A Tai Chi Scam – Beware and read on. I am sure you have seen these ads around the internet featuring ‘not so young’ gentlemen with an extraordinary physique… they are hard not to miss! Which tells me that a lot of money is being pumped into this marketing campaign. In fact, too much money tells me this is obviously a Tai Chi Scam – Beware!
While the company advertises features like AI-driven personal coaching, it has also received many complaints from customers who claim it is a scam involving unauthorized charges and difficult cancellations.
Tai Chi Can do this? Absolute rubbish…!
The clear give away for me is the claim that Tai Chi Chuan was responsible for this transformation of plump middle aged people into those with a body we all dream of. I have been to all four corners of China where Tai Chi is the singular practice of the residents and never have I see anyone that looked like the gentleman in the ad above. Tai Chi is an internal exercise that has little effect to an observer, except perhaps more sparkle and energy in the practitioner … better skin … more alertness and less health issues. Beside the martial arts benefits, which are not covered in this post.
Now let’s be honest Tai Chi Chuan practice can transform a person – as a practitioner myself, it has helped me to relax which I found very useful in my karate training. The breathing exercises are of immense value to me. I have found that my balance has improved, among a host of other benefits. But to suggest that you can be turned into Mr Universe contestant is completely misleading.
Chase the money…!
The company behind this are using an app that offers a customized workout and meal plans that it must be stressed includes traditional strength training with weights. Not exactly Tai Chi Chaun. And here is the mani problem, that the company uses misleading ads, like suggesting that tai chi alone can lead to a muscular build. The app uses AI to program a customers workout with little interest in real traditional Tai Chi training methods.
The Mad Muscle company’s press materials and legal information indicate that the fitness app is operated by AmoApps Limited, a company registered in Cyprus. Customers report being charged higher amounts than initially advertised for a trial period, with additional add-on charges appearing seconds after the initial purchase. Users complain that canceling a subscription is difficult and that customer service is unresponsive to refund requests.
Buyer beware…!
Scams like this are nothing new – I have seem them in muscle magazines and martial arts magazines and on Youtube. In fact the claims on YouTube are becoming ridiculous with the latest one being an AI generated Bruce Lee teaching all sorts of celebrities, including Muhammad Ali. It is buyer beware and we must be vigilant and disciplined to not respong to the clickbait. One of the best words of advice is the oldest… “If it sounds true good to be true, it is!!”
