Continued from “How to find a Tai Chi Instructor (Part 4) 22Self Defense Applications - A Tai Chi teacher does not have to teach self defense to students who do not want it but any real teacher of Tai Chi who can impart the real knowledge of Tai Chi to others must have at least a basic understanding of how the movements are really applied and be able to demonstrate it

Continued from "How to find a Tai Chi Instructor (Part 3)" 14 Mind Intent including a real understanding of the difference between Yi and Shen 15

Continued from "How to find a Tai Chi Instructor (Part 2)" The same is true with Tai Chi Even though approaches may be different, words like Chi, Jing, Peng, Sung, Tao, Yi, Shen and Li will be known by any real teacher

Continued from “How to find a Tai Chi Instructor (Part 1) Many people who teach Tai Chi in America today do not know any or much more than the form set of moves that make up the external physical look and choreography of Tai Chi Although this is an important part of Tai Chi (just as a car’s body frame is an important part of a car) this alone will not impart most of the real benefits that Tai Chi is so famous for and will often leave new and even longer term students somewhat bewildered when they read or hear about the internal aspects and benefits of Tai Chi

This article explains the bare minimum amount of knowledge that any beginning Tai Chi teacher, style, school or method of Tai Chi should know and be able to convey in order to teach Tai Chi Without this basic knowledge students will not be able to gain any of the real health, healing or energetic benefits of Tai Chi

Continued from "Why MMA is NOT Street Self Defense Part 2" One of the difficulties in demonstrating arts that teach real self defense skills is in demonstrating the techniques without really harming anyone

Why guns are not the most effective self defense tools (part 2) Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and am not dispensing legal advice in any way, shape or form in this article To clarify any legal aspects of self defense with a gun or without a gun please consult a qualified attorney

Why guns are not the most effective self defense tools (part 1) Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and am not dispensing legal advice in any way, shape or form in this article To clarify any legal aspects of self defense with a gun or without a gun please consult a qualified attorney

continued from "Why MMA is NOT Street Self Defense Part 1" If someone steals your car (or any other personal possession) and they start driving it away right in front of you what is your best response

The rise in popularity of MMA and Jiu-Jitsu has increased public awareness of martial arts and created a current wave of martial arts enthusiasts However, an unfortunate side effect of this popular martial arts movement is that the average person sees tournaments such as the UFC and thinks that self defense works like the fights that occur in the ring or octagon

Continued from “Attacks Vs Fist Fights & Posturing Part 2” An example is a car screeched to a stop and out poured 4-5 guys running to attack me I was in the wrong part of town and stood out like a sore thumb

Continued from “Attacks Vs Fist Fights & Posturing Part 1” Awareness is key If I have parked my car in a parking space that another driver has perceived as their parking spot and they are cussing me out all I have to do is move my car so that the other person can park there