Taiji movements are not something imposed on another but reflections of a reaction to change.
(Understanding and knowing taiji does not neassarly make one a great fighter)
thank you, it should have been does not 
I see that one of the “signatures” of fighting with Tai Chi as opposed to other martial arts is that we do NOT impose on the opponent as such; it is more like “manipulating” the opponent. While many martial arts simply “overpowers” the opponent.
So if you see someone using “Grasp Pea****'s Tail” in such a way that they are overpowering the opponent with the movements and posture, it is not really Tai Chi. But if you see the opponent being manipulated by the movements and get projected out with seemingly very very minimal force/movement then it is more like Tai Chi.
Even in push hand competitions, we often see participants pushing like Sumos; Powerful it may be (total power = internal power + muscular power), but definitely not Tai Chi and the power will reach a limit.
Ok, for all the ones who do not believe in internal power, we can substitute the “internal power” with “skilled subtle power”.
Unfortunately, I do not see how with Tai Chi one can use muscular power and internal power simutaneousely effectly. So for my money, I’ll place my bets on internal power :o
Cheers,
John
Greetings..
“Internal Power”… how is it expressed? Externally!
There is a balance, as in all things.. great internal potential fails without the external balance needed to express it. The most refined fuel does little when used in a crappy engine.. We tend to focus on extremes, when balance is more appropriate..
A Taiji trained fighter should be identifiable as a Taiji fighter, not too different from an Aikido player.. similar philosophies..
Be well…