Chris -
I’m only interested in labels to the extent that when they are clearly defined and widely understood they aid in our communication. I’m pretty sure you could do a better job of distinguishing mexican and chinese cuisines than by saying “they both use rice” and I’m also pretty sure you can do the same for internal and external.
… no, it’s not the same, in China they leave the rice soaking overnight to make it extra soft.
You poor, deluded sinophile! You can get it just as soft much quicker by steaming it!
Yes, steaming it makes it soft, but it’s not the same kind of softness, trust me.
How will you ever know if it takes all night to get soft!? That’s just what your teachers tell you to make you sit around staring at warm water all day while they pocket your tuition!
Anyway, they both use lots of pork, too.
…but carnitas are superior.
Black bean soup would choke out Pancho Villa!
Sushi vs. Ceviche [SIZE=4]SMACKDOWN![/SIZE]
[SIZE=1]Live on Pay Per View.[/SIZE]
Anyway, yes we could define them better than that. But I think ultimately the only people who would get what we’re saying are the people who’ve experienced it, and they already knew the difference before we pointed it out. So all we’d have won is alienating all the people who haven’t experienced it.
Like if I agreed with you that the internal arts were about powerful, short range strikes, and I do - what would a boxer think reading this? That boxing doesn’t develop powerful strikes, even powerful short range ones? Well no, that’s not quite right. So are they the same then? No - they’re a bit different. How? Boxing uses the limbs and internals use the torso? Well no, that’s not quite right either; boxers know very well that they’re using their torso. Well, ok… it’s not just using the torso, but using it a certain way. But what way, a boxer would ask; are you sure you’re not just being elitist? No, no… it’s not about elitism, you see, we have these exercises where we open and close the dantians… Oh oh! Chinese mystical nonsense! You chi-huggers!!! No, no… it’s not like that, it’s like this movement of the scapula with the chest kind of hung… Yeah, us boxers do that too! Well, yeah, you do… but it’s not quite the same.
Ultimately the guy who’s never experienced it isn’t going to figure it out until he does; and the guy who has experienced it isn’t going to benefit from this verbal acrobats. And this isn’t something special about the internal arts, it’s equally true about wrestling or BJJ or boxing (just look at the silly misconceptions people here have about those!)
Skip all that nonsense, call it a cultural transmission with its own distinct character, and you’d be 100% understood and correct. Then invite them to train with you.
That’s where we differ - and maybe it’s just my lack of experience talking here - I’m not convinced there’s much, if any difference except in vocab. That’s where clear labelling becomes so important.
Well, in a sense there’s no difference. If I roll with a BJJ guy, I’m using position, base, space and pressure just like they are - even if I’ve never trained in BJJ. (I’m just probably not using them very well)
Same deal elsewhere. Someone who has never trained in the internals is still using peng; probably just not very well.
The difference is in the training. A BJJ guy has drills and concepts that develop certain skills in those areas, whereas someone else doesn’t (or perhaps has different ones).
Same deal elsewhere. The internals have drills and concepts that develops certain skills in peng, for instance.
Words ultimately suck @$$. They are easily confused, what with all the multiple meanings and such, and lack the ability to really make one experience the described noun.
From the description, internal power is the same as the power generation which we use in karate. But, as it’s been said, I’ve not experienced it, so I cannot discern a difference.
It’s the dang nouns which fudge us up, when it’s the verbs that get the sh!t done.
If I was a part of speech, I’d be a prefix, ‘cuz I’m always startin’ shit I just can’t finish.
Now this is just the sort of foolishness up with which we should not put.
Originally posted by Christopher M
Now this is just the sort of foolishness up with which we should not put.
Who ya referencing there?
Royal Dragon-
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Not so, most arts generate power from the limbs. The core is only a conduit to “Transfer” power.
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Wrong, read up on athletic training principles. ALL power is generated from the core. Even in western training methods.
How could the torso “transfer” power anyway; that doesn’t even makes sense, whether you look at it from a western anatomical view or a CMA view.
In fact olympic runner Mary Decker (if memory correct) improved her running time by strengthing core muscles.
[B]
With internal arts, the power STARTS at the core, and radiates outward in an almost explosive manor. The limbs resond to the power radiateing outward form the core, they respond to the needs of the core’s direction. The limbs do not lead as in External arts.
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If this visualization helps you generate more power great. But, I could easily take out the word “internal art” and tell that to a boxer, wrestler, judoka, hung ga…and they would respond by saying “physiology 101”
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If you ever get a chance to study the Taiji Ruler from the internal Tai Tzu style, you will clearly see the difference.
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Your assuming CMA, in particular Taiji, has a monopoly on body mechanics and power performance. If that is the case then every other art, training method, etc…would be weak in comparison.
Your assuming CMA, in particular Taiji, has a monopoly on body mechanics and power performance.
Reply]
Nope, just thier specific type.
RD,
Can you expand on that a bit.. I think I know what you are saying, but I’m not sure.
why would you think that with external styles striking is lead by the limbs?
Because thats what I see happeneing.
“Because thats what I see happeneing”
It sure in the **** shouldn’t be
Originally posted by Royal Dragon
Because thats what I see happeneing.
Go to Windy City (4401 West Ogden for you Chicagoites plug) and tell them that. :rolleyes:
Windy City? What to they train there?