tai chi chuan style

[Anonymous]

Could you please answer a few questions regarding Tai chi chuan and help me clarify things?
I am French so please bear with my English.

I’ve been suffering from health problems for the last 2 years or so. I have been unemployed for 2 years and a half. (I am 37)

I have just started Yang style Tai chi chuan because I think it can help me with my health problems and also as I am getting depressed I thought it could help me as well with that….. I am interested in all aspects of TCC: Health, relaxation, inner peace(I need that!) , martial aspect.
I started 4 weeks ago. So far so good. I am even more enthusiastic than before about it. I wish I could have classes everyday(only 2 classes a week at the moment).
There were only one place near where live where I could practice TCC
I chose this association because it was the nearest and also because I did not know a lot about TCC.
Although I looked on the Internet, it is very easy to get lost in all the various styles, the lineage….(I have just read a document about TCC and they say that just within Europe and North America that are at least 20 “different Yang styles”

Here is the thing, this TCC that I chose is Yang style TCC, “Snake style” or Snake style long boxing….

I came across some chatter on the internet (for instance here http://www.nytaichi.com/onsnakestyle.htm ) ,and I now wonder if I should go on with this or not. Well I paid for the whole year so I do not think I could get my money back
Some people seem to believe that this Yang TCC “snake style” is forged and is not real TCC.
here is the official website of the association that promote this TCC http://www.snake-style.org/‎

1) What is opinion on that?
The instructor is a very nice person and seems to know its subject…. but with all that chatter on the internet I wonder

2)Apparently this TCC has got 108 forms like other Yang styles. Do you know if the 108 forms they use are similar to the other yang styles?
Let’s say I go on with this until next June and then I change schools , will I be able to use the forms I will have learnt?

3) some people say “snake style” does not exist but I read that when you learn Yang style TCC you have to learn the snake, tiger, bird forms. They are different approaches of the sames moves (if I understand well)

Regarding another TCC style:
What do you think of wudang practical TCC http://www.taichichuan.co.uk/

Could you explain to me the differences between the major styles.

Is one style “better” or they are about the same and It has to do with mastering the principle of Tai Chi, which all styles are based upon?
Regarding the martial aspect of Tai Chi , is one form or another considered “better”, more “efficient”?

Thanks a lot
Damien

[Anonymous]

Hi Damien,

You’ve done what so many people struggle with when they want to learn Tai Chi: you actually showed up and started training. Good for you!

Yes, you’re going to come across endless debate over styles, lineages, and forms. To me, putting in a year of solid training with someone you like and trust will put you very far ahead of all these debates.

It’s natural to expand your research as you have more and more context for understanding the differences. Tai Chi styles are essentially like branches of one big family tree.

Yes, at some point you will be able to discern between better and worse Tai Chi, but it’s not typically “styles” that are better or worse, more often it’s the skill of the teacher/practitioner that makes a bigger difference, especially for a beginner.

Now, as you go, you may begin to understand where the gaps are in your teacher’s knowledge, or even the shortcomings in the style you are training, and at that point, you will seek out more information and opportunities to learn “the internal technology” of Tai Chi.

But like I said, if you spend a year or two or six conditioning your body, training on a regular basis, and getting some exposure, you will be well far ahead of someone who seeks out the truest information but never actually does any training.

So I guess, don’t worry too much about it now and keep training!

Good luck,
Dan

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