Surprising benefits of learning Tai Chi forms

So I started combat sports in wrestling in high school. The groundwork, head control, and scrambling translated well to bjj. In bjj I was pretty natural, but very awkward standing and very awkward when slowing down the speed of a roll.

I started training Tai Chi once a week under a blue belt sifu. Hated the forms and loved the sumo like sparring of the push hands.

Over time the choreography of the forms stopped being central and it became a very slow choreography of weight transfer and balance. The sparring got slower and more precise and became more sensitive to the touch.

These things help with rolling as I can often tell someone’s intentions of lack of intention based on their subtle tensions and weight transfer.

So, I thought some of you might be interested to hear about something almost not even regarded as a martial art being useful movement and sensitivity training.

I’m always interested if any of you have dabbled in something unconventional that has been useful as well.