I am still cracking up as I write this post. I just got back from the main board and although I dont like the threads ever on that board as I am reading this caught my eye, the thread was called
“FAST Tai Chi-- For Self Defence (a new concept)” and I just had to cut and past it for you guys to have a good laugh here it goes…
My friends and I have been tryng this for 5 months now.
and to me it seems a lot like Kung Fu but different in a way.
And a lot more technical
The more I practice, The more I can move around my opponent without them even touching me.
I do mix this new technique with other Martial Arts.
Like Kung Fu itself.
But the calm easy flowing spirit helps alot.
Like if someone attacks you and turning it into a Re-Action
of easy breathing self defence.
DON’T get me wrong,I have years of Karate and Boxing.
But I really believe this Fast Form of Tai Chi could be very leathal (If executed right)
We didn’t run this idea by my Sifu yet.
But we practice it because She suggested it.
But she doesn’t know our progress.
Next these guys will be posting that they have a new invention that all you have to do is pick up a handle shaped device, punch a few buttons and you can talk to your freind without even being at the same house…
My first taste of “taiji” came at a Grateful Dead show. I was moved by the music and though, this must be what they mean in Taiji.
Sort of right, sort of wrong, but that was my intro.
I saw that post too and even responded. Yea, I’m still foolish enough to get dragged into that board at times, but I’m finding the quality here to be much higher – not surprising.
Originally posted by EARTH DRAGON I am still cracking up as I write this post. I just got back from the main board and although I dont like the threads ever on that board as I am reading this caught my eye, the thread was called
“FAST Tai Chi-- For Self Defence (a new concept)” and I just had to cut and past it for you guys to have a good laugh here it goes…
Real good attitude there SIFU
Remind me to send my children to go study with you.
Thats why my teacher, when students first came to him asking for taiji, sent them out to do only 4 single moving exercises: part the wild horse’s mane, brush knee and strike, heel kicks, and 45 degree kicks. All done slowly and up and down a field about 50 yards. The 45 degree kicks actually had you go down, sit in a twist stance and then rise kicking slowly. This usually cured them of their “sugar plum fairy dance in my head” feel for taiji. Proved that taiji was not that easy. This went on for the entire summer. Needless to say there were few taiji students and maybe thats the way my teacher wanted it, I don’t know.
Most students quickly said, "Naw, I don’t want to do this and then got thrown into basic praying mantis kicking, punching and two man moving exercises. (mainly 8 step praying mantis) along with 18 lohan exercises.
Then they got some jiben gong dao training. After that they were much more open to training in taiji.
Don’t you think learning fast taiji early is putting the cart before the horse?
Dear brother, I was reffering to the comment (new concept) Thats what I found amusing, it was worded that the idea that if you do Tai Chi Chuan fast you can use it for self defense was invented by these two guys.
I was not laughing at the lack of knowledge or their beginner staus. So Please reform from placing judgment on others simply by your interpetation or their words. I think you have read most of my posts and realize that I am much deeper than that. At least I hope so.
OK, so maybe you weren’t laughing at their lack of understanding/beginner status. How do you think the kids gonna feel if he come over on this board and reads the thread you started?
Water dragon, they would probably realized that what they said amused me. everyone hears funny things and stories from time to time but sometimes I hear things that make me laugh. I didnt know their was any thing wrong with that. Have you not read somethings on this board that you found were amusing?
Constructive critisism is O.K, actually helpful and sometimes humbling but saying that I have a bad attitude for a shifu and you wouldnt bring your children to me seems a bit harsh wont you agree. I did’nt think that I dissapointed you that much..
Maybe I’m wrong, I don’t know. But I always hold a teacher to a higher standard. That’s one of the reasons I don’t plan on doing it, too much responsibility.
Truthfully, I’m not even 100 % comfortable with the Siheng title I have now. I’m not even living up to those responsibilities like I should.
If you never claimed the title Sifu around here, I’d probably be laughing with you. As it stands, you have chosen to refer to yourself as such. In my mind, it means you need to accept everything that goes with it.
Even if this is just cyberspace, and even if none of your students post here.
But like I said, that’s just my opinion. And I’m pretty much nobody.
Water , "“You are a somebody”"and you are intitled to your opinon. However becuse I am a sifu does that not give me the right to have a sense of humor? I also find humor in thread’s (titled who who win in a fight jet li or bruce lee) Does that make me a bad sifu?
I think you have read into my post way to much and for some reason thought that I was being derogatory towards them. I just simply pointed out the fact that someone on this board though they invented Tai Chi fighting application. And found that funny, actually quite funny and it gave me a good laugh but should
I feel quity for that ?
Please dont judge someone simply by 1 of the 900 posts that I have made for I thought you had a perspective towards me…
PS I have many students that post here, some of wich have been with me for 7 years and some that have BB in other japanese styles that are looking for internal and softer skills, so I must be doing something right.
Sifu is still a person.
I gotta say i kinda agree with both WaterDragon and EarthDragon on this one, notice how similar your names are guys?
I agree that a sifu posting as such in public will be held to a higher standard but that should not come at the expense on him or her enjoying themselfs whilst on the forum.
I think ED’s post here was really just poking fun and was not intended to be insulting. I rather like a good sence of humour in a teacher and i find it refreshing to see that they dont take everything to seriously.
My old Tai Chi weapons sifu used to frequently start dancing around in the middle of a serious Tai Chi ruitine whilst trying to poke me with a stick. She would also sometimes go from Tai Chi to some kind of pretend monkey she had made up.
It made me cry with laughter seeing a 60 yo women trying to beat me up with a plastic sword whilst pretending to be a monkey and i loved her to bits for it.
I think a sifu should be a bit ‘above’ and beyond in terms of status but its really nice when every now again they come down and poke a little fun at what got them there in the first place.
ED is entitled to be himself, and act the way he chooses. It’s not right or wrong to poke fun at somebody or something, it just is what it is.
Right or wrong are “judgements” made after the fact, and as the Tao Te Ching says it,
In comparison, the sage,
in harmony with the Tao,
needs no comparisons,
and when he makes them, knows
that comparisons are judgements,
and just as relative to he who makes them,
and to the situation,
as they are to that on which
the judgement has been made.
Thank you jon and nexsus I thought I was all alone in my outlook towards what and whom I supposed to be. I have many times laughed at certain things that have been said on these boards, But according to water dragon this somehow takes away from my competence and skill as a teacher. I dont quite understand why this thread has taken this direction. I simply posted something that I found funny. But I guess that becuse I am a teacher of martial arts I am not allowed to laugh at things that are funny like a student can. What has this world come too.
Shaolin boxer , I hope you are not implying that I am a jerk and you are just making a general statement…
I am not making a general statement, but I am not saying you ARE a jerk, merely that laughing in the face (actually behind the back) of an eager student’s ignorance is acting LIKE a jerk.
“But I guess that becuse I am a teacher of martial arts I am not allowed to laugh at things that are funny like a student can.”
Yes, that is right. You are not afforded certain liberties because as an instructor you are expected to emulate certain ideals. But then again, pehaps I am to idealistic.
I have much respect for you and your background, it would take a lot more than you finding humour in something for me to lose that respect.
I think in truth we all are to judgemental, i personaly have made a VERY judgemental post today in this very forum and im already starting to regret it. On the other hand i cant help thinking we all take ourselfs WAY to seriously. I mean we cant all be mr perfect all the time, at least i cant. I dont think you could either, even if you do have better skills in your hands than me and more time on the training room floor. You are still made of the same thing in the end, to have to pretend your above being human is not plausible.
The plain fact is when you look at it from a totaly unbiased perspective.
You came in and judged a someone, even though only in humor.
Now others are judging you based on your comments.
Its not really fair but it is natural, we will all make the odd mistake or do things without fully considering all the consequences but if you can just accept it and learn from it then your on your way to becomming a better person.
We can all judge but the hard part is to accept the judgment of others and learn from the experience.
I would love to simply take back many things i have said as they have not been well recieved but in truth they have all taught me something and i have learnt many valuable lessons even from the harshest of critics. I may have a big loud stupid mouth but it helped me learn.
I wont attempt to truely speak for everyone here but i will say…
You would have to be a pretty poor judge of charactor to base an opinion solely on this thread. You have made MANY great posts and the value of them far out wieghs any of the ones you may not have been so well received in.
Happy Chinese new years to you and your family.
Both kung fu and personal
Respects and regards
Jon
Thank you jon for that insightful and kind post. I think the bible story of casting the first stone applies to this situation.
It seems as though the people who judge have not yet looked at themselves in the same way but are hasty to point out the faults of others. Heaven knows that people on this board are always responding with words of wisdom and they never say anything negitive about another even when trolling… Give me a break!
this board is about learning, exchanging, sharing and entertaining. However as you have said it should not be for judging, though some people do. I think that possibly water dragon was hasty in his post and I really didnt think that he meant it for He has read many of my posts and out of 900 maybe 3 were of a negitive tone. This thread I dont feel is of that tone but rather to shed light on a funny situation and I dont feel the need to defend what I found quite funny.
What gets me is that if I said that I was student I could troll argue, rant, call names, insult, and hurt the feelings of others and that would be acceptible for some poeple but becuse I am a teacher of the art everything I say must be said on golden tongue. It is nice to know that you feel like my teaching and martial skill has nothing to do with cutting and pasting a funny thread. I just wish others could be just as open minded.
Lighten up people this is not classtime and you are not in the temple
"What gets me is that if I said that I was student I could troll argue, rant, call names, insult, and hurt the feelings of others and that would be acceptible for some poeple but becuse I am a teacher of the art everything I say must be said on golden tongue. "
That’s right. Once you start calling yourself sifu, you should be expected to act like one, in all forums.
“It is nice to know that you feel like my teaching and martial skill has nothing to do with cutting and pasting a funny thread.”
I wasn’t your pasting of the thread, it was your sarcastic comment. I don’t doubt your skill, but I don’t affirm it either, as we have never met.
“I just wish others could be just as open minded.
Lighten up people this is not classtime and you are not in the temple”
The temple, as you say, exists only in our minds and hearts. It is not a place, it is a state of being.
