Shaolin and Wudang

[Armin]

Hi!

I'm going to take courses in Tai Chi (Yang style) parallel to my Wing Chun-training.

Wing Chun, as you all know, is Shaolin-based. Tai Chi is said to be Wudang-based. As far as I know, there has always been something like a competition between those two monasteries.

Now my question: Does anyone have experience in training both systems at once? Is there something I should be aware of? Do's and dont's???


Thanks in advance!!!

Armin.

[duende]

Hey Armin,

I want to do the same thing. Luckily, GM Gee is a master of four different styles of Tai Chi. I'll be spending alot of time with him this weekend... Maybe I'll get the chance to ask hit for a bit of advice.

I know whenever I sit in on a Tai Chi class I really have to loosen up. WC structure is very different to that of Tai Chi.

My .02 is to do as much research as you can to find the best Tai Chi instructor you can in your area. It truly is a very impressive MA, however there are many watered down versions out there.

[Armin]

Hello duende,

Tai Chi is truely impressive! Luckily I found a school, where you don't have to be a member. Instead you take courses, like "ten evenings for the Short-Form". At the same time, it's possible just to go there and train.

A good teacher? Hard to find. Somehow I have the feeling, that I will be searching for a long time.


Thanks,

Armin.

[Savi]

I began my kung fu training in Yang style Tai Chi back in 1994 for about 5 years. My Tai Chi sifu told me once:

"You could spend 10 years with a bad teacher, or one year with a good teacher."

The idea was that 1 year with a good teacher makes all the difference in the world...

I truly enjoyed Tai Chi. It is a great system that requires a lot of control and focus. One of the most enjoyable aspects for me was the hei gung (qi/chi gong) training, the pushing hands and the sword form.

So long as you learn from it, I think any experience is a good one.