A very rare look at a Tai Chi fighting tournament.

We were fortunate to witness an unusual Tai Chi Chuan tournament in Florida in 1988 during a Wushu tournament.

Beside the usual form competition, there was an open fighting division. We haven’t seen much like this since. [source : original video description]

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits.

Though originally conceived as a martial art, it is also typically practiced for a variety of other personal reasons: competitive wrestling in the format of Push Hands, demonstration competitions, and achieving greater longevity. [source : wiki]

Take a look at some of the comments from the original video:

“There are aspects that really require the user to understand movement in a non-forceful way that for many people is easier to realize when the body is past the height of physical power.

One advanced student of kung-fu once said, half-jokingly, that it’s when the body gets tired of using force that one can finally understand some of the movements in these systems.”

“In response to the comment on soft martial arts, many people do not understand that the soft movements are a cover-up for some real bone snapping self-defense real life applications.

One reason for the soft style is to improve one’s inner chi and or discipline of flow-movement. For instance parting the horses mane.

This one movement when applied in a real life situation will break the opponent’s rib cage upon impact.”

“My master is in his 60’s and grapples every week at the gym with kids 40 years younger and beats them. Tai Chi Chuan is built on solid principles that work.”

A word to all the “real” martial artists out there. This video was done before MMA came to the forefront of martial arts in the US. The tournament had a clear set of rules limiting the actions of the participants for safety and insurance reasons..