some may find this interesting, others may find it boring, or both.

http://www.magictortoise.com/100flowersindex.htm

from the site:
"The san shou form permits players with the gentlest of intentions to study fighting dynamics in slow motion; to make a moment last a minute-so as to learn the difference between internal (energy-based) and external (force-based) responses."

Ah come one. They've obviously never done any real sparring before!

Troy,

If you've never heard of san shou, it is a traditional prelude to sparring. Just as push hands is just a drill, NOT sparring or fighting. San shou (not the modern Chinese-created mma sport that attempts to compensate for empty dance wushu) is a traditional taijiquan exercise - just a choreographed series of applications - sort of like dalu or any choreographed 2 person pre-determined attack/defense but in 80-100 "postures". I appreciate what you are trying to get at - non-cooperative sparring is ultimately ideal. There are lots of "cooperative" things you can/should do first to improve your sparring, though. Your ignorant comment is unfortunately damaging to the reputation of taijiquan ... of course not any more so than all the crap that is taught so all in all, whatever. If you are sincerely interested in any of this, you should try to check it out...

"study fighting dynamics in slow motion"

this is another idea for another part of the board - why would one study fighting dynamics in slow motion, period? I'd assume all on this board have some idea on how this is positive already... I don't know what "gentlest of intentions" means, though. that is a really weird phrase. still doesn't mean traditional taijiquan training methods are either ineffective or irrelevant to either fighting or sparring. I'd also assume most on this board already believe that or have encountered that.

First off, to say that that is an ignorant comment is in itself ignorance. I know and understand the theory. I know EXACTLY what they were talking. To assume that I didn't was stupid, and I thank you for making an ass out of you and me. Particularly me, you know absolutley nothing about me. What I've studied and exactly what I study.

I know what these forms are like, I've learned a couple of them. They will not lead you very far, although drills are in themselves useless, they are necessary to build the proper mindset for sparring, however lengthy two-man forms end up giving people the wrong idea in regards to their fighting ability.

It would be a lot better for someone to really get into sparring with the presence of a qualified instructor. It is my opinion and experience that that is possible.

What I was really laughing at, was the fact that they seem like they were trying to sugar-coat fighting.

Very intersting dissertation, at a first glance (a bit long to read in one go.) Thanks for the link!