Martial Arts
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Tai Chi Chuan
Though in the same token though, Tai Chi can be learned by
anyone, given that they are willing to devote some time to it, just as with
anything. Right now, the University of New Mexico teaches Tai Chi via
two teachers during the semester, and one teacher during the Summer
semesters (as of the 2000 school year), through continuing education.
One of these teachers is Charlie DeFilippo (Willow), who teaches the
Yang style of Tai Chi, and possesses certification from the "Hand Keen"
Tai Chi society in Hong Kong. This is actually the teacher from
whom I have learned Tai Chi. The other teacher is Richard Holder,
and practices a style of Tai Chi which was passed down by Chalres Lin from
a temple in Taiwan. The only other teach of this style is in Switzerland
and as a result, there are very few places where one can learn or even
see this style.
There are several different types of Tai Chi, and
within each type, many different family styles which are VERY
different. The one that I have studied is the Yang style of
Tai Chi Chuan, specifically the variety taught by the Tung Ying Chieh,
though beyond that there is also the Wu style, the Chen style, and
while these are the popular styles, there are many others. Two
types of Tai Chi are Chuan and Chih. These mean two very different
things, Tai Chi Chuan means Tai Chi with a fist, and is the
more fighting oriented of the Tai Chi types.
On the other hand, Tai Chi Chih was created by Justin Stone in
Albuquerque and is meant to be used as an excersize, and a quiet,
serene meditation, and is mostly based on the energy aspects of Tai Chi.
Tai Chi was invented in China, and most say that it came
about through the Chen family. Various other families learned it, and
they passed on their own methods of doing Tai Chi, and even came up
with their own Forms (a form is a sequence of movements designed to
help one practice the techniques of a certain martial art).
This is how Tai Chi splintered into many different schools of
Tai Chi. Specifically, the Yang style of Tai Chi was created by
Yang Lu-Chan the story of this is actually quite famous. Yang Lu-Chan was
refused when he sought to study with the Chen family. He then sought to
work for the family, and while staying with them he eventually stole
(to learn without being taught or specifically being given the information,
which in many martial arts is the recommended/preferred method of learning
the martial art) much of the Chen family's Tai Chi form. Yang Cheng-Fu,
who popularized the Yang style was the grandson of Yang Lu-Chan and was
taught by a senior student of Yang Lu-Chan. Before
that though, the origins of Tai Chi ultimately are uncertain.
Some say that it sprang out of styles of martial arts such as
Liu Ho Pa Fa, or came from dance styles, converted into a martial art.
Tai Chi also has the property of being used for healing
oneself and others. Healing oneself is straight forward, and
many people say that all is required is that you do "the Form."
Though healing others is a bit different and is most similar to Reiki in
that aspect, or Laying of Hands, though the difference in Tai Chi is the
source of the healing energy is not even thought of, it simply is.
Though this is also part of the philosophy behind Tai Chi, don't force
anything, if something wants to go some direction then don't resist it,
help it along. Obviously this only has slight relevance to using
Tai Chi to heal though.
I have studied with Charlie Willow. Though I do not teach, I might
be of assistance to beginning students of Tai Chi, of the Yang style.
As these are the students that I have primarily assisted in
teaching. The more advanced the question, the less helpful I can most likely
be. Despite that though, I have helped in teaching the UNM Tai Chi
classes taught by Charles Willow.
The lineage of the style of Tai Chi that I do is from Charlie
Difillippo, whose teacher (Chung Tin) was taught by Tung Ying Chieh,
the senior student of Yang Cheng-Fu.Tai Chi is a gentle martial art, and even that is a
misnomer. Tai Chi is much more about yourself than fighting,
which most martial arts have been associated with. Further, it is
an internal style
(more having to do with using internal energy than external strength).
In fact, a Tai Chi pratitioner can entirely do Tai Chi only for his/her own
health, as an excersize, and learn something else for self defense.
The main reason for this is because Tai Chi is a difficult art to learn
and even more difficult to actually use as a fighting style.
(Contact Me)
Tae Kwon Do is a "Hard" martial art which came from Korea. This martial art is entirely designed for fighting, and the only way to test oneself is to mock-fight (called "sparring"). Though this has the benefit of being a very good martial art for self-defense. This martial art has a belt system to indicate experience and abilities of the practitioner.JudoEach belt level has at least one form associated with it, and one must know the form by heart before one may progress to the next belt level.
I learned from Yung Kim, who still teaches Tae Kwon Do at the University of New Mexico. I only spent one year on Tae Kwon Do, and hence, was only a Yellow belt, though was near the next belt. Currently I only do Tae Kwon Do intermittently, and probably cannot help other students.
This is by far my favorite hard style of martial arts. The name means (Ju) Gentle (do) way, and similar to Tai Chi it has the philosophic leaning of not resisting, but instead using the other person's momentum.Links for General Martial ArtsJudo comes from Jujitsu, though was made more as a type of martial arts for competition as Jujitsu has the problem that many of its moves are designed to break people. In this way Jujitsu is similar to Aikido. So, Judo was a toned down version of Jujitsu, and was better for it. This is Japanese in origin, though it has become an Olympic sport, since 1986.
As many people may know, Judo is a martial art where much of the "action" is throwing people or wrestling, though much more of the martial art is wrestling than the throws which have made it famous. The wrestling is much like conventional wrestling though there are many choke holds, and other more dangerous moves. One thing about this though is because of this, there is the two tap rule, if ever in Judo you are tapped twice by your opponent, then that means that you give up, which is important if you want to live for a long time. This fact that every once in a while you will have to give up is wonderful for getting rid of egos, as you cannot have an ego for a long time in Judo, at least without getting hurt alot.
I learned Judo at the Albuquerque Judo club, and unfortunately, after nearly a year, and achieving a Yellow Belt, I had to discontinue my studies there due to not having time, and when I returned the club had closed, and no trace of them remained.
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