Man Abel, I always had some idea about Monkey style, but you make it sound downright exciting! I would really love to see some actual demos of the style, but of course, I’m sure everyone else would as well after all the battles goin’ on here.
The idea of using grappling to further striking is also found in praying mantis, but adding that with the tricky levels, and bringing the fight down sounds like something you don’t want to be on the business end of.
Really,Sifu able that is the kind of answer I was looking for.I can somewhat visualise it.Changeing levels and keeping your opponant off balance or over extended is incorporated in just about all martial arts .But,the way you go about it in your style seems so different.I would love to hear more,and some video would be cool too.I found one kung fu school in my area that does full contact .I am going to go check them out.I love the idea of learning a little of everything and then chosing what works best for you to delve deeper into.There are so many styles of martial arts.It is hard to just pick a couple to train seriously with.It’s ALL good.
P.S.
Arioch7,no problem.I know you guys have been run through the mill.I consider this going to someone elses house.I dont intend to be rude or insulting.A little argumentetive for the sake of discussion.But,thats all.I would rather pick you fellas brains and try and learn something than make enemys with people I dont even know.I love to share what I know.Only guys who are interested even want to hear about it.
Thank you Sifu Abel for the explanation and thanks Jaguar for the “other” explanation.
Hmmm, very descriptive. I am out to pick up my new car right now but I will definately have some more questions later.
I thought Mantis guys were tricky, now I have to worry about the monkey people too. Sifu, my question was indeed serious and I meant what I said. I cant help it if I dont like monkeys much!
EDIT: Thanks Dan, I dont want to anger people, even unintentionally.
[This message has been edited by Arioch7 (edited 09-12-2000).]
While stationed in the Philippines (about 20 years ago) I met a guy who had learned, though no necessarily mastered, several different Kung-Fu styles. When asked which was the most difficult to learn, he replied almost without hesitation–Monkey Style!
Like most newbies I got most of my info through Inside Kung-Fu Magazine; and like most newbies, took the articles as the spoken word of God. I was particularly impressed with the abilities of (don’t laugh) Paulie Zink. I’d read that he ‘defeated’ several martial artists from different styles, which only served to fuel the fire more to learn this unique style.
Unfortunately I never found a school or teacher, and as the years passed I lost interest. But…and I’m directing this question towards SifuAble…is it possible for a guy in his 40’s, starting for the first time, to become proficient at this style? Or is it something that you have to start at a much earlier age? Not that I’m planning on starting anytime soon mind you (I intend to start Yi-Chuan training next month), but a remark you made caught my attention. You remarked that Paulie Zink was “…way too flexible…”, which would imply that you don’t need to have the flexibility of a gumbie doll to master Monkey Style Kung-Fu: I always thought extreme flexibility was requisite to mastering this style!
Should I decide to take this style at a later date it’s nice to know there’s hope for me yet (assuming your reply is in the affirmative of course).
PS: (And now a word to all you Inside Kung-Fu Magazine fans) I don’t want to sound like I’m knocking Inside Kung-Fu Magazine. I still enjoy reading it. It’s just that I’m a little more discerning now. I still buy it and think it’s a decent mag IMHO.
Do you have good stance work from a previous training? Low preferably.This by far is the most demanding part of the style.
2)If not, do you feel that you would be able to strengthen your legs enough to be able to do a one leg squat?
3)Don’t take this the wrong way, How big & tall are you? The lighter and shorter you are the easier it would be to train up to monkey.
4)You don’t have to be zink flexible. Flexibility is needed, however. Particularly in the achilles tendon area and shoulders.
I never like to say no to people. Being that if one really wanted it one could get it in time. But, you do need good basic skills to learn monkey style.
Thanks for the reply SifuAble, if I’m in the San Mateo area (I live in San Leandro) I’ll drop by. I’ve always wanted to see what the style looks like in application.
BTW I’m 5’9" and weigh about 170 pounds. I do quite a bit of standing meditation (from Yi-Chuan) and though I don’t consider myself a veteran yet I HAVE developed quite a bit of leg stregnth in the short time I’ve been at it.
I think I understand the GENERAL idea behind Monkey style(VERY GENERAL!), and I am getting the feeling that it is a sneaky(No disrespect intended.) style that would be great against hard stylists that extend full power into every strike.
My question is, is the general doctrine to allow opponents to over extend themselves and then to “smother” them with quick compounded strikes and evasive maneuvers?
I realize that every style contains a lot of things in the totality of the system(So there probably ARE some hard strikes in monkey styles.), but is this the general idea?
Some strikes are quick some are full power hard. Monkey tries to strike as hard as possible. He doesn’t smother his opponets as much as he will control and direct his movements in odd directions. Monkey is very sneaky, in the sense that he never lets on what he’s going to do. He alway misdirects the opponents attention. Feigns a kick and then punches and so on. Not all monkey techniques are “small”. There are different monkey types. Some are tall and long reaching, some are small like our lost or creepy monkey, some are strong and agressive like stone monkey some are very agile like drunken and so on. BTW all of zinks monkies look creepy which tells me something.
i don’t know how anyone can try to imply that paulie zink is not the real deal! - he’s got … ‘good kung fu’ thumb up
i would challenge anybody to take a class of his, and try to keep up with him. not very likely. (i am not a student of his.)
if you have never seen him perform; go get a demo tape with him on it; you’ll be amazed.
and i don’t think just because p. zink demonstrates so low, he necessarily uses it that low. - i always thought it was just for training purposes(?) no?
i mean, why would i throw an axe kick while practically sitting on the floor?
if you ‘un-exagerate’ each move, doesn’t it seem a bit more practical?
there is the Martial aspect and the Art aspect. when you are fighting, you use one, and when you are not, you use the other.
[This message has been edited by MaFuYee (edited 09-14-2000).]
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“-1”>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MaFuYee:
if you have never seen him perform; go get a demo tape with him on it; you’ll be amazed. [/quote]
Ma,
With all due respect, I’ve seen his demo tapes and I am not impressed. BTW, I’m not the only one. If you want to see real Tai Shing Pei Kwar. Find something with Chan Sao Chun or his group and you will see a big difference in style. Not all the squirley monkey.
I DO know that most ‘STANCES’ are actually transitions between movements and not a “ready for attack” stance…as most people seem to think they are. After all, when you are actually attacked in a fight…how often do you get a chance to get into a “ready” stance? Usually, you are “jumped” and “sucker punched” and stuff. It’s been my experience that you are just standing around and someone tries to surprise you…THAT’S reality.
As far as this Monkey stuff in the photos, in light of the fact that (I assume) these are transitional periods, I would have to say…It looks like you have to be VERY fast and VERY agile to practice Monkey style. I have respect for that.
I don’t know a thing about Monkey…but it looks like you’d have to be fast to do it.
It looks so weird and abnormal that I think I would hesitate to fight a Monkey fighter, myself, because it would be hard to figure out what he was doing or was going to do…but that’s just MY opinion.
I think the only style that would be more intimidaing than the Monkey style is an Evil Clown style.
Clowns are much more creepy than monkies…but Monkey looks creepy too.
I would really love to see some actual demos of the style, but of course, I’m sure everyone else would as well after all the battles goin’ on here. 
