Functional tai chi

If you want to learn tai chi for combat, your training should include:

1. Chin na
   - cavity press
   - sealing the breath
   - dividing the muscle
   - misplacing the bones
   
2. Conditioning exercises
   - seasoning the body to combat
   - strengthening joints, bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments
   
3. Countering punches, kicks and grapples
   - solo attacker
   - multiple attackers
   
4. Countering a knife
   
5. Energy work (qigong)
   
6. Escapes- from a wide variety of holds, locks and situations
   
7. Floor work
   
8. Form application
   
9. Gangs/multiple opponents
   
10. Internal power- neigong- reeling silk
    
11. Self defence
    
12. Striking
    - fa jing
    - using body weight
    - striking bags, target pads and people
    - punch, palm, finger, elbow, shoulder, knee, kick
    
13. Weaponry
    - sticks, knives, swords
    - improvised weapons
    - modern weaponry (rather than ancient)

The training must be varied. Pushing hands, form and form application is not enough. Although set patterns and drills are an acceptable training method, they should only represent a small portion of the actual practice. Unpredictability, surprise and disadvantage need to be addressed thoroughly and regularly.