This month I took a break from Sanda training. Besides stuffing myself full of dumplings and liquor during Chinese New Year, I also had the opportunity to train the Yijinjing from a local master and it has re-ignited my interest in more traditional gongfu practices. I've always thought taolu useless with regards to fighting ability, and yet, I really enjoy taolu for solo practice. I think it is quite possible to traditional Chinese martial arts without taolu but then again taolu is one of the its hallmark features.
So here's my hypothetical question: If you could choose only one taolu to teach people, which would it be and why?
Karate folk can answer this question, too
My answer: The Xiaohongquan from the Shaolin curriculum. It's simple and short, yet contains a coherent set of principles that are very relevant to my current sanda practice and had a lot of relation to my aikido and judo practice when I lived in Japan.