Tai Chi guys: how is this guy's form? (vid)

[IronFist]

Got this in an email from DragonDoor called "can you really fight with Taiji" or something like that.

Link to page:
http://www.dragondoor.com/dv053.html?c=pu-dv053wp08-1

Direct link to video:
http://www.dragondoor.com/images/video/intro9x16.wmv


I don't know much about Taiji. Who is this guy? Is his form good?

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

im no expert either, but it actually looks good to me. seems to have decent control and possibly power. would like to see him spar chinese criminals.

[iron_leg_dave]

I feel bad criticising people when they really put themselves out there, even if they don't know about my critisism, but there there are too many beginner level flaws to even bother pointing too many out with his tai qi.

I would say his background is in break dancing or some sh**. He is confident enough for some reason with his tai qi to relax and flow at a minor degree, that's all that is worth mentioning, if that is worth mentioning.

For particular humour though, the scene where it says "Tai Qi Principles Observed" I noticed his hand was out past his foot. :rolleyes:

[IronFist]

Speaking of DragonDoor, I've always wondered if John DuCane (http://forum.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9493) was any good at Tai Chi.

[Eddie]

I have met Jose Figueroa, and he is a very cool guy. His taiji seems good to me and even my old taiji teacher (wong quan quan) commented that his taiji is pretty good. He does have skill and he seems to be very much into fighting application, which makes him cool in my books.

But I don’t know enough about taiji.

[qiphlow]

hard to tell from a video. it's be nice to actually push with the guy. form looks ok to me, but i'm not a chen style guy.

[cjurakpt]

Jose is a long time student of Guang Yi Ren, who is well respected as a serious and legitimate teacher with excellent skills, and who trains his students thoroughly; Jose has been with him for probably ~15 years, at least as far as I can recall from interacting with him personally in NYC CHinatown in the late '80's / early '90's

that said, Jose is no beginner, his background is traditional (I believe he was a Hung Ga student of Yee Chi Wai / Frank Yee), and he is currently a well respected member of the taiji community;

while I don't do Chen specifically, I have been practicing so-called "internal" arts (taiji mostly) for ~ 18 years and IMPE his form, execution and embodiment of taiji principles are sound; I see no specific aspect of what he does that would warrant or justify some of the broad criticisms posted above;