QUESTION:
I was given several Attackproof DVDs for my
birthday and am beginning to train from them. I have a slight background
in Taijiquan & was thinking about taking it up again. Would training in
Taijiquan be likely to help me with the body mechanics from GC?
ANSWER:
My own opinion is that if you're already skilled in tai chi, than GC will
open up and explain many things you've been seeking in tai chi as well as
provide avenues you'd probably never experience otherwise. However, if you're just
starting tai chi, it just might confuse you and in fact waste your time
and slow your development. That being said, if you have no training
partners, I'd recommend staying in a tai chi school and trying to recruit
some training partners from your fellow classmates so you can "experiment"
on them during push hands. Of course this won't be possible if they don't
have open minds because altho we use identical looseness, body unity and
sensitivity principles, their expression will be far different. And our
balance principles (as far as hitting from anywhere to anywhere) are
beyond anything found in typical tai chi push hands practice.
--Matt Kovsky
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