Tai Chi

[IronMonkey]

My coach was insisting that I take this since I cant take Kung fu no more (for now), cause of the knee injury I have. Im thinking of taking Tai Chi until my knee heals, then I'll go back to kung fu practice. This should be really beneficial, dont matter what age right, and I wont have to put much pressure on my knee either (jumping, running..). SO what you think?

[FooFighter]

Iron Monkey,

Listen to your coach. A time to practice and there is a time for recovery. I have learned the hard way. I would recommend that you seek a sport doctor and start from there instead of imposing another style to your injury. Heal quick then train.


Bao

[IronMonkey]

Useless telling me to go to doctor, will never do that again cause I know everything I need to. My knee is improving. I play basketball in school for almost an hour and no pain, and thats running and sometimes jumping. I dont think Tai Chi would cause harm, and whenever I'll feel pain, I'll simply take a small break and resume training.

[rubthebuddha]

you're 15, yet you know everything you need to know about knee structure, injuries, contraindication, recovery, etc.?

no, you don't know everything. not even doctors do, but they know many times more about such problems than you ever will. take bao's advice and go see a **** doctor.

[Fu-Pow]

Who said Taiji was easy on your knees?

Taiji is a style of kung fu. Its not any easier or harder than any other style.

[IronMonkey]

Originally posted by rubthebuddha
you're 15, yet you know everything you need to know about knee structure, injuries, contraindication, recovery, etc.?

no, you don't know everything. not even doctors do, but they know many times more about such problems than you ever will. take bao's advice and go see a **** doctor.

Ok, let me make this clear, I have been to many ****in doctors. I get the same answer from each one. So going to another doctor would just be a waste of time.

And no, Tai Chi would be a little easier on my knee IMO. When I bend my knee alot and go at a fast pace, maybe doing forms lets say, is when I tend to feel some pain, not alot though. I think that in these 1 1/2 yrs that have gone by since I had my injury, it has improved, and I know it did, I see some results. And practicing Tai Chi from what I read last night, it helps strengthen your tendons ligaments and bones, correct? Im only attending class 2 times a week either way, and its only 1 hour session.

If during any time I'll feel pain, I'll just take a small break and resume training. More reasonable now?

[WinterPalm]

I thin tai chi is very different than other types of kung fu. That is why, for example, you won't see any seventy year old men doing wushu (Yes, Yes, I know that isn't a real form of kung fu but it fits for the argument!!), yet you'll see lots of elderly folks doing tai chi. I can say from having done tai chi for about a year and having done Black Tiger for over three years, that there is a very big difference in the physical structure not to mention everything else about it.
I would go see a doctor and take your Sifu's advice.

[bung bo]

Taiji=good for you. Be careful, you could re-injure your knee. Knee injuries are by far the biggest injury among taiji players. My first taiji teacher has had one for a while. Make sure your knee points in the same direction as the toe.

Knee-strenthening exercise---Do BW squats. As you lower down, come up on your toes. As you come back up, go flat on your feet.

Good luck.

[IronMonkey]

Thanks for the exercise bung bo.

[KungFuGuy!]

Tai Chi is beneficial, yes, but you must be careful, as with all physical activity. Personally, I have been injured and in pain for nearly a year and a half due to an injury agrivated while training in Tai Chi. I now have a neck injury that could be permanent.

[IronMonkey]

Sorry to hear that KungFuGuy. I will be most careful and train slow, I'll take all pre cautions cause my knee is the most thing I care about.

[count]

Originally posted by WinterPalm
I thin tai chi is very different than other types of kung fu. That is why, for example, you won't see any seventy year old men doing wushu (Yes, Yes, I know that isn't a real form of kung fu but it fits for the argument!!), yet you'll see lots of elderly folks doing tai chi. I can say from having done tai chi for about a year and having done Black Tiger for over three years, that there is a very big difference in the physical structure not to mention everything else about it.
I would go see a doctor and take your Sifu's advice.
After 30 years I can say that a year at anything doesn't qualify you to give any advice. Especially as wrong as this. Although it's already been said it bares repeating. Tai Chi is Kung Fu and there are few styles as demanding on the knees. With that I will leave you with one video clip of a bagua demo by 74 year old Sun Zhi Jun:

Quicktime Clip (http://www.blacktaoist.com/Master%20Sun%20Zi%20Jun.html)

[KungFuGuy!]

I bet that man is invincible.

[Becca]

Originally posted by IronMonkey
Ok, let me make this clear, I have been to many ****in doctors. I get the same answer from each one. So going to another doctor would just be a waste of time.

That could be a sign, you know. :rolleyes: Your body is still developing and will continue to untill your early twenties. Mess up something now and there will be no making it right again. Continue training untill it is 100% and you will mess it up for good. You may not realize it untill you are older, but it will happen.

Ask yourself this: "Is my training now more important than being able to train my whole life? Do I want to be able to walk when I'm 50?"

It sucks, I know, but training on an injury at your age is bad news. And highschool coaches are notorious for pushing budding athletes untill they are really and truely broken. :(

[Merryprankster]

IronMonkey,

Go see an orthopaedist and a physical therapist. These guys can find ways to correct stuff. Please don't do this to yourself.

I have two bad shoulders, one surgically repaired. I have knees that aren't the best, and an old back injury I never let heal that now gives me problems - from when I was 14.

While I can still do everything I want to do in life, I have to be more careful than I did when I was younger. I have to do yoga. I have been to a chiropractor, etc. I have to stay away from several of my favorite - and best - weightlifting exercises. These are not "they make my life better," things, these are "If I ignore these things, I am laid up for 4 or 5 days" type stuff.

You're young, you'll heal - and a **** sight faster than me. But even young bodies can't handle repetitive stress. When I wrestled, I never used knee pads until I was about 16. One day, my knees just started hurting. I wore pads until the pain went away, then stopped wearing pads again. Then I found out the next practice, that knee pads for the rest of my life would be a good idea :).

My point is, take care of yourself, and don't think you know better. Insist on a doctor who listens and answers your questions, but don't try to handle this on your own.

Good luck!

[serene_dragon]

Tai Chi is done so many different ways with so many different ideas on how to do it.

Very hard to give you advice on if you should do the particular style that you are taking without actually seeing or even knowing what the instructor is having you do.

Just in my opinion 80% (if not more) of the people teaching Tai Chi do not even know what they are doing. Im not saying what they are doing doesnt have its benefits but there is so much more to it.

The advice given to you about Tai Chi + your knee injury = BAD
These are the ones who know what I am talking about.

If what you are taking, the concepts are: real relaxed, slow, light on your feet, easy stances, no worries/stress, etc. then you may be alright. (still some risks) but you can do that just doing everyday movements, walking around the house etc. and get close to the same results.

As far as doctors you have to tell them what is going on and what your plans are for the future, that you are going to stay very active, do very intense training and if they dont tell you what you need to hear.
FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR
Good doc's are out there, you just have to find them, Just like instructors. You have to look around

[IronMonkey]

Ok look, I'm not even gonna be putting a lot of pressure on my knee. If this is the case your all talking about, then I'll just reduce training to 1 hr per week. I can run all I want, no knee pain. It has gotten alot better though not fully healed. What actually hurts me the most is jumping. Oh and I'll see how the first few wks go, I should be starting this Thursday, and if I do feel uncomfortable, then I'll do something.

[scholar]

Originally posted by serene_dragon
Tai Chi is done so many different ways with so many different ideas on how to do it.

Very hard to give you advice on if you should do the particular style that you are taking without actually seeing or even knowing what the instructor is having you do.

Just in my opinion 80% (if not more) of the people teaching Tai Chi do not even know what they are doing. Im not saying what they are doing doesnt have its benefits but there is so much more to it.
...


This is absolutely correct. The single most popular style of T'ai Chi in the West is known by the 5 families as "Hurting Knee Style" because the guy that formulated it didn't know enough to keep his knees in proper alignment. So, unless you are 100% sure that your T'ai Chi instructor is classically accurate, you are MUCH better off with a competent orthopaedist, especially one who specializes in knees.

And good T'ai Chi Ch'uan is just as much kung fu as any other style.

[Royal Dragon]

These are not "they make my life better," things, these are "If I ignore these things, I am laid up for 4 or 5 days" type stuff.

Reply]
I'm the same way. Not that I can't do things and all, but I have to be mindfull that I get certian training in regularly, or I'm out of the game.

[Royal Dragon]

The single most popular style of T'ai Chi in the West is known by the 5 families as "Hurting Knee Style" because the guy that formulated it didn't know enough to keep his knees in proper alignment.

Reply]
Which style are you talking about?

I know my Chao style Taiji was like that to a certian extent. I was corrected by a Water boxing exponent though, so in my case I'm ok.