tai ji is a pretty close range fighting style.
most of the training is on contact.
even the kicking is design to be use close by.
how will you deal with a long range kicking and turning opponent with good ability?
do we have some training in tai ji to prepare for it?
where?

I like the picture with your profile. Where was the picture taken?

this was in the grand canyon, on a retreat.
it was taken by a friend wos never took a picture of his life with a real camera...and he did this great picture...lucky!
serge

umm...if he wants to hit the TJ guy and goes towars him(well he somewhat has to since he wants to him him), the TJ goes up real close to him and beats his a$$ or run and grab a glock and shoot him up. heheh

I have only little experience with Taiji, but I think, that with proper training there shouldn´t be any problem with long range fighting. As far as I know, traditional method of Taiji was also san shou - free fighting. So this is the place where one can learn "how to get close". My friend were studding Taiji in Shanghai (some Shanghai version of Yang style) and he is very good fighter (I spar with him... ). Since it I believe in Taiji as fine a MA.

Sticking and following is what it's all about. A taiji stylist, if he's worth his salt, will stick to the opponent's strike, follow it (especially when it's being retracted) neutralizing the attack and closing the gap. It's especially easy to close in after deflecting a strong kick. There's more sticking and controlling the opponent's elbows when dealing with hand & elbow strikes. It all boils down to skill and experience, right? I mean a boxer with a long reach is going to train hard to use the distance to his advantage whereas a kick boxer or Muay Thai stylist will use their legs. Regardless, everyone ends up clinching at some point or another. This is the opening that a taiji stylist has trained hard to take advantage of. The Taiji stylist should be really good at neutralizing and deflecting in order to keep himself safe at the very least, but sticking and following is the hallmark of Taiji and other relaxed fighting styles. Taiji stylists train hard to catch the timing and perfect sticking and following. It's been talked about in many martial arts but really you quite a few options.

1. Just as you sense the opponent beginning to attack, you move in ahead of the strike.

2. Avoid the strike and as it passes go straight for the center of his mass.

3. From arm contact resulting from blocking or intercepting, stick-follow readjust and move in.

4. You take the initiative causing the opponent to block. Then you do # 3.

5. Taiji stylists make a lot of use of initiating techniques from holding the opponents wrist and elbow (left hand holding opp's left wrist).

One of the best skills I've ever developed is balance and the ability to stick/follow and neutralize from push/sticky hands drills. If you can find someone competent to push with give it a shot and you'll definitely have an edge when it comes to closing and clinching. Did I leave anything out guys?

Good training

Hey guys I just ran accross a little gem Tim once said in class (I'm giving out your intellectual property Tim, but I can't help it. It's great stuff!) during a discussion on Jingwei / Jingtou / Jielan.

Jingtou = head of the energy
Jingwei = tail of the energy
Jielan = intercept and obstruct

"The image is like that of someone shooting an arrow at you. Jingwei is like dodging the arrow and then attacking the archer. Jingtou is like holding the arrow tip just as the archer pulls it to a full draw but before he releases it. Jielan is like attacking the archer just before he releases the arrow"

- Tim Cartmell 1998