ok, i have to weigh in here...
taijiquan has both health and self-defense benefits. if one wants to train taijjiquan for health, then one should focus on doing forms, add some qigong, maybe some standing meditation. if one wants to learn self defense, then one should look for the applications to the postures in the forms and practice those with a partner, practice some push hands, and also spar from time to time. if one wants to learn to fight for sport, then one should look for a gym that trains this type of fighting.
for me, i started training taijiquan just for something to do besides eat psychedelics--i had no idea what to expect. i found i liked it, and still do to this day. i also found that the self defense aspects were not always so easy to uncover, but they do exist. i am quite confident that i could defend myself if i had to. luckily i haven't had to do that.
i really doubt that any of the people that i train with got into taiji to learn how to kick ass, but i don't doubt that we could if necessary.
Originally Posted by Lee Chiang Po
You then walk backwards, forcing him off his feet and then drag him by the eye socket and lips. You can pull so hard that the lips tear away. You will never hear such screaming.