Gin Soon Tai Chi Chuan Federation

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Tel: (617) 542-4442
Email: chu.v@usa.com

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Value as Self-Defense

Many renowned martial artists, past and present, have Men and women can attain equal proficiency. From the Tai Chi Chuan point of view, skill is not restricted by body size, strength, or natural quickness. Practice, rather than raw talent, is more important than in other forms of boxing. The outstanding characteristic of Tai Chi Chuan is that its practice centers around the slow development of a tenacious strength that enables the body not only to withstand punches or kicks of great force, but also to generate tremendous power of its own. The root of this strength is not in the muscles and bones, but in the organs, the tendons, and the mind. Unlike muscular power, this tenacius power has no measurable limits, and there are many ways it can be used against the opponent.

Force is never met head-on. Rather, the practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan will subtly neutralize and divert the oncoming energy and turn it back against the opponent. The greater the force with which the opponent attacks, the more severe will be the returning blow or push. This skill of borrowing energy is one of many Tai Chi Chuan techniques structured around the basic principle of tenacious strength.