I’ve heard it said that you should never mix alcohol with tai chi. I’m not completely sure why but imagine it has something to do with a loss of control. If you’ve learned to release energy and are under the influence of alcohol, you may cause unintended damage to your opponent, your friend, or even yourself… but it sure makes you think you’re really good… did I say that out loud?
Here’s is a deep quote about the effect of wine on cognitive ability that got me thinking about this.
“One of the disadvantages of wine is that it makes a man mistake words for thoughts.”
Samuel Johnson
In tai chi you use thought energy to direct your body, through directing your chi (qi). I believe Albert Schweitzer understood this too.
“Thought is the strongest thing we have. Work done by true ad profound thought – that’s real force.”
Albert Schweitzer
What do you think?
John
P.S. Hey, what’s all this about a drunken tai chi form then?
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Matt (1 comments)
1133 days ago
So then I shouldn’t actually believe in Jackie Chan’s drunken fighting style?
admin (64 comments)
1133 days ago
Matt,
I guess not. You’ll have to reconcile that one yourself.
John
Sheld (36 comments)
1128 days ago
Hi Matt,
My personal thoughts on drunken fist, of which I love to watch as I am a big Jackie Chan fan, is that it is supposed to be an illusion, you aren’t actually supposed to be drunk, but to your opponent you look off balance when you are not, you look vaunrable when you are not, you give them over-confidence when they should be careful… having said that, it’s definately entertaining on film.
Correct me if I am wrong here John, but I guess thats where Tai Chi Chuan is great.
The TCC practitioner doesn’t really come across that fearsome, as opposed to Shoulin Tiger Style for example.
You might engage a TCC fighter thinking you’re the Wolf vs. Sheep, but he’s actually a Tiger in the reeds, and you won’t see it until it’s too late.
admin (64 comments)
1128 days ago
Sheld,
I think Matt’s just playing around. He’s really a Tiger… in a Marine’s uniform.
>
John
Sheld (36 comments)
1128 days ago
LOL Oh yeah I got the light hearted nature to the blog and Matts comment, I just found it an interesting topic is all… I probably rattled on a bit though, hehe.