Single Whip (dan bian) Application - Martial Tai Chi™

Someone e-mailed me asking about applications for single whip, so I thought back to the first and probably best technique I learned for the form. It was actually the second fighting technique I ever learned and is one I use often as a standard opening. For a no-nonsense approach to Tai Chi / Taiji, Xingyi & Bagua visit:
http://www.MartialTaiChi.co.uk
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[MrOphachew]

I just got your Hsing I & Pagua DVd's. The Hsing I DVD states Vol. One on the cover? Is there a Vol. two? Do you have any weapon DVD's?

[martialtaichi]

@MrOphachew hi - I've got some more stuff coming out later this year hopefully, including weaps :)

[mikeferruggia]

Thanks for the explanation on rotating against the jab. Til now, I felt I could only deflect against a fast hard jab but I will work with a friend to see if I can rotate into the jab and grab it.

[martialtaichi]

Good luck - I can't guarantee you'll be able to get it every time - it depends on your speed against that of your training partner, at least it does once they know what's coming, because they're going to be trying to retract it asap. It's important to remember that in a fight you'd have the element of surprise and they might well be feeding a slower, heavier punch (not expecting a grab) and that would be easier to pluck out of the air.

[martialtaichi]

Another thing to watch out for is that your partner, depending on how competitive or co-operative they are being, might be able to wrestle his hand out of your grip after you've grabbed it. Again, I don't think is very fight realistic because you'd have the element of surprise in reality and could exploit the grab with a follow up strike before they had chance to work out how to respond.

[panstriato2]

and the strike is protecting from a cross at the same time right?

[martialtaichi]

Yes - you could intercept a cross at any time with the striking hand, then deliver a strike with the same hand whilst turning your hips the other way again, or there are various other options such as striking with your rear hand as you intercept with the lead.

[DIMTOUB]

μπραβο σου κοπελα μου

εισαι αξια συγχαρητηριων

from athens greece

[dekal1]

This was good.

[MrOphachew]

I just got your Hsing I & Pagua DVd's. The Hsing I DVD states Vol. One on the cover? Is there a Vol. two? Do you have any weapon DVD's?

[clouddragontaichi]

Nice to see a slightly diff app for single whip. I like the twisting grab which is very similar to grasp birds tail in my style Wudang. Same principles though. Cheers

[imbrd]

This is tricky & almost counterintuitive. The idea here is not to grab a punch- that in itself is a waste of energy. it just kills the whole flow of your opponent's energy & does little to build your own.

Instead I was taught to think of it like 'Catching" a baseball. A baseball can travel up to hundred mph yet it can b caught quite easily by a catcher. If u try to just grab the moving ball, the force has no where to go so its easy to slip&miss. So the idea here is not to grab but catch