Can Karate Kata, be taught like Tai Chi Forms

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Lend me your ears!!!

I have a question .

Rather than taking up Tai Chi for many years, Can Kata be taught in the same context and speed. If you think Yes, Which Kata (s) would you recommend.

Kushanku (Kanku Dai) I think is too Long.

Osu

well they can but without someone with good tai chi experieince, im not convinced of the benefits.

my personal take is to train a little tai chi, seperate from my karate - different primary reasons for training, require different methods IMO.

Unless you know enough about Taichi to reinterpret their principles into the karate kata you are practicing (its a helluva lot more than just moving slowly) I can't see what the point would be, and the only way to get that level of knowledge would be to go train in taichi.

Yes.

Any kata (long, medium or short) will do because there is no magic in the outer movements of any Tai Chi forms. The magic is in the specific internal visualisations and when to inhale/exhale that accompany each and every specific movement. In other words there must be 'internal' movements as well. And while you go into the form itself, you also need to do "Zhang Zhuang, Standing Stake", push-hands.

In other words the system comes in a package and not just the form itself. So if you have the package, any form will do. In fact the more well known Tai Chi Chuan, such as Wu, Chen, Yang, Sun all have different forms.

Also look at Tai Chi, Bagua & Xing Yi, there all look very different and yet still considered 'internal' arts.

After reading Shonuf's post, I'll say, yes, it's about putting Tai Chi principles into karate's kata, which I can, which is why I say yes. But for you, where and how would you start?

Can a karate kata be ‘Tai-Chi-ized’?

Certainly but there are a few things to think about.

Tai Chi is a complex martial art with millions of flavors, it is not just moving slow, but one aspect of its training, moving slowly helps build the movement potential of the body.

Tai Chi is not one concept or idea of training. Some groups use one approach, others use entirely different approaches. Tai Chi application potentials are found in karate kata.

Going slowly with a kata practice will not yield tai chi. It may help you learn how to move more efficiently in your kata (with years of practice at that) but it will not make it Tai Chi.

As counterpoint, I’ve practiced the Yang Longfist 108 TCC for over 30 years. About a decade ago I studied the Yang 24 but abandoned it because it was, IMO, too short to get into the full Tai Chi flow, preferring my longer original study.

I did a study a while ago taking the embusen of Isshinryu Seisan kata and replaced the techniques with Yang Tai Chi techniques. The resulting form study was quite good but after a year or so I abandoned it. My karate students were too focused on their karate studies to even take on a short tai chi form. Those who studied Yang with me weren’t interested in any shorter study too.

I’m not sure there is sustained value taking a karate form and working it at tai chi speed. It depends on whether additional tai ch instruction was available to complete the effort.

Best wishes,

Quote:

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...one aspect of its training, moving slowly helps build the movement potential of the body...

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Probably what I harp on the most! Ultra slow kata can be very beneficial, but perhaps not on a metaphysical level.