Yang Tai Chi - Application
⛔ Warning!
There is a ‘head grab’ technique included in this YouTube video that is likely to inflict serious injury if applied with intent or practiced slopily.
I am not experienced enough to perform or practice this technique and I don’t recommend you try it for yourself. It is a testament to these practitioners that they can demonstrate it so safely, so well and so effortlessly.
From the YouTube Channel of Kevin Lee we see Dr Mark Cheng showing the application of techniques from Yang Style Long Form (large frame, old style). It seems that he learned Tai Chi from this father.
Dr Cheng explains that like most Chinese Martial arts, Tai Chi includes the ability to:
Kick
Punch / strike
Throw, and
Joint lock
He demonstrates - ‘play pipa’ (play the lute) and shows how it can be used as an upward elbow lock with shoulder dislocation.
He also shows a number of applications found within what I have come to know as the ‘kick seection’…
Defect a punch and groin kick at the same time, arm is over leg covering the centreline
Step in (and preferably on the opponent’s foot), or hooking behind the ankle
As the head drops from the kick it is followed by a very effective looking and potentially very dangerous head grab, cupping behind the neck and twisting the jaw, throwing the opponent to the ground
An optional kick to the back of the head
Simultaneous backlist strike and low kick (‘rolling kick’, to the inside of the knee)
Single whip
Range dependent
Long range
Palm strike
Medium range
Elbow strike
Close range
Throw
Ward off left
Break a wrist grab changing to a lock
Dr Cheng’s website can be found at https://www.drmarkcheng.com/.
Kevin Lee’s YouTube channel is at https://www.youtube.com/@KevinLeeVlog
Cover art from Dr Cheng’s website.
