POLL: Kung Fu or Tai Chi?

[amnesiac]

One of my friends wants me to start taking a martial art with him. I was planning on joining a gym down the street but if the martial arts classes are cheaper then I could do that.

In the past, I've done Judo for 3 years, Tae Kwon Do for 2 years, and karate for 1 year.

He suggested Kung Fu or Tai Chi. Does anyone have experiences with either of these? I just plan to do this for recreation, no tournaments.



*edit*

The practicality of Tai Chi as a self-defense mechanism is irrelevant. I can already defend myself. My friend is a 350lb Brazilian/Black guy who used to be a bouncer. He doesn't need to defend himself either. We just want something fun to do.

 

[LOLyourFace]

Jusitsu

taichi is wussy.. it focuses more on the state of mind and etc rather than practical defense/offense skills.

I highly recommend Judo as well.. teaches you the weak/lethal pressure points on your body & how to bend/crack joints in the way they aren't meant to be.

 

[amnesiac]

Originally posted by: LOLyourFace
Jusitsu

I took Judo and I learned some Jiu-jitsu in my TKD class. I want something different.

I highly recommend Judo as well.. teaches you the weak/lethal pressure points on your body & how to bend/crack joints in the way they aren't meant to be.

Good job reading my post. 😉

 

[PistachioByAzul]

Tai Chi, go for your focus, energy circulation. Makes you not the kind of clown who would call it wussy.

 

[StattlichPassat]

I don't know the difference- what do you want me to vote for?

 

[Booter]

Kung Fu is the ultimate art of self defence as 'invented' by 527 AD, Da Mo, an Indian Buddhist prince came to preach in the Buddhist Shao Lin Temple. I've been training the White Crane Kung Fu on and off since i was small. Kung Fu is the art and if you know the "18 Movements of the Arhan Hands" or "18-Monk Boxing" then you now what chi means. 🙂 Kung Fu is what you make of it.

 

[KokomoGST]

Both... if you get a good master that knows forms within both Shaolin and Tai-Chi, it's not too much of a problem to learn forms in both.

If you really want to learn how to channel and harness your chi/ki/qi quickly... qi-gong is the fastest and safest way... bar-none. But it's more meditative than Tai Chi so you might not like it. It gets rid of learning all those forms and whatnot...

However, learning to control chi with Tai Chi forms or Shaolin forms is a much longer process and if rushed or done improperly, can lead to injury. I went from Qi-gong to Tai Chi, it was a pretty natural progression there. I also learned some Shaolin forms and it's not too bad to jump around.

BTW, Kung Fu is a generic term... it's like saying "Chinese Martial Arts."

 

[amcdonald]

Kung-fu...
Tai chi is more about physical wellness and focuses on the spirtual aspects of the culture...
Learn something akin to wing chun kung fu and you will just learn some different/better fighting skills.
Aikido is also awesome.
Its impressive to beat several guys to the ground, but if you can cripple someone by holding their hand the right way thats just beautiful.
BTW kung fu means more literally 'excellence achieved through hard work'
But thats just semantics.
Of course no matter what you learn it all depends on your teacher... if he sucks, go somewhere else.
I wouldn't take instruction from someone I didn't respect in a fearful way.

 

[SherEPunjab]

Originally posted by: Booter
Kung Fu is the ultimate art of self defence as 'invented' by 527 AD, Da Mo, an Indian Buddhist prince came to preach in the Buddhist Shao Lin Temple. I've been training the White Crane Kung Fu on and off since i was small. Kung Fu is the art and if you know the "18 Movements of the Arhan Hands" or "18-Monk Boxing" then you now what chi means. 🙂 Kung Fu is what you make of it.

yeah, props to indians. most ppl don't know martial arts was invented there.

edit: oh and yeah, KUNG FU. 😀