Coach Michael Joyce

**Click for High Quality** Author, Taijiquan Instructor and Therapist, Michael Joyce tells us briefly what Taijiquan is to him and we get his thoughts on teaching women's self defense.

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• joyce
• taijiquan
• chen
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• self
• defense

[orihx3]

"Taijiquan is a dance..."

uh, no. Taijiquan is first and foremost a martial art. It is also an art form and holistic health system.

[ChenCenter]

obviously, yes. but taijiquan can also be different things to different people. for me... it is "the dance" that helps us to remember,... it is that which creates the inward echo of why we are doing taiji in the first place.  thinking of it as a "dance of sorts" (b/w you and nature or you & a another person) helps aid in our enjoyment. martial arts gives one the impression of fighting, and the term health system gives most a feeling of taiji as a chore. A dance is fun. thanks 4 the comment!

[Ghostfuture]

Did you mean to say that your taichi is a dance?

[ChenCenter]

negative. all taiji is a dance, just as any form practice is a dance (read the above comment). One reason I say "taijiquan is a dance" is to raise some eye-brows.  most hardcore players hate the connection, but somewhere inside them they know they are dancing. "dancing" is the way to relax (especially in taijiquan) and ENJOY. focusing on martial intent builds tension and blocks chi. try to think of it as a dance and see if it gets you further.

[Ghostfuture]

Oh dear... attempting to turn your failure in to standard practice? Back to basics, my friend.. taichi is martial art. Focussing on martial intent blocks chi? Sounds like you just want an excuse for not being a fighter... in which case, for your own, selfish, egotistical ends, you tried to make taichi something it isn't - after all, if it's a dance, you're still an expert, right? If it's martial art, you're a joke, right? I'm not laughing - youre a thief. Let go the name of taichichuan, thief.

[ChenCenter]

okay... this will be the last that I say about this, especially since you reduced yourself to name-calling. But no... I don't "call" myself anything. I'm a teacher, so I teach people how to use their body, efficiently and effectively. But the longer you are in taiji the longer you will come to realize that if your body doesn't "dance", everything is mechanical. You automatically have the wrong idea when I use the word. More understanding & "softer" doesn't come about by stressing "martial"

[Ghostfuture]

Reducing oneself to 'name calling' as you call it is no shameful thing if it is pointing out thse people who, for their own ends and ego, find it easier to re-classify their own failure as 'tachi' than to actually spend time making their martial art work. 'Martial intent blocks chi' is the dmbest, most self serving lie I've ever heard. You actually think you're superior to those who develop fight skills- awesome. That's some serious double-think.

[smudge6699]

Beautiful video, like your sound track too.

You have a great attitude to your art.

Very very good luck.

Keep well and be happy.

[smudge6699]

On one level, and I agree there are many, Tai Chi can be considered a choreographed balancing act, and what's that if it's not a kind of dance?

[debwatch]

Hey... great intro! I dare say the ass whooping looks fun too! (:

Blessings! Deb