To answer the question,
Kung Fu Training turns you into one Bad assed Mo fo, and we just like to show off. Really, would any of you believe a guy could pull a truck with his “Mr. Happy” If you didn’t see it?
It’s because we’re better than other martial artists. I can say that, because it sure isn’t easy posting this with my keyboard hanging from my testicles, but I make it look effortless.
And now, just a slight contaction of my hui yin, and I will have clicked the “submit reply button”- thank god for the cordless mouse.
the fun part happens when you have to simultaneously hit two keys, such as control-f or something. it takes a dexterity few have mastered.
Thanks for the answers guys, especially Joe and Gene. I’m not saying that the performers don’t work hard and have exceptional skills, I 'm just wondering why Kung Fu has that type of performances associated with it. Yes I’ll admit they are more fun to watch than breaking demos, but no where near as fun as watching ring girls parade around.
Do you think that the performers cause more harm to the CMA than help them?
Rogue.
A lot of those breaking demoes are also rigged.
There are many ways of preparing bricks and wood blocks, as well as how you set them up can make a big difference.
Yup, Physics and preperation factor big into breaking demos.
Originally posted by EvolutionFist
Likewise, most of the popular kung fu that made it to the US (Wing Chun, Hung Gar, ect) comes from South China where most of the folks are(were) farmers and peasants … not the most educated of folks. Thus the term Village Boxer. Martial artists in north China, which consists of a much greater area, kind of look down on them sort of the way people from NY or Boston question a small town doctor’s ability from Alabama.
HAHAHAHAHaHaHa…HaHa…Ha… Ha… … Ha…
You funny guy … I kill you last …
Originally posted by rogue
[B]Thanks for the answers guys, especially Joe and Gene. I’m not saying that the performers don’t work hard and have exceptional skills, I 'm just wondering why Kung Fu has that type of performances associated with it. Yes I’ll admit they are more fun to watch than breaking demos, but no where near as fun as watching ring girls parade around.
Do you think that the performers cause more harm to the CMA than help them? [/B]
In some ways yes. The problem being that people nowadays are probably a lot more sceptical than they used to be due to the availability of information through the net, generally higher education levels, and the advances in science etc. People see some of the tricks that MAs use and are automatically sceptical, hence the art of the performer is also called into question.
Personally, I prefer the type of demo that my teacher does. He shows applications and tries to display the power in the art itself, rather than doing tricks (though he is able to do the tricks as well :)). Nothing like watching him lift someone up under the armpits with his arms extended in front of him, and carry them across the room. 
Originally posted by EvolutionFist
[B]This won’t be popular but: To put it simply, they’re hicks.
Where do all these traveling religious con men go in the US? The south! The bible belt!
Likewise, most of the popular kung fu that made it to the US (Wing Chun, Hung Gar, ect) comes from South China where most of the folks are(were) farmers and peasants … not the most educated of folks. Thus the term Village Boxer. Martial artists in north China, which consists of a much greater area, kind of look down on them sort of the way people from NY or Boston question a small town doctor’s ability from Alabama.
Personally, I hate that sort of thing. I don’t care about ones ability to bend a spear or break a rock, I am interested in their technique.
For kicks my master has shown me how these guys do some of their tricks. But if you get fooled by such things you deserve to lose whatever money you give them, just like paying $20 to have some hill-billy preacher absolve you of sin. [/B]
Sounds suspiciously like Ego Maximus/Extraordinaire.
Wushu in ringling bros circus
[QUOTE=GeneChing;1323651]Why is Kung Fu so caught up with circus tricks?[/QUOTE]
There’s a long history of kung fu done for performance in similar venues. The history of Wing Chun inevitably brings us back to the Red Junk Opera Companies, and well before that Marco Polo describes that Kublai Khan had martial arts performed together with acrobatics at imperial banquets. Oh, and then does anybody remember the name of that funny kung fu movie/porn where these guys have a sort of traveling-circus where they take on challengers until they meet this women that wears them down. I’ve got it somewhere in a banker’s box of old VHS tapes…
wait…wot?
[QUOTE=YinOrYan;1323653]Oh, and then does anybody remember the name of that funny kung fu movie/porn where these guys have a sort of traveling-circus where they take on challengers until they meet this women that wears them down. [/QUOTE]
Dude, I’d love to see that. That sounds hilarious. Let us know if you remember the title…