Fighting
In addition to being a quiet, peaceful practice, Tai Chi is known for being a superior martial art. By developing internal power and the technique of yielding, Tai Chi students can neutralize opponents with much greater speed and strength. This is summed up in the saying, “four ounces deflect a thousand pounds.” Because Tai Chi is a fighting art, training in self-defense applications also provide essential refinement for one’s practice of the form.
Students from CK Chu Tai Chi have excelled in fighting tournaments, winning the heavy-weight and middle-weight titles the last time a full contact kung fu competition was held at Madison Square Garden (1981). At the New York Chinese Martial Art Championship and Tri-State Kung Fu Full Contact Tournament, a student won the heavyweight division (1996). In 2007, after three consecutive appearances in the Baltimore tournaments and a two-year undefeated run, one student was voted Fighter of the Year by the United States Kuo Shu Federation. This is a testament to the originator of the Yang style of Tai Chi, Yang Lu Chan, who was known as Invincible Yang.
Fighting I
To be considered a complete system, a traditional Chinese martial art must contain Striking (da), Kicking (ti), Joint Locking (Na) and Grappling (shuai) In Fighting 1, Students drill fundamental techniques, footwork and body methods for Tai Chi fighting. These techniques are taken directly from the form and drilled with full power. Master Chu often said it is better to have one sharp knife than 20 dull ones. In this class we sharpen a few of our “knives”
Prerequisites: Tai Chi Short Form.
Fighting II
Furthers training with more conditioning , resistance practice and partner drilling. This class bridges the skills developed in push hands towards San Shou. The basics of break-falling and Tai Chi grappling are introduced.
Prerequisites: Fighting I, at least six months of Nei Kung, and permission from Sifu Harris.
Fighting III
A student will never learn how to use Tai Chi Chuan unless he or she trains in an uncooperative format. We introduce students to sparring and grappling with progressive resistance as they gain ability.
Street Fighting
“If one lives in Venice, one should know how to swim.” We introduce easy-to-learn self-defense techniques for dealing with potentially life-threatening situations and exercises in situational awareness. The techniques, based on Tai Chi principles, will enable you to overcome a much stronger opponent. Each class includes solo exercises and two-person drills.
San Shou
This is a two-person Tai Chi form developed by Grandmaster Chu incorporating all the moves of the Tai Chi long form plus a few moves not in the form. Through this form, students learn the application of the Tai Chi moves in an easy to remember fashion. Rather than trying to remember the application during the solo form, in San Shou you have a partner to practice the applications with. Through repetition, the meaning of the movements in the Tai Chi form become familiar and habitual. This new sensibility to the moves will then transfer to your solo practice.
Prerequisite: Tai Chi form and Push-Hands.