This is probably opening a can of worms, but what is your favorite kung fu myth?
existence of a “death touch”
one-punch kill
real kung fu masters can manipulate their chi to cure cancer
your Sifu is the Deadliest Man Alive
push hands can lead to devastating sparring ability
a year of kung fu will allow you to disarm knife-wielding psychos and multiple attackers
your gi-wearing sensei learned his art directly from the Shaolin Temple
the Shaolin Temple is the source of all martial arts in China and the World
MMA people are the Best Fighters In The World
Bruce Lee would have beaten Muhammad Ali in a boxing match
Size, Strength, Age, and Gender mean nothing if you have the right skills
your art is superior to every other art ever created
Etc. Each myth has its origins in truth, but we tend to exaggerate a truism to the point of non-credulity. To avoid the flames, I didn’t mention any specific styles or names, but if you are wincing a little, perhaps there is a sacred cow in your yard that you need to poke.
your gi-wearing sensei learned his art directly from the Shaolin Temple
[/QUOTE]
Hey…c’mon now. Charles Mattera of USSD learned his art directly from Shoalin. He wears a gi. He has pictures and everything. And apparently a big a$$ stone erected in his honor. :rolleyes::rolleyes:
[QUOTE=Lucas;870361]That being adept at martial arts somehow sets you above other people in any way.[/QUOTE]
THAT is a good one… There was a certain comfort in knowing that you can beat any man in the room that only fades when you wake up and realize that what you do, while valuable and worthwhile, is not curing cancer.
[QUOTE=Zhang Yong Chun;870294]This is probably opening a can of worms, but what is your favorite kung fu myth?
existence of a “death touch”
one-punch kill
real kung fu masters can manipulate their chi to cure cancer
your Sifu is the Deadliest Man Alive
push hands can lead to devastating sparring ability
a year of kung fu will allow you to disarm knife-wielding psychos and multiple attackers
your gi-wearing sensei learned his art directly from the Shaolin Temple
the Shaolin Temple is the source of all martial arts in China and the World
MMA people are the Best Fighters In The World
Bruce Lee would have beaten Muhammad Ali in a boxing match
Size, Strength, Age, and Gender mean nothing if you have the right skills
your art is superior to every other art ever created
Etc. Each myth has its origins in truth, but we tend to exaggerate a truism to the point of non-credulity. To avoid the flames, I didn’t mention any specific styles or names, but if you are wincing a little, perhaps there is a sacred cow in your yard that you need to poke. ;)[/QUOTE]
when we look at the stars at nite.
we are always looking for the brightest star. just when you found one the brightest and you also found another one is even brighter.
[QUOTE=Zhang Yong Chun;870294]This is probably opening a can of worms, but what is your favorite kung fu myth?
existence of a “death touch”
one-punch kill
real kung fu masters can manipulate their chi to cure cancer
your Sifu is the Deadliest Man Alive
push hands can lead to devastating sparring ability
a year of kung fu will allow you to disarm knife-wielding psychos and multiple attackers
your gi-wearing sensei learned his art directly from the Shaolin Temple
the Shaolin Temple is the source of all martial arts in China and the World
MMA people are the Best Fighters In The World
Bruce Lee would have beaten Muhammad Ali in a boxing match
Size, Strength, Age, and Gender mean nothing if you have the right skills
your art is superior to every other art ever created
Etc. Each myth has its origins in truth, but we tend to exaggerate a truism to the point of non-credulity. To avoid the flames, I didn’t mention any specific styles or names, but if you are wincing a little, perhaps there is a sacred cow in your yard that you need to poke. ;)[/QUOTE]
Myths?
perhaps the wrong word, exagerrations that have taken on a life of their own more likely.
Death touch was never a “touch” (unless it was a touch that followed a steel pipe across the temple)
One punch kills are a fact, as a "coup-de-grace.
Real kung fu masters can’t manipulate chi to cure cancer, but they can make some people believe anything.
Sifu may not be the deadliest man on the planet, but he will probably be the deadliest you will ever know.
Push hands is what you train it to be
A year of kung fu MAY will allow THE VERY GIFTED to handle untrained people easily.
A gi wearing sensei is just that, a gi wearing sensei.
what the Shoalin temple WAS is irrelevant today, period.
MMA people are the best ALL AROUND fighters in the SPORT world.
Bruce Lee was a lousy boxer be all accounts and Ali would have beaten him like a red headed step child, BUT, the probably would have been great friends.
Size, Strength, age and gender matter as much and as little as everything else.
I don’t know about your Art, but the guy I know named Art is one bad ass mofu !!
[QUOTE=Lucas;870361]That being adept at martial arts somehow sets you above other people in any way.[/QUOTE]
in a way, this is correct. Many people do not face their own weaknesses and imperfections, but we, as Martial artists not only face our imperfections and weaknesses, we embrace them. We constantly re-examine,re-evaluate our weaknesses, and make them our strong points, on a daily basis, striving for constant improvement.
I wouldn’t say it sets us above others, but it sets us apart from others.
[QUOTE=TenTigers;870444]in a way, this is correct. Many people do not face their own weaknesses and imperfections, but we, as Martial artists not only face our imperfections and weaknesses, we embrace them. We constantly re-examine,re-evaluate our weaknesses, and make them our strong points, on a daily basis, striving for constant improvement.
I wouldn’t say it sets us above others, but it sets us apart from others.[/QUOTE]
I once saw a guy with a shirt that read “Its hard to be humble when you can kick everyones ass”.
I proceeded to beat the crap out of him.
I am superiour biotch !!
You are quite correct, not better, not above, but certainly different, certainly apart.
hmmm not sure I agree with the sentiment that being a martial artist makes you better or superior to anyone.
I would argue that it actually insulates you, blinders you and makes you more vulnerable as far as true martiality goes.
I mean, why practice antiquated empty hand combat when you could easily achieve superiority over anyone tactically by simply arming yourself with a projectile weapon hereby rendering years of study and practice moot.
On the other hand, if you make the tactical provisions that deal with the actual realities of the world we live in now, that still doesn’t make you superior, it makes you prepared to defend yourself or others should a conflict arise.
as far as sport fighters go, I would argue that there is more value in medicinal studies and that would be superior to learning how to cause harm.
I guess that’s why I study Kungfu, because it approaches the person as a holistic entity that must fulfill it’s need to protect itself, heal itself and return itself to health should it fall to disease or misuse.
Being a sport fighter has little if any value to me. There are only a handful that stand above the rest out of hundreds of thousands who make the attempt. THat to me is only indicative of hundreds of thousands of failed sport fighters who could’ve been spending their time developing their whole selves instead of the ability to hit and be hit which is a rather limited existence. It’s fun for a while, but doesn’t carry forward like a more holistic approach from the onset.
priorities I guess. Everyone is free to choose their own path and everyone is free to make their own mistakes I guess.
[QUOTE=David Jamieson;870472]THat to me is only indicative of hundreds of thousands of failed sport fighters who could’ve been spending their time developing their whole selves instead of the ability to hit and be hit which is a rather limited existence. It’s fun for a while, but doesn’t carry forward like a more holistic approach from the onset.[/QUOTE]
not to hijack, but this brings up another important point: As we know, sport fighting attracts a different clientele-younger, more aggressive, testosterone-fueled,and trained. Puts quite a spin on the “Average guy on the street” when it comes to who and what you will be facing now and in the future in a self-defense situation. Train accordingly.
My vision of the future will be a world where the predators are made up of druggies, felons,trained fighters, and your usual array of sick bastids.
Again, train accordingly.
