At the very least it gives you a commonly known ruleset under which to compete
[QUOTE=TenTigers;1183319]dude, they’ve been executing Gung-Fu Masters since the Ching Dynasty.
“Fan Ching Fuk Ming!”[/QUOTE]
Yeah I know, with the burning of the temple back in 1642. But that didn’t start Wu-shu; just proliferated real gong gu throughout the country. The surprise to me was that Wu-shu would have started before the executions. I thought it started when the government realized what a great treasure they had lost when all those masters were executed, and in an effort to recapture it, they created the empty shell that is Wu-shu.
The Cultural Revolution was from 1966 to 1976; what is referred to as the modern, standardized ‘Wu Shu’ performance sport was started at least as early as the 1950s.
[QUOTE=Jimbo;1183461]The Cultural Revolution was from 1966 to 1976; what is referred to as the modern, standardized ‘Wu Shu’ performance sport was started at least as early as the 1950s.[/QUOTE]
True. Somewhere around '53 it started getting standardized.
In the 70’s much of what was being passed off as traditional was in fact standardized wu shu with a lot of hyper extension and decimation of martial practicality. IN the 90’s it was all re-organized into what we more or less see today with an addition here or there.
In truth, the traditional kung fu, with the exception of North Shaolin and Eagle Claw is pretty non-fancy, real straight line of attack, good footwork etc. So much so that when people see it, they don’t believe it’s Kung Fu because you aren’t flying through the air like a fooking monkey. 
Well, I think Pak Mei Pai could represent gong fu to the world, or if not Pak Mei Pai Hung Kuen or Chan Sau Chung’s system.
[QUOTE=David Jamieson;1183465]True. Somewhere around '53 it started getting standardized.
In the 70’s much of what was being passed off as traditional was in fact standardized wu shu with a lot of hyper extension and decimation of martial practicality. IN the 90’s it was all re-organized into what we more or less see today with an addition here or there.
In truth, the traditional kung fu, with the exception of North Shaolin and Eagle Claw is pretty non-fancy, real straight line of attack, good footwork etc. So much so that when people see it, they don’t believe it’s Kung Fu because you aren’t flying through the air like a fooking monkey. :p[/QUOTE]
the irony is only when you train to fight does your form look beautiful. when you chase that beauty you never attain it.
[QUOTE=Faruq;1183301]If Bruce Lee had never happened and Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do had never become such popular martial arts, what system of gong fu do you think should represent gong fu to the world?[/QUOTE]
Shaolin. But I’m biased.
Greetings,
If Bruce Lee was not around, there might be a higher level of kung fu in this country and around the world.
It was not Bruce Lee that triggered the “sudden interest” in the Chinese martial arts, it was the kung fu movie boom triggered by Serafim Karalexis, beginning with Five Fingers of Death. It was the '70’s that posed the question as to whether Karate was better that Chinese martial arts. And a few came forward to represent: Hui Cambrelen, Tayari Casel, and Paul Vizzio. They did represent well. Yet it would take few losses for more of the the real stuff to be shared by the Chinese community and if Bruce Lee did not exist, I think it would have happened a lot sooner. It’s a face thing.
The presence of Wushu in this country had a lot to do with the Nixon administration. It was China’s export to the world.
mickey
[QUOTE=Lee Chiang Po;1183411]Wing Chun is probably the only real true fighting art that is represented by this forum, …[/QUOTE]
What make you to say that? 
I’ll pray for you both.
When I was young and first heard of Chinese Kung fu in the 6o’s, I envisioned something that would look just like the movement and ferocity in this video. This is how real kungfu should be presented, everything else, scraped. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYdl9DX25Rc&feature=related
I think the TCMA image would’ve come much later - actually how it’s evolving now. Jet Li would’ve done Shaolin Temple creating the craze that it did - and some 20 years later, Hollywood choreographers would’ve discovered TCMA. So I’m guessing it’d play out pretty much the same way as it has since BL’s death on the Hollywood side.
On the practitioner side too - TCMA has pretty much been an underground thing here in the states. Usually immigrants / students from China or HK came here and set up shop with small numbers attending.
The international face probably would be a toss up between Jackie Chan and Jet Li. They still would have been huge in Asia, and Hollywood would’ve eventually found them.
If there were no Bruce Lee Chuck Norris would have been even bigger.
[QUOTE=Shaolin;1183563]Shaolin. But I’m biased.[/QUOTE]
Pre wushu Shaolin, or post wushu era Shaolin?
[QUOTE=Faruq;1183301]If Bruce Lee had never happened and Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do had never become such popular martial arts, what system of gong fu do you think should represent gong fu to the world?[/QUOTE]
boxer rebellion plum flower boxing + authentic demon posssesion rituals and catholic nun burning
[QUOTE=mickey;1183638]Greetings,…It was the '70’s that posed the question as to whether Karate was better that Chinese martial arts. And a few came forward to represent: Hui Cambrelen, Tayari Casel, and Paul Vizzio. They did represent well. Yet it would take few losses for more of the the real stuff to be shared by the Chinese…mickey[/QUOTE]
Wow! Great comments! Who did Hui and these guys fight from the karate world? And what do you mean by “Yet it would take few losses for more of the the real stuff to be shared by the Chinese”? What more of the “real stuff” ended up being shared by the Chinese?
ahh..you said which system of Gung-Fu SHOULD represent to the wrold. I thought you meant which system WOULD represent to the world.
So, what you are asking is, what do we think is the best representation of TCMA in its purity?
I think that would be Hung-Kuen and Jook Lum mantis…and some Shuai Jiao thrown in..(haha I said, “thrown!”)
but I’m just a wee tad biased…
[QUOTE=TenTigers;1183768]ahh..you said which system of Gung-Fu SHOULD represent to the wrold. I thought you meant which system WOULD represent to the world.
So, what you are asking is, what do we think is the best representation of TCMA in its purity?
I think that would be Hung-Kuen and Jook Lum mantis…and some Shuai Jiao thrown in..(haha I said, “thrown!”)
but I’m just a wee tad biased…[/QUOTE]
you guys stroke an invisible beard and hop around on an invisible pony and you wanna represent kung fu?
SHAMEFUL DISPLAY
[QUOTE=bawang;1183771]you guys stroke an invisible beard and hop around on an invisible pony and you wanna represent kung fu?
SHAMEFUL DISPLAY[/QUOTE]
dude, I’m channeling!
Greetings,
For Faruq:
Hui Cambrelen: He would take on ANYBODY. He is a true urban legend. His fights were mostly underground. The top student of Grandmaster Wai Hong.
Tayari Casel: Fought successfully in the Karate circuit on the East Coast. Known for his groundfighting. Student of Master George Hu Ling
Paul Vizzio: Fought underground fights as well as in the PKA. In the latter he showed the effectiveness of Chinese style kicking. Another high ranking student of Grandmaster Wai Hong.
In terms of losses, that is what it would take for more to be taught. If you would look at Mainland China’s approach to the current MA scene, they are looking at it and studying it with the goal of becoming NUMBER ONE. The effectiveness of Kung fu vs Karate was a major question here in NYC back then because street effectiveness was needed and because of the economics of it. The already established Karate Schools would lose money if the public saw the CMA as superior. Case in point: Tayari Casel participated in a Karate vs Kung Fu events at Aaron Banks’ Oriental World of Self Defense. Banks tried his best to stack the odds against Tayari Casel. He did not put a straight up Karate guy against Casel. He had him go against “Little” John Davis, a Vee- Jitsu practitioner. They fought three rounds. Though Casel lost by only one point, those who witnessed it though it was the best match they had seen in their life. I had the opportunity to see the first round and the decision on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. At the decision time Casel looked incredibly composed and was hardly sweating. Little John Davis looked as if he spent three days in Hell. He was drenched in sweat. And when he was given the win, his face looked as if he knew otherwise.
mickey