Need Advice: Wing Chun or "Practical Tai Chi Chuan"?

[Said]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a CMA that will help me get in shape, lose some weight, and ultimately help me defend myself and have an allround better condition (also some of the more philosophical aspects).

Where I live the CMAs offered are:

a) Wing Chun - two different organizations - one that spells it Wing Tsun and another that spells it Ving Tsun.
b) Practical Tai Chi Chuan

I find both styles interesting, but I don't know enough about these styles to know if I can get all I want from them.

There are also Arnis and Okinawan Goju-ryu clubs here, but they are obviously not CMA (although Goju-ryu has a Kung Fu lineage).

[MasterKiller]

1. Try a couple.
2. Pick the one that fits your needs.


/thread

[xinyidizi]

Chen Taiji is a powerful martial art but even that one is not really good for losing weight. If you are interested in the internal arts you may choose xingyi(I think hebei is better) or xinyiliuhe (if you can find a teacher) because there is more footwork.

[GeneChing]

...choose by the school itself. I'd take a decent WT school over a lousy TCC school and vice versa.

[Lucas]

Ya try out what is available, and like Masterkiller said, choose what fits your needs/goals. goju ryu is a good style.

any website links to the schools in question?

[rett]

Är du i Eskilstuna?

[jimbob]

A good teacher is a good teacher, regardless of style, and a bad one is a bad one. Go and check them both out like everyone has been saying, see how well each fits you.

[XinKuzi]

Where are you located? Who are the instructors?

[Said]

1. Try a couple.
2. Pick the one that fits your needs.


A good teacher is a good teacher, regardless of style, and a bad one is a bad one. Go and check them both out like everyone has been saying, see how well each fits you.

Good advice.

So far I have tried Wing Chun, Arnis/Escrima, and Goju-ryu. I liked all of them but as I was only introduced to entry level stuff it is hard for me to assess if the styles will fit my needs long term (as I have only superficial experience with them). Hence my original post.


Chen Taiji is a powerful martial art but even that one is not really good for losing weight. If you are interested in the internal arts you may choose xingyi(I think hebei is better) or xinyiliuhe (if you can find a teacher) because there is more footwork.

The style they offer here is "Wudang Tai Chi Chuan".

Edit: I found a place offering Xin Yi. See below.


...choose by the school itself. I'd take a decent WT school over a lousy TCC school and vice versa.


Ya try out what is available, and like Masterkiller said, choose what fits your needs/goals. goju ryu is a good style.

any website links to the schools in question?


Who are the instructors?

In random order:

1. Odense Tai Chi Klub (Wudang Tai Chi Chuan) - in Danish:
http://www.ptcc.dk/klub/odense/
Instructor: Per Raundahl, instructor level 4.

2. Kodokan Odense (Xin Yi Ch’uan) - in Danish:
http://www.kodokan.dk/xin-yi-xinyi-hsing-yi-hsingyi/introduktion.html
Instructor: Karsten Buch - connected to Master George Xu and Master Qian Zhao Hong. I didn't mention this in the original post as I found this in a new search.

3. Vajrayana White Crane Kung Fu
http://www.white-crane.dk/
Chief Instructor: Sifu Charles DaCosta (US)
"...has over 40 years experience with many different styles of martial arts. However, his specialty is Chinese Martial Arts, and his primary systems are Vajrayana Pak Hok, Shaolin Chuan, Wudang Chuan, and Taichi Chuan." - Also found this in a new search.

4. The Danish Ving Tsun Federation (Wong Shun Leung lineage):
http://www.dvtfederation.com/
Chief instructor: Sifu Morten Ibsen

5. EWTO Danmark (Leung Ting WingTsun):
http://www.ewtodanmark.dk/index_en.html
Chief instructor: Sifu Kasper Lund Nielsen

6. Odense Karate Skole (Okinawan Goju-ryu) - in Danish:
http://www.odensekarateskole.dk/ - member of:
http://iogkf.com/
Multiple 2nd Dan instructors.


Är du i Eskilstuna?

Nej jeg bor i Odense i Danmark.


Where are you located?

I live in Odense, Denmark.

[Sima Rong]

I know traditional Xinyi Liuhe will help you lose weight (Well, you'll probably put on some muscle too) , and it can be really good for self defense. It's a very direct style.

But yes, again, whether it's good for you or not depends on whether you like it and whether the instructor is a good one.

[xinyidizi]

2. Kodokan Odense (Xin Yi Ch’uan) - in Danish:
http://www.kodokan.dk/xin-yi-xinyi-h...roduktion.html
Instructor: Karsten Buch - connected to Master George Xu and Master Qian Zhao Hong. I didn't mention this in the original post as I found this in a new search.

I don't know Karsten Buch and I can't open the website from China but those two masters are good as far as I have heard. If you choose Xinyi just make sure that the instructor has enough connection to them. :rolleyes:


One more thing: Training for Xinyiliuhe properly is a bit more difficult than Tai Chi and takes a lot of energy.

[Said]

Thank you for the replies! :)

[Paul T England]

Both Practical Tai Chi Chuan (Wudang/Dan docherty) and WSL Ving Tsun are very very good systems. Both detailed teaching methods with practical application of the skills.

Its essential you visit the schools as much of it comes down to the individual instructor.

Paul
www.moifa.co.uk

[Said]

Thank you!

[Vajramusti]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a CMA that will help me get in shape, lose some weight, and ultimately help me defend myself and have an allround better condition (also some of the more philosophical aspects).

Where I live the CMAs offered are:

a) Wing Chun - two different organizations - one that spells it Wing Tsun and another that spells it Ving Tsun.
b) Practical Tai Chi Chuan

I find both styles interesting, but I don't know enough about these styles to know if I can get all I want from them.

There are also Arnis and Okinawan Goju-ryu clubs here, but they are obviously not CMA (although Goju-ryu has a Kung Fu lineage).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The teacher is more important than the style-though the style should be martial.

[bawang]

i would not recommend taking asian martial arts to lose weight. thats not the purpose of martial arts. the best way to lose weight is rigorous exercise.

[HumbleWCGuy]

1. Try a couple.
2. Pick the one that fits your needs.


/thread

That's the best advice. For example, small circle jiujitsu isn't my cup of tea, but guys in law enforcement in my area swear by it. Criminals try a lot more than you think to grab a cops arm or gun and well, you can't do that to a small circle or an Aikido practitioner.

[David Jamieson]

i would not recommend taking asian martial arts to lose weight. thats not the purpose of martial arts. the best way to lose weight is rigorous exercise.

This is true. Asian martial arts aren't that great for weight loss unless there is vigorous cardiovascular exercise going on. Breathing after all is the only way that calories burn.

Much about asian martial arts isn't really heavy into the aerobics. Especially early on when you are learning things. There just isn't lot of vigour and vim that goes into learning sets. Once you've learned a few, you could use them for cardio, but they aren't very efficient for that. Heavy bag work is awesome cardio, just as a by the way. :-)

[Said]

My main purpose with regards to studying a martial art isn't losing weight, but it would be nice if it had that side effect. :)

Depending on the style I plan on supplementing with other types of exercise.

[Eric_H]

My main purpose with regards to studying a martial art isn't losing weight, but it would be nice if it had that side effect. :)

Depending on the style I plan on supplementing with other types of exercise.

Do kickboxing, it includes conditioning and offers you as much as any other MA.

[YouKnowWho]

i would not recommend taking asian martial arts to lose weight. thats not the purpose of martial arts. the best way to lose weight is rigorous exercise.

If you train Tan Tui 20 times daily, the water and fire cannot attack you, the heat and cold cannot bother you. You will be able to live as long as sun, moon, and stars. You will become "immortal".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt83nvRwq-4

[jesper]

think sifu morten ibsen used to be high lvl WT teacher before switching to WSL under david peterson. Good chap, good skills if he is who I believe.

Think there are some old youtube vids of him. dunno try look :)

[Yoshiyahu]

If you want to Loose weight Add your wing chun training These elements

1.Running

2.Exercise videos P90X or Insanity

3. Elipitcal Bike


Add these things to your work out...or just add running an you will see the weight come off!

[Said]

Thank you for the replies.

[R0D]

I train WKL Practical Wing Chun in Sweden but I know there is a club in Odense, Denmark.

http://www.practicalwingchun.dk/

[Said]

I train WKL Practical Wing Chun in Sweden but I know there is a club in Odense, Denmark.

http://www.practicalwingchun.dk/

Yes. I actually contacted the instructor a while back, but there are currently no classes, but he might offer one-on-one lessons...

[Said]

Hi everybody,

Update: I went to my first class in Wudang Tai Chi Chuan / Practical Tai Chi Chuan yesterday. I really liked it and the instructor was very helpful so I plan on going again.