Hi all. My first post on these boards. I have decided to start a MA soon, and have been researching all the schools near me. To be honest, Kung Fu wasn’t my first (or second!) choice. Being stocky and rather ungraceful, it didn’t seem to be the best choice for me. But after visiting 6 different schools, these guys seem to be the best. Do you think it is better to pick a type of martial art, and look for it, or pick the best place to learn, and go with them?
Anyway here is the site, please tell me what you think. As I said, I like them, but they are a bit expensive, and I would really like to hear the opinion of more experienced people before I blow my money! Here is the site.
Very serious. Sorry if it looks like a troll. Honestly I don’t understand what seems trollish about it. I am a complete MA noob. I visited the classes and they were all taught by adults, with a good teacher to student ratio; unlike the other places I visited. I’ll check out your link.
I checked out your link. It seems good, but too far from my home.
I am going to repost my message on the Shaolin forum, as it seems to be the more apropriate place. Thanx Brad!
It’s Shaolin-Do. Outside opinions on them tend to be very negative. Do a forum search for Shaolin-Do on either this forum & the Shaolin forum to find out everyone’s opinions. I think most everything that can be said has been said before
Do you think it is better to pick a type of martial art, and look for it, or pick the best place to learn, and go with them?
That’s a tough one… depends on what’s more important ligitimacy/honesty or atmosphere/quality of instruction. For example someone might have 100% verifiable lineage to some great master but really suck, while another lies about his background and what he teaches but has decent martial arts ability… which do you pick?
Here’s a quote from the website about one of its teachers.
“Sifu John Judd began his study of Shao Lin martial arts in June of 1992 under Master Gary Grooms in Norcross. Sifu Judd tested for his black belt in 1994 and was awarded his teaching certificate in March of 1996”
Dude was teaching after 4 years. A black belt in 2 years. I guess thats possible, if you are learning and teaching the alphabet or something.
I don’t think he is trolling. To be honest, I almost took up Shaolin-Do a couple years ago before I came to KFO. I read the history and thought “What…?” but didn’t see the Chewbacca thing. For some reason I had trouble finding the school so I never joined them. This guy just might not understand.
And Brad, I too thought “AWESOME! They got videos!”
Ok, I downloaded and sent half them to the recycling bin (though have yet to do the final deleting). After watching half and wondering why my video was choppy, I realized I forgot to use DivX, so I opened DivX to watch the other half and don’t feel like watching the first.
All I can say is…wow. Um…There is a Shaolin-Do school in my very city. I’d love to go visit them and uh…do a little friendly sparring with some students. Some of that stuff looked like it’ll get you killed. Ok, alot of it.
The school has moved to Grand Prairie, but is still close. Soon the instructor plans on having Saturday sparring/training sessions in the old backyard. Perhaps you could come to one of them?
I’ve watched the videos. I know some of the forms there. Some of them are performed well and some of them could have been performed better. It depends on the person performing the forms. People have different opinions on Master Grooms in SD but he is a master and deserves respect. I have heard good things about Sifu Mike Reid. He was nice when I met him and was actually a linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons for a time.
Let me know what criticisms you had of the forms and what things you saw that you liked (if anything guys). I’ll share my opinions on what I thought was good and what I thought was bad.
I can tell you that Chain Whip form lacks some basic fundamentals. Of course, it could just be the guy performing it. [/B]
It probably does. I don’t know chain whip myself so I can’t comment. You should see Master Mullins perform the chain whip. Very nice. Maybe he will post some of it online sometime.
As for the staff, there are time when we grip in the middle and times when we don’t. We use the end to jab with often similar to a spear’s la na cha and swing it by and end in a sweeping motion.
Watched a couple more(14 white crane, Classical Bagua, and the Xingyi one). So far I like the Xingyi one best, though I still have lots of problems with it. What I like is I can actually see recognizable Xingyi techniques in it without using too much imagination(unlike that Yang form), the guy shows some good quickness in some of his movements… What I don’t like is the unstable footwork, the way the head tilts with the chin up, stiffness in waist and back, and the stance with the front knee bent sideways with heel off the floor. Also what appears to be a dragon technique at 13 sec.(upward punch, into the cross stance) seems to lose some of it’s intended application the way this person performs it(the way I understand the tech. and the way I’ve seen others do it). I’ve got to go to work, I’ll explain that part latter, lol.
Most of the other weapons forms are too short to really comment on, though I have some opinions.
The broadsword form bothers me because he does not keep the sword close to his neck when he flourishes behind him. The purpose of that move is to block the neck, and the sword should remain close to the body and drag across the neck during the block to keep you head on your shoulders.
Originally posted by Brad Watched a couple more(14 white crane, Classical Bagua, and the Xingyi one). So far I like the Xingyi one best, though I still have lots of problems with it. What I like is I can actually see recognizable Xingyi techniques in it without using too much imagination(unlike that Yang form), the guy shows some good quickness in some of his movements… What I don’t like is the unstable footwork, the way the head tilts with the chin up, stiffness in waist and back, and the stance with the front knee bent sideways with heel off the floor. Also what appears to be a dragon technique at 13 sec.(upward punch, into the cross stance) seems to lose some of it’s intended application the way this person performs it(the way I understand the tech. and the way I’ve seen others do it). I’ve got to go to work, I’ll explain that part latter, lol.
Interesting. The Xingyi linkage is one of my favorite forms, and Mike Reid does show some nice quickness there. I did learn that particular turn in the stance differently. (My heel doesn’t come off the ground there and my understanding is to shed/absorb a technique coming inand turn it back with the shift in stance/hips firing two upward fists. I’m interested in your take when you get back from work.
