It is with great sadness that we have to report that Dan Docherty passed away on 9th December 2021. His memory lives on through this website, his articles, videos, podcasts and in the hearts, minds and teaching of his many students and friends throughout the world.

If you are looking for a teacher in this style, then please visit “Where to Learn” “Instructor Listings” page as although this is not being kept up to date it will provide contact details for a number of his main students.

The PTCCI practitioners Facebook page is useful should you have questions.

Blog

Dec 18, 2017

Permissible Deviation


I'm ok; You're not ok.

Posted by: Dan

Everyone's an expert. When training with my sifu in Hong Kong in the early days, I very quickly learned to be very sceptical of anything I was taught or told by a Tai Chi elder brother, uncle or indeed by anyone on any subject whatsoever. The late George Liu was a good friend of Tai Chi older brother Ian and some time ago posted a video of egregious applications. 

Fairly quickly I found the best thing to do was to go direct to the source and even then to check things out. For example I found a number of Western Medieval and Renaissance weapon techniques which were identical to TCC weapon form techniques with the applications shown in European weapon manuals often better and more close to TCC theory than some I had been shown.

Everything is something; the question is what? 

I once wrote that there are no techniques in TCC only concepts. However, concepts are applied through techniques. I don't want to teach or practice an incoherent mish mash like the many Nei Jia Chuan internet whores. They'll show you KO punches, never having fought or KOd anyone. Nowadays thanks to Facebook and youtube everyone's an expert for 5 minutes. If you want to become skilled in TCC, you will need to invest time energy and money in private [Inside the Door] tuition. Yeah, it's not enough to go to a class once a week and peruse a few video clips.

One final thing, if your practice is hurting your body, it is usually because of bad technique on your part or a bad approach to  training. If in doubt, ask an expert

 

 

Blog articles

Car54 - Climate Change

My latest audio blog podcast including Taoism, ecology, martial arts and lifestyle.

Read more...

Instant Tao

It started with instant coffee...

Read more...

False pig eats tiger

discussing Chinese philosophy in action...

Read more...

One Eye Closed, One Eye Open

Hong Kong Phooey

Read more...

commemoration

WILD COLONIAL BOY - REVIEW BY DOCTOR MARNIX WELLS

 

Read more...

WILD COLONIAL BOY

My book release date is October 30. The publishers are Austin Macauley.

Read more...

WILD COLONIAL bOY

I changed a few things a little bit, but one way or another everything in this book really happened.

Read more...

Mr. George Button Chief Physical Training Instructor RHKP

George Button is the gentleman in the black jacket pictured with 3 recruit inspectors at a function in the officers Mess in 1974. 

Read more...

AL DORAN - MARTIAL ARTS COMMANDO

I last played rugby when I was 16. I quit because in a game with fellow students, I ended up at...

Read more...

HEALTH QIGONG

HEALTH QIGONG – APOLOGIES TO ALL BY DAN DOCHERTY The TCUGB was Nigel Sutton’s...

Read more...

COVER GUY DD FEBRUARY 2002 COMBAT MAGAZINE

Combat Magazine Wudang Spear Form

Read more...

FINESSE - CHOP OR SLICE ?

Highly sensitive people

Read more...

LOST IN TRANSLATION

In the TCC world both in its literature and teachings egregious errors due to inaccurate...

Read more...

9 DRAGON INTERNATIONAL SQUAD BY DAN DOCHERTY

As we all know, the Chinese triad societies, [sometimes referred to as 'Black Societies' in both...

Read more...

426 BY DAN DOCHERTY

The Chinese term 'Sanhehui' [literally 3 Harmonies Association] was the name of one specific...

Read more...

FALLS & MORE

hI y'all,  I am getting involved in running falls prevention courses locally and...

Read more...

The Guardians of the Chinese Hells

Another side of things.  Judge not that ye be judged.

Read more...

SHEN MING & OSMOSIS

Shen is the Chinese character for spirit and there are 2 part to this character. On the left...

Read more...

WHITE HORSES

The Australian journalist, Richard Hughes, wrote a book about Hong Kong entitled 'Borrowed Place...

Read more...

PTCCI SUBSCRIPTION & WEBSITE ACCESS

PRACTICAL TAI CHI CHUAN INTERNATIONAL LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTIONS & ACCESS TO VINTAGE DAN DOCHERTY WRITINGS  REVIEWS & INTERVIEWS

Read more...