Your videos are amazing, but what I find strikingly powerful are your comments. You are able to give clarity in your video and through your answers in the comments you can contextualize and engage positively any opposing view by recognizing it's value and join it to your exercise. That really is even more impressive and an approach to learn from in anyday life. Thank you for providing such a valuable example both in Taijiquan and in "listening" skills (hope that pun isn't too cringe :) ).

@phoenixmountaintaichi

4 ай бұрын

Thank you Vic and I quite appreciate the pun haha. You know, I've been through the opposing viewpoints myself. When I was in my 20s, I got impatient with my CMA training and I went off to study muay thai and BJJ. I learned a lot of effective and practical things. And then my longing to master Tai Chi returned and my teacher accepted me back with understanding. And it took a while but I finally came to really understand and be able to really do Tai Chi. So I've been through it all! And I understand the reasons and real values behind some of the opposing comments we see. They don't need to be denied or fought with. Behind each of these opposing views is a real desire to improve one's martial arts or community understanding, to the extent of their experience and wisdom thus far. And behind each block or blind point, is a treasure trove of growth opportunity waiting to be realized. My Tai Chi teacher gave me the freedom to explore different perspectives, the grace of a teacher to accept my choices, and the love of the art to resume teaching me the truth he knows. And these are the real gifts I inherited and want to keep sharing! Thank you for this fun discussion down memory lane! 😄🙏

Another good video, the fascia/huang is the beginning of our journey, keep it up Mr. 🙏

@phoenixmountaintaichi

8 ай бұрын

Great point. Fascia is a really good place for people to begin exploring something that is more subtle, but completely physical and available to us. Thanks for pointing that out for everyone on that step of the journey! 🙏

Very cool! I bet ufc guys could def make great use of this in clinch situations like you demonstrated

@phoenixmountaintaichi

8 ай бұрын

Clinch is probably the easiest situation to start applying it, and if you've ever experienced grappling with someone skilled in grappling with gi's you might notice some similarity in how they indirectly control your movements through the surface of the gi and how that affects your ability to generate effective torque and force.

Thanks. I really like that you have great skill level AND you can communicate what is happening in understandable, intimidating words. Thank you for sharing your expertise.

@phoenixmountaintaichi

8 ай бұрын

Thank you! In this martial journey, I went through several milestones that you may remember going through too. 1, you remember being amazed at the skills of your teacher. 2, you experience the joy and excitement of developing your own skill. 3, you reach certain plateaus and you wonder how do you go higher? 4, with guidance and inspiration from some wisdom beyond you, you rise above the plateau! And 5, you realize, as you look back, look down, that it wasn't as hard as you thought. The true understanding is actually a simple thing, you just haven't looked at the path in the way that allows you to move forward. Now that you know, it's easy and it's wonderful. I haven't reached the top of this mountain and I don't mind that because there's so much joy in the journey. And when you look back at the little simple truths that helped you go above each prior limitations, it is so wonderful, like photographs of the best scenery we've experienced. I may not be the highest master at the top of this mountain but I think I'm a good photographer at capturing these moments of growth and "ah-ha!" And in this channel I am enjoying sharing these snapshots of understanding with all of you who are loving this journey. Because these wonderful experiences make us want to share them with others who share this appreciation, doesn't it? This art of Tai Chi and its energy work. Thank you for your kind comments and being a part of this journey with us all! -Zongqing

@InternalTaiChi

8 ай бұрын

@@phoenixmountaintaichi What a wonderful response! As I read through your reply, at each number you cited, I said, #1 Yes! I've have been there, then #2, yes! I have been there....and so forth. It was like seeing my journey painted in words. In my learning and journey, I always seem to go back to #1 again and revisit each step, over and over. But rather than being arduous, it is joyous. I appreciate your humbleness, and the fact that you embrace the concept of sharing. I think that is a break from "tradition" and one I appreciate. If all Tai Chi players and teachers had this attitude, a collaborative flow and sharing of information, rather than a competitive, hierarchal, or superior attitude, we could change the face of the current Tai Chi status. Hopefully we will one day meet. Meanwhile I will continue to enjoy your work and your wonderful expression of giving freely. Thanks so much! And yes, you are an EXCELLENT "photographer!" 😃

@phoenixmountaintaichi

8 ай бұрын

You have a great point about the value of a collaborative spirit. And it would be so nice to elevate the current world of Tai Chi. Some traditions are worth breaking a little! It's very possible we can all meet some day. That's another fun part of climbing this mountain, meeting people who enjoy this journey and this view. If you're ever in Southern California let me know! 🙌

@InternalTaiChi

8 ай бұрын

@@phoenixmountaintaichi Likewise if you are in the Dallas Metroplex area please get in touch. I realize now that your name is of the Phoenix (rising bird), not of the town in Arizona. All along I thought you were in Arizona! LOL. Thanks again for sharing your skills and knowledge. I look forward to our meeting one day.

the best part of boxing is controlling distance by footwork and punching combination , look if you can't get close to him without getting too much punch then don't talk about the rest. boxing is so easy to apply but it vital. get his legs first and practice your sight. Many mauythai and mma fighters want to get in close range but they end up with eat a lot of punch from boxers.

@phoenixmountaintaichi

8 ай бұрын

Excellent advice and very true, thank you for sharing! What have you found to be your favorite ways to practice your sight?

Sorry, maybe I didn't understand, but did you say you engaged the fascia? If so, how does one do that? Thanks Sifu!

@phoenixmountaintaichi

7 ай бұрын

Yep! The fascia is tissue in our body that connects throughout the whole body. You want to be able to feel an awareness for your opponent's whole body from wherever you make contact and place your awareness on the part of the body you want to move. It's like when you cast a fishing rod. You are holding the rod at the handle. But your mind is thinking of the fishing hook and bait and where they are going to land. You want to feel the connection to the hook & bait as you cast it out to your target. So let your awareness find what you want to move (your opponent's center, hips, etc) and move with that in mind. The way to do it is by lightly holding your opponent, like you're lifting up a kitten. If you grasp too hard then Li strength tends to take over. So lightly hold just a little deeper than their skin, feel that stretch of their skin and through that feel their whole body connected to it. And then move. This video describes this process a little more kzread.info/dash/bejne/qomnzbKmppWuh8o.html And I'll probably put up a whole course about how to master using fascia! Stay tuned. Thanks for asking the interesting question!

@AK_UK_

7 ай бұрын

@@phoenixmountaintaichi thank you! I'll check the link Sifu! Much appreciated

@phoenixmountaintaichi

7 ай бұрын

@@AK_UK_ you're welcome! This video was a response to a question someone posted on the linked video so the linked video has more of the teaching part!

@Phoenix Mountain Taichi It's not that, in a real fight situation where the opponent is not letting you do what you want to them, when they are fully phsycho angry and fully resisting everything your trying to do to them and on top of that they are really fast at reacting throwing punches or kicks and they are really fast at moving in and out of the fighting and hitting distance ranges! That's the difficult part! Especially in the real situation if there are multiple attackers!

@phoenixmountaintaichi

8 ай бұрын

You're totally right that multiple, angry, resistant, and skilled attackers are the hardest situations! Oh and also if they're armed. And if they have a hostage or two! It's really good that you have a clear perspective about the difficulties in real combat and I'm sure that will help you guide your training in a pragmatic perspective. Because that perspective will help you to train in a way that's meaningful, practical, motivated, and sustainable. And when it comes to using boxing gloves, it helps with that sustainable aspect so that you and your partners can keep training, fast, powerfully, in different ranges. Hope that helps! Later on we will talk about multiple opponents and weapons, fast attacks, Tai Chi's own punches and strikes, and in and out of range as we continue the discussions on mastering and applying push hands, I think that'll be fun! Thank you for sharing your comment! 🙏

@mrnicomedes

7 ай бұрын

@@phoenixmountaintaichi verbal push hands

Noones going to have boxing gloves on in the street in the real world situation anyway! Lol 😊

@phoenixmountaintaichi

8 ай бұрын

Yes you're right and it's nice to know you can wear gloves and punch hard in training in a way that's safe and still relevant to your Tai Chi practice! This video is more to help you and your partner's wellbeing rather than about what happens in the real streets. 😃

Have a go in the ring see if your skills work.

@phoenixmountaintaichi

8 ай бұрын

Yes you're right it's a very valuable part of training to pressure test your skills. You can learn a lot this way that you hadn't imagined in practice. And it's very helpful to find the limitations in your training so you can have a sense of direction on what to work on, isn't it? Thank you for sharing your pragmatic view. 🙏