Tai Chi

Hello Again. You thought I wouldn’t do another one did you Mr. Starace? Well, here it is.

 If you haven’t done Tai Chi before, you know what it is right?

WRONG

For a moment, I would like to support my ethos in the topic of Tai Chi. I am ranked number 1 in Open Chen Tai Chi Wushu in the state of California. I have participated in Wushu tournaments such as the martial arts tournament held by Cal Berkley as well as the Golden State International Wushu Championships. Don’t believe me? I can bring in six gold medals and four gold trophies to prove it. So I think I know something about Tai Chi. Bragging out. (Mic Drop)

Back to topic. I’ve talked about golf in media, now I’ll talk about Tai Chi, or martial arts in general.

Have you seen this movie?

Or heard of these two men?

 

Anything else?

If you answered no, glue your face to the screen and read every pixel.

If you answered yes, continue reading and be entertained.

Most western people have their limited knowledge about Martial Arts. Sure, it’s a fighting style, but it has kind of been whitewashed for the western community. Notice that these two amazing martial artists have been paired with american or europen people in their various movies. Example: Chuck Norris. Also notice that there are a lot more fight scenes, a lot more action, and maybe some basic themes. In a “regular “Chinese action movie, there are a lot of fight scenes, but not the kind you would think of. They aren’t enemy vs. enemy, it is most of the time a respectful battle between masters or students, no rage or hatred is used to amplify power, it is just a display of respect between two people.  But in the whitewashed versions, its just action to fulfill our need for violence. This, if you guys remember, is Mr. Tagg’s problem with today’s movies, only action, not any good themes.

Tai Chi especially suffers in the violence-wanting western world of media. Tai Chi’s philosophy is one more of peace and internal power. This suffers because open displays of power are discouraged because of Tai Chi’s incredible strength. Tai Chi, especially Chen Tai Chi, are some of the most powerful fighting styles invented, with surprisingly brutal techniques to snap bones. The peaceful image around Tai Chi was to sometimes disguise it as a mere exercise.

That's a hard pose to hit. The right leg is at about an 85 degree angle, and you have to hold it.

So what does this say for Tai Chi in Media? Well, it is completely misrepresented in Western media showing it as a slow, easy exercise for old people. try holing a horse stance (basically a wide squat) for an hour with a bowl of water on your head and a candle under your butt. Its tough. That stereotyped Tai Chi into the calm, slow exercise that people see it as today. The truth is that going slow just makes it harder.

Its not only the West, Chinese films themselves have even altered the image of Tai Chi. However, they do hit more closely on the fighting and power aspect, making it seem more like a Kung Fu style rather than Tai Chi.

So this wans't really a post about the effects of media, i just wanted to say some stuff about Tai Chi, just to put it out there. I also wanted to be remembered as doing more than was needed. 

I would just like to say that i had a fun time doing Media Blogs, and ill miss the opportunity to share my ideas this way. Thank You Mr. Starace.