I came across some google videos of two guys doing some ‘traditional sparring’, or something like that http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-319537145155456775&q=choy+fut . It made me wonder, is there really such a thing as traditional sparring? Does it mean, you have to play around your opponent and make funny poses and weird hand movements? And how defensive is traditional sparring? I mean, do you have to dance around your opponent and throw punches every 10 seconds, or do you go in and defend with an attack?
My view on fighting is simple. Fighting is fighting, the dynamics and structure might be different from style to style, but in the end, it’s the simple things that count. One can still do Gwa Sow Chop without looking like a ‘ traditional’ fighter (refer to the video link), and still maintain the essence of your style without looking like a kickboxer. If that makes sense to anyone.
Personally, I think the main reason why the world outside thinks that kung fu us useless, is mainly because of the all the crap there is out there.
I’m impressed with the videos of Master Chen Yong Fa on google. His fighting approach seem simple to the point. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2657554897880532898&q=choy+fut . dont care much about the lineage fight right now, its the body movements that matters. Im also just using Master Chen’s video as an example, there are many other masters who impress me
OK lets start by trying to walk the baat kwa circle around him (maybe I can get him real dizzy). Then I’ll put my hands down and go a little Bruce Lee on him. Yeah thats the ticket. In the words of Charlie Brown “Good Grief”.
There isnt a style type of fighting, everyone says we shouldnt look like boxers or kickboxers thats just stupid people that dont realise that to moving naturally and punching naturally is almost like or the same as a boxer. No need to root and have stances, no need for for tiger claws and 1 finger salutes walking around your opponent. jab , cross , upper cuts , hooks are found in every art just with a different flavour, you use YOUR method to fight using the most useful hand skills or leg skills that work for you. If you have to dance and move to get away from strikes then so be it that is natural to YOU.
I havent seen many arts that teach bob, slip , weave which is part of my kung fu system that is like boxing. WHY, cause thats what you do when you fight, you gotta move that head, most TCMA will say keep your head like this dont let it move when you do the form you will lose power!!! Dumb ****s!!
Anyway this is why im starting to hate kung fu, no one thinks for themselves and are only sheep following sifu’s words which he follow, which his teacher followed etc.
Wow. Yeah I took some heat here and there for not doing “stupid poses” as a CMA stylist. The fact of the matter is, I do what works for me. It’s ridiculous how some people stick to unnatural stances just to look “more authentic”. Waving the hands around was something we drilled, but for me it was more of a shoulder exercise. When I sparred other CMA stylists, and BEAT them, they were saying “what type of stance is that?”
Uhh… read some of the Tao of JKD. It’s called a block low and high, simple, economical, I either parry your hand or your leg attack and deliver my own. (I don’t always stick to this, but often do) Why should I wave my hands around? I don’t because: #1. I’m conserving my strength. #2. If you’re much too far to even reach me, what exactly am I waving my hands for? I’ll do it to confuse someone but for appearances or as a defensive maneuver, it is utterly useless.
And the footwork on that video…OMG. Walking like that is just gonna get you in trouble. There were several times in that vid when there were HUGE openings to do as little as shove the guy and he would fall over his own feet.
I enjoyed the Master Chen Yong Fa video very much. Thank you for sharing that; I can only hope to be that limber and quick when I’m over 50.
Obviously those guys in the video are pretty green. When I first started kung fu I thought that it worked like that too. You realize pretty quickly that you gotta make it work for you. Those guys need some head gear and mitts also and make it a little more realistic…ie you get hit…you know it.
we have ducking, bobbing and weaving in our Ng Ying Kuen during our Dragon section. There is a part where you shift from right bow to left, and it is played as if you duck under a hook and deliver a biu jee to the eyes/throat. The moce is subtle, but the concept is present. Western Boxing certainly didn’t invent it. I find it pretty hard to believe that TCMA has lasted so long and nobody would’ve thought to get their head out oof the way-DOH!:eek:
Blind obediance to your teachers is not a byproduct of your art, it was created by the teachersm, and the students themselves. Don’t blame the art. Blame yourself.
When I say blame yourself, what I’m saying is be accountable, drop the victim story and move on. You don’t have to continue the practice, simply change the way you present your material. You CAN have it both ways, you know.
obviously they were just newbies. this doesn’t even warrant a discussion. Now, if you were to put on some footage of some more experienced practitioners, say that white crane dude and the tai chi master…
Ten Tigers said: “Blind obediance to your teachers is not a byproduct of your art, it was created by the teachersm, and the students themselves. Don’t blame the art. Blame yourself.”
EXACTLY: I remember a strong kid who got in a horse stance and tried some sweeping block to my leg when I was throwing a round kick. I had to stop and say, “Uhh…wtf do you think you’re doing?”
“This is how sifu does it. This is how you block the round kick”.
“I don’t care how you THINK sifu says you should do it.”
“(ANGRY) I deflected it, right?”
“Actually I pulled it back when I saw you doing that. If I had committed to that kick and you pulled that BS just then, you’d be sitting down with a broken forearm right now. It doesn’t take much.”
There is a philosophy to every technique, and if you cannot reconcile that philosophy with your own logic, you should not attempt the technique. Some people go thru the motions of how a technique should “look” but never stop to think about how it works and why it should work. Some sifus are guilty of not explaining this to their students.
Sadly though, even some people that have been studying for several years walk around with false confidence because they are quick with their techniques and look great when in class, but have never actually had a real fight or sparred full on and executed the technique against someone determined to knock their head off their shoulders.
Oh, and Eddie likes to throw! What are your fave throwing techniques Eddie? I’ve actually thought about supplementing with Shui Jiao (sp) myself, or maybe even train with my old Judo instructor again.
k no,
to me, sweeps and throws are pretty much the same thing. cant have one without the others (most throws need a bit of sweeping too). my fave technique is a charng fu sweep (sow gerk). I seem to be able to get most people (after a bit of setting up really), and they always fall pretty hard. my fave throw is actually not really a throw, more pulling the legs from under him. San Shou (Wushu Fed) rules calles it Xie Tie. I spend a crap load of time on that with our fighters, I think it works well in a competition as well as on the street. Work at a club, and always imagine how I would execute that in what ever surroundings I am at, and it works better on bigger people.
We spend most of our time practicing that xie tie (sorry dont know the real names), normal hip throw, and some basic leg grab take downs. Simple stuff that works. I am trying to convert videos into digital format, so that I can put some videos of our san shou (and some forms) guys on the site. once I do that, I will let you know the address.
We have a back leg sweep in our ping kuen (CLFNole would know whats its called), where you basically step from sei ping ma, back into a gong bu(ma) and execute a sow choy. that sweep works just as well
