsu deals with the concept of the dynamic martial artist.
Each student learns the basics, and from there they build on their own
foundation. Shogerijutsu combines many facets of learning from the
martial arts. Shogerijutsu takes the basic self-defense techniques of
jujutsu, karate-do, gongfu, and kick boxing, then combines it with
the philosophy of styles that represent the fundamental approach
toward self-defense and combat such as kenpo, jeet kune do, aikijutsu,
and gongfu. Shogerijutsu means "the essence in kicking technique",
but the name itself does not define the techniques or philosophy of
living that goes on within a system. The word "kicking" can be
replaced with any of a multitude of strikes.
The basics are taught at first. As the student progresses so does
their knowledge of control, joint locks, throws, combat philosophy,
ranges, kata, and body positioning. Each phase of learning focuses on
a breakup of the latter, with emphasis on implementing kata technique
into applicable use on the street. This style is ideal for people who
want to learn martial art basics. The philosophy of this style blends
well with any style whose purpose is self-defense with focus on
individualism.
For more information contact:
Norman Shogerijutsu Academy
1818 Twisted Oak Dr.
Norman, OK 73071
16.35) Shuaijiao
(Contributor: Bill Norcott - bill@bimby.posix.tandem.com)
Intro:
The oldest Chinese bare-handed fighting style. Shuaijiao is a
comprehensive fighting style which incorporates the principles of
Taijiquan.
Origin: China
History:
Shuiajiao emerged around 2,000 years ago. It was originally taught
only to the military elite. Starting in the Qin Dynasty,
Shuaijiao was demonstrated in tournaments for the Imperial court.
During the Qing Dynasty, China maintained a camp of 300 full time
fighters who trained for competition with China's allies. Today,
Shuaijiao is still taught primarily to the military and police in
China and Taiwan. Shuaijiao is a Northern Chinese martial art that
was not well known in the south until the 1930's.
Shuaijiao was introduced to the United States in 1978 by Dr.
Chi-Hsiu Daniel Weng. Dr. Weng started martial arts training at age
11, beginning with judo. After achieving second degree black belt in
judo, he began study of Shuaijiao from Grandmaster Chang
Dongsheng. Dr. Weng spent 20 years studying Shuaijiao with
Grandmaster Chang, including 10 years as Shuaijiao instructor at the
Taiwan Central Police College. Dr. Weng is an 8th degree black belt
in Shuaijiao, and is president of the U.S. Shuai-Chiao Association.
There has been a large growth of interest and participation in
Shuaijiao during the past several years. Major Chinese martial arts
tournaments now include Shuaijiao divisions. Shuaijiao fighters
have also competed successfully in Sanshou (full contact fighting)
competition. The five-man U.S. full contact team sent to the 2nd
World Wushu Championships included three Shuaijiao fighters.
Description:
Shuaijiao integrates striking, kicking, throwing, tripping,
grappling, joint locking, and escaping methods. Shuaijiao fighting
principles are based on Taijiquan, but techniques are applied
with more force. There are 30 theoretical principles of Shuaijiao;
the six major principles are: absorbing, mixing, squatting, hopping,
turning, and encircling.
Shuaijiao fighting strategy emphasizes maintaining balance and
controlling the opponent. Tactics emphasize throwing the opponent
while maintain a joint lock, then following with a vital point strike.
There are 36 major throws in the system, with 3600 combinations.
Shuaijiao is notable for joint attacks and hard throws.
Shuaijiao has a belt ranking system. The succession of belts is:
white, green, green-blue, blue 1, blue 2, blue 3, black. There are
ten degrees of black belt. The 10th degree is reserved for the
founder of the lineage, the late Grandmaster Chang Dongsheng.
Competition is similar to actual combat, except that strikes and kicks
are allowed only in conjunction with a throw. Also, joint attacks are
discouraged. Match is three falls. Point is awarded upon completion
of the throw with control maintained over opponent. There is no
pinning nor submission holds in Shuaijiao competition; in actual
combat the throw would be followed by a finishing strike. Victory in
tournament competition is required for advancement to blue belt and
above.
Training:
There are a dozen stationary training stances to train strength and
flexibility. Twenty moving forms train the position and footwork used
in approaching, joint locking and throwing. Wushu high kicking
excercises train leg strength and flexibility. The kicks most often
used in Shuaijiao fighting are low kicks and sweeps. Unique to
Shuaijiao is "belt cracking", which uses the uses the uniform belt
in excercises that train strength and proper position. Throws are
practised in excercises with a partner, then in sparring. Sparring is
practised at all levels, as soon as the student has mastered
breakfalls. A typical class consists of stretching excercises, Wushu
kicking, forms practise, throwing and breakfalls, and sparring.
Sub-Styles:
Shuaijiao styles are categorized by region. The four major regional
styles are Mongolian, Beijing, Tianjin, and Baoding.
The USSA teaches the Baoding style.
For more information, contact:
United States Shuai-Chiao Association,
P.O. Box 1221
Cupertino, CA 95015
U.S.A.
16.36) Silat
(Contributors: Jeffrey Chapman - jchapman@armory.com
Russ Rader - rlrader@ix.netcom.com
Tim Rivera - river@umr.edu)
Intro:
Pencak Silat is the Indonesian and Malaysian set of Martial Arts, all
with different styles and schools (over 400 of them). Some of them use
different spellings, depending upon their lineage - Dutch-Indonesian
Silat is typically "Pentjak Silat" and "pure" Indonesian styles "Pencak
Silat." The Indonesian spelling is used here, not to exclude some Silat
styles, but for uniformity.
Origin: Indonesia and Malaysia
History:
Since Silat is an umbrella term covering many styles, it is not
possible to give a single history. Some of the arts are very old (1000
years?), and some were developed less than 50 years ago. Also, as with
other arts, the history of Silat is somewhat unclear. There is a
mixture of indigenous techniques along with techniques borrowed from
Chinese arts and Indian arts such as Kalaripayit.
Description:
Pencak Silat depends heavily on an indigenous weapons and animal-styles
heritage. In the (distant) past, it was predominately a weapons
system; empty hand techniques are derived from the weapons forms. It
is still often said that there is no silat without the knife.
Techniques are quite varied, although kicks are not emphasized much.
Foot work is sophisticated and the development of stability is of major
importance. The foot and and hand techniques are so subtle and
intricate that they are often taught separately, then integrated after
the student has mastered them individually. There is a good balance
between offensive and defensive techniques.
Different styles of Silat use different terminology to describe a
practicioner's ability - "guru" is frequently used to refer to a
proficient instructor, "kang" for senior students, and "pendekar"
someone who has developed a high level of skill and possibly spiritual
development. However, the usage varies from style to style, and
possibly even from school to school.
Training:
As an example, Pencak Silat Mande Muda has a complex and rather
rigorous system of training, which includes classical empty hand and
weapons forms, practical empty hand, weapons, and improvised weapons
techniques, stretches, physical conditioning, and breath control.
Although the forms are often performed with musical accompaniment,
much like a dance, they are nevertheless extremely valuable both as
conditioning methods and as encyclopedias of technique.
Sub-Styles:
Mande Muda, Serak (also spelled Sera and Serah), Cimande (Tjimande),
Cikalong (Tjikalong), Harimau, Mustika Kwitang, Gerakan Suci, Perisai
Diri, many others.
16.37) Tae-Kwon-Do
(Contributors: Dakin Burdick - burdick@silver.ucs.indiana.edu,
Ray Terry - rterry@hpkel02.cup.hp.com)
Intro: One of the most popular sports and martial arts in the world.
Origin: Korea
History:
The five original Korean Kwans ("schools") were: Chung Do Kwan, Moo
Duk Kwan (the art of Tang Soo Do), Yun Moo Kwan, Chang Moo Kwan, and
Chi Do Kwan. These were founded in 1945 and 1946. Three more Kwans
were founded in the early 1950's - Ji Do Kwan, Song Moo Kwan, and Oh
Do Kwan.
After fifty years of occupation by Japan (which ended in 1945) and
after the division of the nation and the Korean War, Korean
nationalism spurred the creation of a national art in 1955, combining
the styles of the numerous kwans active within the country (with the
exception of Moo Duk Kwan, which remained separate - therefore Tang
Soo Do is still a separate art from TKD today). Gen. Hong Hi Choi was
primarily responsible for the creation of this new national art, which
was named Tae Kwon Do to link it with Tae-Kyon (a native art). Earlier
unification efforts had been called Kong Soo Do, Tae Soo Do, etc. Many
masters had learned Japanese arts during the occupation, or had
learned Chinese arts in Manchuria. Only a few had been lucky enough
to be trained by the few native martial artists who remained active
when the Japanese banned all martial arts in Korea. Choi himself had
taken Tae-Kyon (a Korean art) as a child, but had earned his 2nd dan
in Shotokan Karate while a student in Japan.
Description:
Primarily a kicking art. There is often a greater emphasis on the
sport aspect of the Art. Tae-Kwon-Do stylists tend to fight at an
extended range, and keep opponents away with their feet. It is a
hard/soft, external, fairly linear style. It is known for being very
powerful.
Training:
Training tends to emphasize sparring, but has forms, and basics are
important as well. There is a lot of competition work in many
dojongs.
The World Taekwondo Federation is the governing body recognized by the
International Olympic Committee, and as a result WTF schools usually
emphasize Olympic-style full contact sparring. The WTF is represented
in the U.S. by the U.S. Taekwondo Union (USTU).
The International Taekwondo Federation is an older organization
founded by Hong Hi Choi and based out of Canada. It tends to
emphasize a combination of self-defense and sparring, and uses forms
slightly older than those used by the WTF.
The American Taekwondo Association is a smaller organization similar
in some ways to the ITF. It is somewhat more insular than the ITF and
WTF, and is somewhat unique in that it has copyrighted the forms of
its organization so that they cannot be used in competition by
non-members.
There are numerous other federations and organizations, many claiming
to be national (AAU TKD has perhaps the best claim here) or
international (although few are), but these three have the most
members. All of these federations, however, use similar techniques
(kicks, strikes, blocks, movement, etc.), as indeed does Tang Soo Do
(another Korean art, founded by the Moo Duk Kwan, that remained
independent during the unification/foundation of Tae Kwon Do).
Sub-Styles: None(?)
16.38) Taijiquan (T'ai Chi Ch'u"an)
(Contributors: William Breazeal - breazeal@tweedledee.ucsb.edu,
Michael Robinson - robinson@cogsci.berkeley.edu,
Simon Ryan/Peter Wakeham - s.ryan@trl.oz.au)
INTRO:
One of the three orthodox "internal" styles of Chinese martial art
(the other two being Xingyiquan and Baguazhang). The term
"Taiji" refers to the ancient Chinese cosmological concept of the
interplay between two opposite yet complementary forces (Yin and Yang)
as being the foundation of creation. "Quan" literaly means "fist"
and denotes an unarmed method of combat. Taijiquan as a martial
art is based on the principle of the soft overcoming the hard.
ORIGIN: Chenjiagou, Wen County, Henan Province, China.
HISTORY:
The origins of Taijiquan are often attributed to one Zhang Sanfeng
(a Taoist of either the 12th or 15th century depending on the
source) who created the art after witnessing a fight between a snake
and a crane. These stories were popularized in the early part of this
century and were the result of misinformation and the desire to
connect the art with a more famous and ancient personage. All of the
various styles of Taijiquan which are in existence today can be
traced back to a single man, Chen Wangding, a general of the latter
years of the Ming Dynasty. After the fall of the Ming and the
establishment of the Qing Dynasty (1644), Chen Wangding returned to
the Chen village and created his forms of boxing. Originally
containing up to seven forms, only two forms of Chen Style
Taijiquan have survived into the present.
The Art was only taught to members of the Chen clan until a promising
young outsider named Yang Luzhan was accepted as a student in the
early part of the 19th century. Yang Luzhan (nicknamed "Yang without
enemy" as he was reportedly a peerless fighter) modified the original
Chen style and created the Yang style of Taijiquan, the most
popular form practiced in the world today. Wu Yuxiang learned the Art
from Yang Luzhan and a variation of the original Chen form from Chen
Jingbing (who taught the "small frame" version of Chen Taijiquan)
and created the Wu style. A man named Hao Weizhen learned the
Wu style from Wu Yuxiang's nephew and taught the style to Sun
Ludang, who in turn created the Sun style (Sun was already an
established master of Xingyiquan and Baguazhang when he learned
Taijiquan. He combined his knowledge of the other arts when
creating his style). Yang Luzhan had another student, a Manchu named
Chuan You (or Quan You), who in turned taught the Art to his son, Wu
Jianchuan (or Jianquan). Wu Jianchuan popularized his variation of
the Yang style, which is commonly refered to as the Wu Jianchuan
(or Jianquan) style. In recent times (this century) there have been
many other variations and modificationsof the Art, but all may be
traced back through the above masters to the original Chen family form.
Description:
Complete Taijiquan arts include basic exercises, stance keeping
(Zhanzhuang), repetitive single movement training, linked form
training, power training (exercises which train the ability to issue
energy in a ballistic pulse), weapons training (which includes
straight sword, broadsword, staff and spear), and various two-person
exercises and drills (including "push-hands" sensitivity drills). A
hallmark of most styles of Taijiquan is that the movements in
the forms are done quite slowly, with one posture flowing into the
next without interruption. Some forms (the old Chen forms for example)
alternate between slow motion and explosive movements. Other styles
divide the training into forms which are done slowly at an even tempo
and separate forms which are performed at a more vigorous pace. The
goal of moving slowly is to insure correct attention is paid to proper
body mechanics and the maintenance of the prerequisite relaxation.
Training:
Training exercises can be divided into two broad categories: solo
exercises, and drills which require a partner. A beginner will usually
begin training with very basic exercises designed to teach proper
structural alignment and correct methods of moving the body, shifting
the weight, stepping, etc. All of the Taijiquan arts have at
their very foundation the necessity of complete physical relaxation
and the idea that the intent leads and controls the motion of the
body. The student will also be taught various stance keeping postures
which serve as basic exercises in alignment and relaxation as well as
a kind of mind calming standing meditation. A basic tenet of all
"internal" martial arts is that correct motion is born of absolute
stillness. Once the basics are understood, the student will progress
to learning the formal patterns of movement ("forms") which contain
the specific movement patterns and techniques inherent in the style.
Traditionally, single patterns of movement were learned and repeated
over and over until mastered, only then was the next pattern taught.
Once the student had mastered an entire sequence of movements
individually, the movements were taught in a linked sequence (a
"form"). The goal of training is to cultivate a kind of "whole body"
power. This refers to the ability to generate power with the entire
body, making full use of one's whole body mass in every movement.
Power is always generated from "the bottom up," meaning the powerful
muscles of the legs and hips serve as the seat of power. Using the
strength of the relatively weaker arms and upper body is not
emphasized. The entire body is held in a state of dynamic relaxation
which allows the power of the whole body to flow out of the hands and
into the opponent without obstruction.
The Taijiquan arts have a variety of two person drills and
exercises designed to cultivate a high degree of sensitivity in the
practitioner. Using brute force or opposing anothers power with power
directly is strictly discouraged. The goal of two person training is
to develop sensitivty to the point that one may avoid the opponent's
power and apply one's own whole body power wher the opponent is most
vulnerable. One must cultivate the ability to "stick" to the opponent,
smothering the others' power and destroying their balance. Finally,
the formal combat techniques must be trained until they become a
reflexive reaction.
Modified forms of Taijiquan for health have become popular
worldwide in recent times because the benefits of training have been
found to be very conducive to calming the mind, relaxing the body,
relieving stress, and improving one's health in general.
Modern vs. Traditional training methods
Traditionally, a beginning student of Taijiquan was first required
to practice stance keeping in a few basic postures. After the basic
body alignments had settled in, the student would progress to
performing single movements from the form. These were performed
repetitively on a line. After a sufficient degree of mastery had been
obtained in the single movements, the student was taught to link the
movements together in the familiar long form. Now, it is not uncommon
for a student to be taught the long form immediately, with no time
being spent on stance keeping or on basic movement exercises. Since
the Long Form trains all of the qualities developed in the basic
exercises, this does not really produce a dilution of resulting
martial art. It does however make it more difficult for beginner to
learn. The duration of the basic training depends on the student and
the instructor; however, it would not be unusual for a relatively
talented student, with good instruction, to be able to defend
themselves effectively with Taiji after as little as a year of
training.
Sub-Styles:
Chen Wangding's original form of Chen style Taijiquan is often
refered to as the "Old Frame" (Laojia) and its second form as
"Cannon Fist" (Paochui). In the latter part of the 18th century, a
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