i agre. being too hard isnt good. after you stop feeling you can do anything . u turn into a sociopath
[QUOTE=bawang;979636]i agre. being too hard isnt good. after you stop feeling you can do anything . u turn into a sociopath
but i think we need to be more careful of the people who are born biologically unable to have feelings and empathy.
in martial arts its easy to recognize these people but beware of them hiding in everyday life[/QUOTE]
True.
I think, in time, even most of them come to grasp that without other people, they’re screwed and lonely, and so they have a rational, not emotional, cause for getting along better than they did before.
Because the ones who don’t do this are the ones we hear most about, these people get lost in the cracks.
The ones who do cope, well, they’re probably not warm and fuzzy, and should still be approached with caution, but, in ways, a rational cause for moral conduct is far better than an emotive/biological one, since the latter is the kind that is useless once society itself is derailed(see: nazi Germany, Khmer Rouge, etc).
Balance and moderation never killed anyone, the extremes however, have and do.
[QUOTE=uki;979540]your words are truly wise in this post bawang… i offer you my sincerest respect for them, but don’t get too used to it you hock sockey chop choppy. :p[/QUOTE]
having extended the Hand of Friendship, you will now have to share your goat-woman with him - but, is he man enough to handle her?!?
[QUOTE=taai gihk yahn;980017]is he man enough to handle her?!?[/QUOTE]i dunno… i got myself cracked over the head with a beer bottle once by her - she’s a feisty one.
There are commercial schools with a variety of styles.
There are closed door groups also with a variety of styles.
It’s still practiced regularly and openly.
On reflection of Bawangs commentary. I believe that hardship is a component of understanding the value of training and understanding the value of society as well.
I do not believe you must be in a state of constant self induced hardship to cultivate your kungfu. In my opinion, you must be of the mind to improve and to remain motivated. Hardship is a key, the work at hand is the door.
[QUOTE=David Jamieson;981177]On reflection of Bawangs commentary. I believe that hardship is a component of understanding the value of training and understanding the value of society as well.
I do not believe you must be in a state of constant self induced hardship to cultivate your kungfu. In my opinion, you must be of the mind to improve and to remain motivated. Hardship is a key, the work at hand is the door.[/QUOTE]the value is the experience of living the hardships out in order to give one a better foundation of self-confidence and security - those who have hit the bottom and have taken the time to climb back to their feet and continue forward are much better off than those who still take all they have for granted, being spoon fed from silver dishes and what not… i view all the blessings in my life as a temporary convienence, as i do not take for granted that at any moment our reality can change… many people would be clueless if they were thrown onto the streets to fend for themselves.
[QUOTE=uki;981179]the value is the experience of living the hardships out in order to give one a better foundation of self-confidence and security - those who have hit the bottom and have taken the time to climb back to their feet and continue forward are much better off than those who still take all they have for granted, being spoon fed from silver dishes and what not… i view all the blessings in my life as a temporary convienence, as i do not take for granted that at any moment our reality can change… many people would be clueless if they were thrown onto the streets to fend for themselves.[/QUOTE]
While it’s good that you decide to not take things for granted, I believe you are being unfair and erroneous in your assumption that people who live comfortably and who are not subject to overt hardship are less than anyone else.
I have found this through my personal experience to not be true at all.
I find weakness in those at any end of the spectrum of the human condition and I find that people at all points in between are capable of and have great strengths and as well great compassion and passion.
Hardship can manifest and teach in myriad ways. Life is suffering afterall and no matter how much you seek to avoid that suffering, you will be faced with it whether you want it or not. 
[QUOTE=David Jamieson;981182]While it’s good that you decide to not take things for granted, I believe you are being unfair and erroneous in your assumption that people who live comfortably and who are not subject to overt hardship are less than anyone else.[/quote]i would expect nothing less of you… from my life experience here in america, the people i generally encounter on a daily basis would be in for a very rude awakening if their secure little b ubbles were to burst… i do not think people are less if they have not experienced hardship in life - it’s like a 12th grader and a kindergartener… we all are at different steps in our respected journey.
I have found this through my personal experience to not be true at all.
not everyone is the same… chances are you are an exceptional being in regards to those who surround you in your community… you’re not the average joe… ya know? 
I find weakness in those at any end of the spectrum of the human condition and I find that people at all points in between are capable of and have great strengths and as well great compassion and passion.
of course, but those who have yet to be thrust into a situation in which they can flourish in the experience of the tribulation is the lesson yet to be learned for those who have not learned it yet… no?
Hardship can manifest and teach in myriad ways. Life is suffering afterall and no matter how much you seek to avoid that suffering, you will be faced with it whether you want it or not.
exactly the point - some people endure it better than others, which in turn is forged from an inner strength and willpower.
[QUOTE=uki;980058]i dunno… i got myself cracked over the head with a beer bottle once by her - she’s a feisty one.[/QUOTE]
ah, love at first impact!
[QUOTE=uki;981179]the value is the experience of living the hardships out in order to give one a better foundation of self-confidence and security - those who have hit the bottom and have taken the time to climb back to their feet and continue forward are much better off than those who still take all they have for granted, being spoon fed from silver dishes and what not… i view all the blessings in my life as a temporary convienence, as i do not take for granted that at any moment our reality can change… many people would be clueless if they were thrown onto the streets to fend for themselves.[/QUOTE]
I would tend to agree that this is the case to a degree - that is, if one is not tested from time to time, one becomes dulled in mind and body; at the same time, living in a continual state of hardship will also result in imbalance, as one cannot live in “survival mode” at all times without the system breaking down;
the “problem” with many people is that they have been raised with a sense of entitlement, and it can be very challenging to override this due to the nature of US society in most cases; so, while I want my son to have every advantage, at the same time I want him to at least have some experience with depravation and to understand that his situation is not the norm in regards to how much of this world lives; meaning that I will send him to the best school that I can afford, I will provide him with the best food I can, I will be present for his emotional needs to the best of my ability; at the same time, I may just show up on Uki’s doorstep with him one day for a week-long walk in the woods…
I drive a nice car, live in a very nice apartment, and have no issues sipping a delicious Americano in a nice cafe. I like to wear nice clothing, and I have a nice television with all the bells and whistles of a good media system.
On that same token, I have lived in completely destroyed wastelands, slept in muddy holes in the rain, and hiked for eternities carrying a machine gun and a heavy pack. I’ve carried crates of equipment through the Arabian desert in the summer, and I’ve had my boots freeze to the ground in eastern Europe. I have yet to meet an environment that
Just because someone likes to live in comfort when they can doesn’t make them weak. I’ve seen silver spoon recruits tap into a resilience they never knew they had, and they LIKED it.
You are quick to judge, Uki, yet cannot stand to be judged.
growing up in Taiwan in the 1960s and 1970s.
We had to face the nuclear threat from China. We had to mimick how to hide under school desk or run into shelters and what to do and not to do in case of nuclear, biologic, chemical bombing. how to evacute from a big city how to triage the hospital, defense after the bombing
such as the lin kou is a city built to evacute Taipei after nuclear bombs etc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJbt1-7mS20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1FsiYhpZqg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOnSNzjE8ZM
one of my best friends father was a U-2 pilot downed in China by SAM missile
U-2 was to collect intel on China’s nuclear programs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_8Seto05T4&feature=related
culturally, China faced cultural destruction like never before.
we had to be a part of culture restoration movement in Taiwan.
We many live under many and many threats.
practice kung fu or not is entirely upto you.
it is not a life style issue.
[QUOTE=SPJ;981219]We many live under many and many threats.[/quote]yet what is a threat?? some people feel threatened when others do not… feeling threatened is an individual issue.
practice kung fu or not is entirely upto you.
it is not a life style issue.
being a martial artist is a lifestyle.
my father and relatives attended high school in Chung king or chong qing
they had to run into bomb shelters all the time for over 3 years from Japan bombing
eventually, they attended military –
I heard too many war stories growing up, –
watching vietnam war story daily on TV
massacre at hue, at may lai—
hanoi hilton
watching senator mccane on TV, he was captured the longest time
my high school mate from saigon, before VC and NVA took over, the family came to Taiwan–
