How can T’ai Chi Chuan be used for Self Defence?

 

 

The art of T’ai Chi Chuan has gained a reputation world wide, as a system of meditation, healing and promoting longevity. However, the heart of this art is based in the boxing methods of China, dating back as far as the 1600’s, and possibly beyond.

 

How can T’ai Chi Chuan be used for Self Defence?

Many would be surprised to learn that T’ai Chi Chuan is, in fact, a method of combat. It is not that it could be applied thus, but in fact how the art developed in the first place.
Historically, China was a dangerous place, and there were many methods developed which taught how to defend ones-self from attack using both weapons and bare hands.
It was in this violent history that T’ai Chi Chuan was developed, and in the golden era of Chinese boxing in the mid-to-late 1800’s where it found popularity. It was not until the early 1900’s when T’ai Chi Chuan came to be recognised for its positive benefits to health and well being. Since then, the softer side of the art has taken prominence over the original purpose.

Many are familiar with the slow motion choreographed sets, which have become the iconic image of T’ai Chi Chuan. But how are these sets translated into fighting methods?
As a martial art, T’ai Chi Chuan has the same range of basic fighting techniques as other martial arts, such as Karate, or JuJutsu. Techniques ranging from punches, to palm strikes, grabs and holds, to throws and takedowns, kicks, stamps, fore-arm strikes, hammer fists… The list is as long as your arm!
The techniques are all contained within the movements of the choreographed sets. Some are quite apparent; techniques such as ‘Parry & Punch’ or ‘Kick with Heel’ are quite obvious in their meaning. However, there are also techniques such as ‘Jade Lady Threads Shuttle’, or ‘Single Whip’, where the basic fighting techniques may not be immediately apparent.

There are multiple ways of applying any technique found within a T’ai Chi Chuan set. Some of which may be immediately obvious; such as the afore-mentioned ‘Parry & Punch’, where one arm deflects an incoming strike, whilst the other hand punches towards the opponent. Other techniques, such as ‘Waving Hands Through Clouds’ may not appear to have any functional application, but are, in fact, methods of applying locks and holds to limbs, or ways of throwing or taking an opponent onto the floor.

Which brings us onto the ‘how’ of this article:
What is the fighting strategy of T’ai Chi Chuan? How does this art plan to defeat an opponent?
As has been mentioned, the techniques of T’ai Chi Chuan cover striking, kicking, locking, holding, throwing and sweeping. As a close-range fighting system, T’ai Chi Chuan seeks to draw an opponent in close, whereby our well built structure will be able to topple our opponents. We seek to absorb his incoming force, and – when he is off balance, we plan to send him smashing to the floor, whereby we can either make an escape from the situation, or apply a submission hold to keep our opponent from causing us further harm.

Proficiency in the fighting skills of T’ai Chi Chuan comes only with practice and exploration. A T’ai Chi martial artist must break apart their choreographed sets into their composite parts, and then explore how those parts can be used, both singularly, and in varying combinations with each other. These fighting combinations should then be tested against other practitioners until they flow smoothly, and the practitioner can apply them under pressure of attack.