I remember how often Bruce Lee quoted "Kung Fu or any other Martial art is an art because it teaches you self control,it is art of fighting without actually fighting(ie,applying force).those who apply tremendous force in their fights,die or worn out early during their fights. I started out with Karate at an early,when i reached yellow belt,i realised the stuff was not my cup of tea.(I was the only one in the class who did Wrong KatasPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!)so i quit.But since then i have kept track of my fellow class mates.45% left after getting orange belt. some of them at green(i think,may be it was bluePlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!) and only one got upto Brown belt.he too gave it up,on the account of his studies. I have heard that Kung Fu is even harder to learn... Gee... bye!
Adam ... "It seems to me that there is a difference betweem a big burly lad punching you and a small wiry lad punching you." True ... That's why I prefer Danzan-Ryu Jujitsu, no 'punching'. Take care Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Added: Or kicking for that matter (for those not familiar with the form).
I got one question. What is the muzzle velocity of a fist? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Peace.
Well, you'd need a really big gun to find out... But I believe it can be anything from 7 or 8 m/s (beginners) to around 13 to 15 m/s (pro boxers).
When a big guy is in motion, he is very easy to be tripped off by a weaker guy who knows martial art. Let one fights with himself is just one of many strategies employed by martial art. Also, once "Chi Kung" is applied to Kung Fu, size really doesn't matter. I know one of the trainning courses in China Marine Corp. is to chop bricks with bear hands.
Also, there's also Qing Kung, I don't know if there's a translation for that, but basically, once applied, it can make you very light and you can walk on papers. Not many people knows this, but people who learnt Kung Fu in ancient times are more likely to learn this and Chi Kung together.
In the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", where a guy and a lady standing on top of bamboos, or making long jumps on top of roofs, those are the more artistic view of "Qing Kung". If put in American way, it's spiderman without using the webs.
Adam, It depends on which martial art are you talking about. If it's Tai Chi Chuan, for example, the muscle tension is very low and ultimatly none. If it's karate, for example, the muscle tension seems huge (I never practice it, I don't know... it seems big). Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! No differences in gender. Not at all. The biggest difference in concern to exercises and muscle tension is the past time of practice. If you practice since you are young, the tension will be lower to someone who practice since... 30 years old, for example. Also, if you exercise in a regular basis, your bdy gets used to it, and it might create tension if you suddenly stop working on it. Hope have helped. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Love, Nelson
Chi Gung is similar to Tai Chi. But in Chi Gung, we are usually stopped holding a position. You oly move when you do the position. There is a movement to make the position but the position, itself, is mostly holded. If you practice well, you tension will be very low or none, relazed. If you don't practice well, you will have much more tension. Martial arts is all about the power of relaxation. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Love, Nelson
I think Tai Chi is a subbranch of Kung Fu, simililarly with Qing Gong. This is clearly seen in Chinese that they have so many sub-branches that is almost countless (well, not really), but with Shao Ling, they have such a huge collection which made them basically the head of Kung Fu in China. For people who learnt Kung Fu, they almost all learn Qing Gong, ie. in ancient times, nowaday, it seems impossible to do so with all the socialising going on. Tai Chi is different to Qing Gong, as it teaches us to manage the energy within the body, and basically go with the flow which can ve used to attack your enermies. While Qing Gong, teaches you to lighten your body, for example, exhale when jumping up to minimise the amount of ait inside your body, which in turn lightens you and makes you jump higher, but I don't think it's to the extend that you "fly", like shown in the movie. But jumping down from the roof of a house is definately possible (it's not that high).
Hevene ... Tai Chi ... sub-branch? I was under the impression that Tai Chi Chuan was series of movements, exercises so to speak, to prepare one physically and mentally, that had its origins in the Taoist monk's exercises and later became a sort of 'warm-up' exercise. Am I mistaken?
Tai Chi Chuan is just one of the combinations of moves that comes under the "big" title, "Kung Fu". In many cases, people invent movements to defend oneself againest another combination of movements or to reach the ultimate realm, if I might call that. Similarly with Tai Chi, it is invented by one of the Toaist monks at the time of one intrustion, and he is one of the most important person in the history of Kung Fu. Nowaday, it is only used to make a person healthy, but if you combine with Chi Gung, it can be very powerful as it is one combination that follows the natural vibration of the universe and uses your enemy againest your enemy (if you know what I mean).
Hevene ... I believe I do. But isn't that what Danzan-Ryu Jujitsu is all about? So to speak, redirecting the energy of one's opponent and thereby avoiding the moral dilemma of using force to protect one's self? Take care Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Moral dilemma? What is this , star trek? The redirection of an opponent's force thing is simply a matter of most effective use of energy. It is easier to turn a blow and use their momentum against them than it is to stop the blow and respond with your own. That's all there is to it.
Adam ... "If you are not studying combat/fighting, then you are not studying a martial art." "Moral dilemma? What is this , star trek?" "... and respond with your own." In Danzan-Ryu Jujitsu the only thing you respond to is the attack, not the attacker ... no kicks, no punches ... It is defensive, not combat/fighting. Thirty-eight years in Corrections and the closest anyone came to intentionally making physical contact with me was a punch that lightly grazed the left side of my neck when I was momentarily distracted by an Officer not doing what he was supposed to do. Yeah, I was the type of guy that even as a Supervisor got in on the action ... All 5'8", 154 lb. +/- 2 lb. of me. Take care Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
One of the chaps I passed through basic training with was a former prison guard. This guy was shorter than me, only about 5'10", but about three times my weight, and none of it fat. A big lad. He took it upon himself to become my personal fitness trainer, whether I wanted it or not. Along the lines of "If you stop running/doing push-ups/whatever, I'll hit you." I was often woken at early hours by this freak and his friends, dragged out of bed and out for a run or such. He ended up going into the Clearance Divers, our version of the SEALs. But to the point... "Defensive" does not mean "not combative". Half of any combat situation is defence.
First off, ever heard of Jeet Kune Do? Bruce Lee was the creator of the system that has developed into quite a violent means of street self defense taught by some. Also ever heard of Grappling? how about a guy named Royce Gracie? Could decimate all your navy training easily.
Yes, heard of them both. Lee's art I consider very nifty, but only in the hands of someone very capable. Most people don't have the will/guts to really fight to their full capabilities. As for Gracie, I have heard him discussed by a few punks I know who like to watch downloaded episodes of Ulitmate Fighting and them go and practice on each other in the back yard. So I know he and his style are respected by some dumb hillbillies I know. That's all I know about it. I've never seen this Gracie myself. Perhaps you could enlighten me.
