CMC 37 Posture Tai Chi Form, front view - 10/24/11 (Autumn)
Yes, Tai Chi Chuan is a great system of self-defense! But self-defense against what?
True, tai chi can be used against a hostile stranger who is attacking me. But this is a very unlikely possibility. In civilized societies, the probability that I am going to be physically attacked by another person during my lifetime is very slight (assuming I'm not deliberately going out to bars and provoking fights with drunken strangers). I suspect that the probability of being physically attacked by a hostile human being, while living in a modern civilized society, is as remote as being hit by a falling meteorite!
A person living in the modern world could probably live his or her entire life and never have occasion to physically fight another human being.
If one spends a large portion of one's life preparing for physical attacks by a stranger that most likely will never occur during one's lifetime, I consider that a lot of wasted life-force, that could have been much better applied toward some other more worthwhile projects - - like starting a new company.
Could Bill Gates have ever created Microsoft if he had spent all of his spare time preparing his body for physical attacks by a stranger, attacks that never came? Could Steve Jobs have ever created Apple?
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By doing tai chi regularly, every day, I am not primarily preparing for fighting some unknown human attacker. Maybe once upon a time that was my primary focus, when I was in my 20's & 30's and attending many tai chi classes. Nowadays, several decades later, I focus on those aspects of solitary tai chi practice which will help me continue to enjoy a healthy, relatively youthful body as I move into my 60s, and hopefully, beyond.
Some of the most powerful, invisible omnipresent "enemies" against which
I DO defend myself by practicing tai chi daily are the following:
- GRAVITY. The insidious effects of gravity on a human organism which tries to stand upright, but often fails, resulting in slumping, warped posture. By doing tai chi and other chi kung exercises daily, I straighten my spine, maintain a symmetrical body, and keep my head from drooping forward, preventing a hunchback from forming.
- HARMFUL MICRO-ORGANISMS. Viruses, bacteria, germs. A strong immune system is required to fight them off daily. Doing tai chi regularly helps my immune system remain strong. How do I know? Because I don't get sick easily. I haven't had any need for doctors most of my life. So far so good!
- TOXINS. Toxic compounds constantly enter my body through the air
I breathe, the water I drink, the food I eat. Doing tai chi regularly helps keep all my internal organs functioning at optimal levels. Liver and kidneys are responsible for eliminating toxins from the body. If they work well, toxins are eliminated efficiently and don't harm my body too much. If my body is not overwhelmed by toxins, it can keep rebuilding cells efficiently.
- THE DETERIORATING EFFECTS OF TIME. Tissues and internal organs have a tendency to degenerate the longer one lives. When chi flows smoothly throughout the entire body, it energizes all cells and helps them regenerate efficiently. A strong, relatively youthful body keeps being recreated.
- DEBILITATING STRESS. Doing tai chi regularly helps calm my mind and nervous system, helps dissipate stress.
- INSOMNIA. The body repairs and regenerates itself during sleep. Without deep, restful sleep, good health deteriorates rapidly. Doing a slow, meditative tai chi form before going to bed helps me fall into a deep sleep, without the aid of sleeping pills.
- MENTAL DEPRESSION. Exercising regularly outdoors helps stimulate the production of natural "feel good" chemicals in my brain. Inhaling fresh air through my nose stimulates the production of nitric oxide, which also has a positive effect on my mind.
- OPPRESSIVE ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS. Doing tai chi and other chi kung exercises daily, in all types of weather, helps keep my body flexible and adaptable, capable of adjusting easily to all kinds of weather.
- STIFF JOINTS. Doing tai chi regularly lubricates all my joints with synovial fluid and keeps them flexible, allowing me to move my body easily. My joints don't become stiff and painful. No arthritis, so far.
- INACTIVITY. A sedentary lifestyle often leads to obesity and attendant problems of high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes. Other degenerative diseases are also linked to physical inactivity. Doing tai chi and other exercises regularly helps burn calories, helps maintain a lean body, and helps keep my weight stable. Remaining physically active prevents all sorts of maladies from arising!
"A moving hinge does not get worm-eaten."
"Flowing water does not become putrid, like a swamp."
ChiGuy396
ChiGuy396@yahoo.com
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![[Kung_Fu]_Tai Chi Masters (Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, 1993) EN - Rmvb.rmvb](//s.ytimg.com/yt/img/pixel-vfl3z5WfW.gif)
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[Kung_Fu]_Tai Chi Masters (Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, 1993) EN - Rmvb.rmvbby shaikhmailahmed222,789 views
@lebarosky Many thanks for your appreciative comments! I’m glad you find my videos useful in your personal practice.
When shooting outdoor videos, I have to adjust to the locale. For example, to make this video, I attached my camera to the handrail of a bridge overlooking this grassy field. I turned the camera on, did the form, came back to the bridge and turned the camera off.
ChiGuy396 2 months ago
@lebarosky I chose an area of the field where I could do the entire form without stepping out of the camera’s stationary frame either on camera right (during Fist Under Elbow) or on camera left (during 4 Corners). Were I to do the form much closer to the camera, I would risk stepping out of camera frame; also, the grassy terrain closer to the bridge has a steep slope, so it’s not a good surface for practicing tai chi in a relaxed manner.
ChiGuy396 2 months ago
@lebarosky Please check your personal messages for my full response
ChiGuy396 2 months ago
Please, please, I beg you. Have the camera move in 12-15'. You are showing what I am training. Your vids are invaluable to me. I don't care about the scenery: I care about your tai chi! Thank you!
lebarosky 2 months ago