Zhang Sanfeng vs Xiao Yuan shan

[PJ]

so it's really only Chongxu who has a chance to display it, which again while decent still didn't feel THAT great.

There's a brief display in A Deadly Secret which I think captures the essence of Taiji:

血刀僧运劲和刘乘风比拚，内力一层又一层地加强，有如海中波涛，一个浪头
打过，又是一个浪头扑上。刘乘风是太极名家，生平钻研以柔克刚之道，血刀僧内
力汹涌而来，他是将内力运成一个个圆圈，将对方源源不绝的攻势消解了去。他要
先立于不败之地，然后再待敌之可胜。血刀僧劲力虽强，内力进攻的方位又是变幻
莫测，但僵持良久，始终奈何不得敌手。

The fight was interrupted while still tied, so we don't know whether Taiji really could outlast / overcome the forceful IE. But it seems to be on track, best we can tell.

This is just a random Qing dynasty practitioner of Taiji. I have to think Zhang Sanfeng can do better.

[Western Eccentric]

I don't recall this.

..

It was said that your sect’s founder, Zushi [ancestor master] Guo Nuxia’s [heroine Guo] father, Guo Jing Daxia [great hero] was slow, yet his martial art skill shook the world from the ancient time until today. Even Tai Shifu said that his energy level has not reached the level of Guo Daxia of the past. It seems to me that your Emei Pai’s internal energy cultivation technique is superior to the Wudang Pai’s; I’ll say that your future achievement may surpass Zunshi Miejue Shitai’s.
..
HSDS chapter 31 page 5
🤡🤡🤡🤡

[PJ]

As usual, there's a slight mis-translation.

Even Tai Shifu said that his energy level has not reached the level of Guo Daxia of the past

It should be:

Even Tai Shifu said that his energy level may not have reached the level of Guo Daxia of the past

太师父说，他自己或者尚未能达到郭大侠当年的功力。

[Western Eccentric]

As usual, there's a slight mis-translation.



It should be:

Even Tai Shifu said that his energy level may not have reached the level of Guo Daxia of the past

太师父说，他自己或者尚未能达到郭大侠当年的功力。

Hmmm..
No difference between this statement
Still GJ > Z3F

[Snafu3721]

Just want to point something out

I think Taichi should be a Greats lvl technique and not just some lower tiered martial arts. So we shouldn't be discounting Z3F's performance on the sole bias that Taichi may not be as strong as XL18P.

The arguments that are downplaying Taichi tend to focus on characters who weren't extremely impressive while using it because they weren't at Greats lvl. But the same could be said for many JY characters who had access to Greats lvl techniques, but couldn't perform as spectacularly as a Greats lvl counterpart.

Some examples are: YLQ who had XL18P, or Young YG would had finger flick, or any of 1-Deng's students/the monks at Celestial temple.

These, however, shouldn't be taken to demonstrate that the TECHNIQUE itself is weak. But rather, it demonstrates these weaker practitioners are either not proficient enough or they are fighting an opponent of a way higher league.

[Ken Cheng]

Just want to point something out

I think Taichi should be a Greats lvl technique and not just some lower tiered martial arts. So we shouldn't be discounting Z3F's performance on the sole bias that Taichi may not be as strong as XL18P.

The arguments that are downplaying Taichi tend to focus on characters who weren't extremely impressive while using it because they weren't at Greats lvl. But the same could be said for many JY characters who had access to Greats lvl techniques, but couldn't perform as spectacularly as a Greats lvl counterpart.

Some examples are: YLQ who had XL18P, or Young YG would had finger flick, or any of 1-Deng's students/the monks at Celestial temple.

These, however, shouldn't be taken to demonstrate that the TECHNIQUE itself is weak. But rather, it demonstrates these weaker practitioners are either not proficient enough or they are fighting an opponent of a way higher league.

Didn't Cheung Mo Gei explicitly tell Ah 3 before engaging him in combat that he might not be able to defeat Ah 3 within just a few strokes with Tai Chi Fist, but that the reason was that CMG was new to Tai Chi Fist and he hadn't had adequate time to master the skill - not that anything was innately deficient in the quality of Tai Chi Fist?

[tape]

Just want to point something out

I think Taichi should be a Greats lvl technique and not just some lower tiered martial arts. So we shouldn't be discounting Z3F's performance on the sole bias that Taichi may not be as strong as XL18P.

The arguments that are downplaying Taichi tend to focus on characters who weren't extremely impressive while using it because they weren't at Greats lvl. But the same could be said for many JY characters who had access to Greats lvl techniques, but couldn't perform as spectacularly as a Greats lvl counterpart.

Some examples are: YLQ who had XL18P, or Young YG would had finger flick, or any of 1-Deng's students/the monks at Celestial temple.

These, however, shouldn't be taken to demonstrate that the TECHNIQUE itself is weak. But rather, it demonstrates these weaker practitioners are either not proficient enough or they are fighting an opponent of a way higher league.

Right, I do think Taiji is meant to be a Greats level technique, but it has more to do with Zhang Sanfeng's reputation and how he is portrayed rather than what we actually see since nobody really was able to use it at a high level.

It's just another example of when author intention seems pretty clear and there isn't much reason to question it even if it isn't explicitly shown.

[PJ]

Hmmm..
No difference between this statement
Still GJ > Z3F

No, it becomes GJ >= Z3F. And Wuji was half sweet talking to ZZR, so it could even be made up.