Can Chi be used as a weapon for self defense?

For many years, ‘Chi’ energy has been advertised as a way to fight. Although Tai Chi is a very broad term, there have certainly been those who have promoted its use for combat. In brief, ‘Chi’ is a concept based on energy that flows through life. Whatever actions you do, good or bad will require energy. This internal energy comes from inside your body and is put out into the open world for other people and objects to receive. You too can receive chi from the actions of others.

This is the supposed thought of Tai Chi. Whilst it’s not scientifically proven, it is harmless enough and is found in other cultures. For instance, the Indian concept of karma is kind of similar to the idea of Chi energy. However, Chi is a little different from karma and is seen as a literal energy force that can be used in a physical sense. These days, the bulk of Tai Chi is used as a form of yoga. There are actually many similarities between Tai Chi and yoga and undoubtedly, this interpretation of Tai Chi has many benefits for your body. It’s no wonder that Tai Chi in this form is very popular with the elderly. However, what about Chi in a combat situation? As ever, the answer is not simple and depends on your interpretation.

Can you use a Chi ball to attack someone?

To begin with, we’re not on about Tai Chi in a yoga form here. Instead, we’re on about combat Tai Chi which is commonly taught as a self-defense martial art. It’s important to distinguish that there is a difference between the two. Popularised in the 80s, some Tai Chi ‘masters’ would use Chi energy to defeat enemies. This looked very easy and had a godly presence surrounding it. However, there was a catch. Most of the time this involved their ‘enemies’ being their followers.

This meant you would see videos of people literally flying around the room without being touched. The idea was that the master would have such a deep connection with chi, that they could manipulate the energy and use it to push or pull someone without physically touching them. In some circles, this particular form of energy is called ‘woo’.

This defies science and physics, but then again Tai Chi has often clashed with the scientific community. So, is a Chi ball a real thing? Sadly, no it’s not. To date, there have literally been zero examples of it being used on an aggressor and the only setting it is shown is usually within a dojo with friends. This implies that there is a strong degree of co-operation on behalf of the uke who literally throws themselves to the floor to prove a point. Often a good way of testing whether a fighting method is realistic is whether it’s caught on video in a street fight.

Remember, back in the 80s, social media and the internet didn’t exist, so balls of Chi energy couldn’t be disproven. Well, now they have. Like ghosts, there is no visual evidence of this form of Tai Chi working. At least ghosts have some kind of possibility. In fact, there was one video that went viral many years ago that featured a failed Chi energy defense, resulting in the Chi master getting knocked over. As cool as it would be to be able to floor multiple attackers without touching them, sadly this isn’t possible. Going by this definition, Chi energy cannot be used in a street fight or self-defense situation. Feel free to check out the video below which proves this.

Can Tai Chi be used in a street fight?

So, we’ve established that Chi cannot be used as some kind of magic. However, what about a more common definition? Well, in fairness most Tai Chi practitioners don’t believe in invisible Chi balls. Having said this, they do believe that Chi can enhance their punches and general technique when it comes to fighting.

How is this? The idea behind Chi is that it brings the inner energy out into a focused point of your body. For instance, you may have Chi throughout your body. The point is the combine this Chi together and place it at your fist to improve the power or speed of your punches or kicks. This means, the energy would be collected and transferred to a singular point to deliver a more powerful blow.

Is this nonsense or is it actually legitimate? Well, it’s kind of both. Whether you believe in Chi or not, the result is the same. For instance, Karate often focuses on using angles to make strikes quicker and therefore more powerful. For example, a jab may sting, but by twisting your arm as you throw it, combined with punching in unison with your hips moving in the same direction, the result is a much more devastating blow. You can also apply this to improve your stance, speed of feet, and general fighting tips. This isn’t just used in traditional martial arts either. In MMA and boxing, this is commonly taught as every fighter craves improved technique.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, this is the point. Tai Chi will teach you how to combine areas of your body to move quickly and add power. Whether you believe this is some kind of ‘life energy’ or just technique is up to you. However, remember that Tai Chi originated in ancient China. Obviously, these were more superstitious times so claiming something was due to energy may have been easier back then in comparison to explaining the technique.

So, can Chi actually be used as a weapon for self-defense?

Hopefully, we have given a balanced answer to the original question. Whilst Chi energy balls are unrealistic and shouldn’t be believed, Chi in a sense of training to improve your technique is definitely a realistic idea. Perhaps what has harmed the reputation of Tai Chi over the years are charlatan frauds who over-estimate the power of Chi. For the most part, understanding Chi when it is specifically applied to fighting, is like seeing it as a metaphor for movement and timing – rather than some kind of unbeatable, mysterious force. With this said, Chi can be used for self-defense, but not in the sense of some kind of magic attack.

As with all martial arts, practice makes perfect and you shouldn’t try chasing a quick fix. Instead, it’s realistic to spend years improving your technique and making slow but steady progress. You may also want to test your skills in a sparring scenario every now and then to make sure they’re realistic and have substance as well as style. Overall, this proves that Chi can be useful in a fight, but only when looked at as a fighting aid, and not as an unrealistic, unbeatable, set move.