There is no shortage of Tai Chi people (usually online) saying their lineage, or forms or sometimes of themselves 🙂 are the best. Usually saying how many fights or competitions they have done and won. Usually it comes to down, “I have POWERZZZ!”
Now it is true that Yang Luchan (the founder) and his son Yang Banhou were known as “Yang the Invincible” and they were teaching Manchu nobility and were tested throughout their life, so to stand to reason that their Tai Chi skills must be at the pinnacle.
This is why some people chase the old forms, or the original forms. But the truth of the matter is that in 2020s, unless you engage in fights or sports competitions, being healthy means a lot more. Let’s be honest, the saying is that Tai Chi “allows the old and weak to defeat the young”, and Tai Chi can equalize a lot, but it can only go so far. My goal is to be healthy into my 80s and 90s. There is no promise to anyone but I am going to better my odds as much as possible.
Leave a Reply