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This is Part 5--the final lesson in our free course on Tai Chi Fighting Applications. We're going to explore some fighting applications for "Single Whip."

I met a guy not long ago who has studied and taught Yang Tai Chi for 20 years. He said he had studied silk-reeling from an outstanding teacher. I asked him to show me a silk-reeling exercise.

He started the exercise and I was stunned. He was swinging his hips and there was no connection throughout his body. And he had been teaching.

I'm a very polite person, so I gently asked if he knew the fighting application of the silk-reeling movement. He didn't. So I showed him how he could step behind me and prepare me for a takedown.

When he got set up in the position, his leg behind me and his torso against mine (I had to direct him to get in close) I said, "Okay, take me down. Turn your waist."

He turned his waist and nothing happened. I stayed upright. His body mechanics were so bad he couldn't even knock me over his leg. We switched positions. He punched at me and I stepped into position. With a very calm turn of the waist, he hit the ground. I explained to him the connection through the body and I coached him through it as he did it to me. This time, as I coached him, he did it better and I went over his leg to the ground.

The light bulb went on in his head. But since it takes years of practice to get this stuff down, by the next move he was disconnected again.

I don't really blame him for having such poor skills. His teachers probably didn't know any better, either. But they think they're good, and their students are ready to believe that the teacher is good. I've been there, believing a teacher is a master when they haven't really been at it very long at all.

I've also been lucky to have some great teachers who also introduced me to members of the Chen family. The internal mechanics I've studied for a decade in Chen Tai Chi have also improved my Hsing-I and my Bagua.

I've also received many emails over the years from people around the world, asking if I knew how they could study when there are no teachers in the area. That's why I created my new online school at  www.InternalFightingArts.com. I share my knowledge, and as I continue to learn and improve, I pass along information to my students and to members of the website. I hope you'll try a month of membership. It will be worth it, even if you simply re-affirm that you are learning good material at your school. I believe, however, that you'll gain insights that will improve your skills. Who knows, you might end up knowing more than your teacher, depending on his or her background. Regardless of whether you try out the school or not, I appreciate the fact that you opted in for this course.

The movement "Single Whip" is common to all tai chi styles. This lesson shows some self-defense applications for Single Whip.

Click photo at left  to go to www.InternalFightingArts.com