Origin and History of the Chinese Martial Arts

[BlackDragon]

Chinese martial arts refers to the enormous variety of martial art styles native to China.

Kung fu (Chinese: 功夫 pinyin: Gōngfu) and wushu (Chinese: 武術) are popular Chinese terms that have become synonymous with Chinese martial arts.

History

In legend, the Chinese martial arts traces their origin to thousands of years ago in China. As the Chinese writing system traces back to the Shang Dynasty (1766 BCE - 1122 BCE), claims of entire books regarding the martial arts being written at earlier times are suspect. The Art of War, written during the 6th century BCE by Sun Tzu, deals directly with military warfare. There are passages in the Zhuang Zi that pertain to the psychology and practice of martial arts. Zhuang Zi, the author of the same name, is believed to have lived in the 4th century BCE. The Tao Te Ching, often credited to Lao Zi, contains principles that are applicable to martial arts, but the dating of this work is controversial. Archery and charioteering were a part of the "six arts" (Traditional Chinese: 六藝; Simplified Chinese: 六艺; pinyin: liu yi, also including rites, music, calligraphy and mathematics) of the Zhou Dynasty (1122 BCE - 256 BCE), according to the text Zhou Li.

According to legend, the reign of the Yellow Emperor (traditional date of ascension to the throne, 2698 BC) introduced the earliest forms of martial arts to China. The Yellow Emperor is described as a famous military general who, before becoming China’s leader, wrote a lengthy treatise about martial arts. He allegedly developed the practice of Jiao di or horn-butting and utilized it in war.[1] Jiao di evolved during the Zhou Dynasty into a combat wrestling system called Jiao li. The Classic of Rites states that Jiao li was practiced by the Zhou military under the order of the king.[2] This combat system included techniques such as strikes, throws, joint manipulation, and pressure point attacks. [1] Jiao li became a sport during the Qin Dynasty (221 BCE - 207 BCE).[1] Currently, Jiao li is known as Shuai jiao, its modern form.

Taoist monks are claimed to have been practicing physical exercises that resemble Tai Chi Chuan at least as early as the 500 BCE era. In 39-92 CE, "Six Chapters of Hand Fighting", were included in the Han Shu (history of the Former Han Dynasty) written by Pan Ku. Also, the noted physician, Hua T'uo, composed the "Five Animals Play" - tiger, deer, monkey, bear, and bird, around 220 CE. As stated earlier, the Kung Fu that is practiced today developed over the centuries and many of the later additions to Kung Fu, such as the Shaolin Kung Fu style, later animal forms, and the drunken style were incorporated from various martial arts forms that came into existence later on in China and have accurate historical data relating to their inventors.

In regard to the Shaolin style that is currently popular, a legend extant since the 17th century CE.[citation needed] originally attributed Bodhidharma (Pu Tai Ta Mo in Chinese or Daruma Daishi in Japanese), a visiting Buddhist monk, as the progenitor. According to some versions of this legend, Bodhidharma visited a monastery, and was unhappy to find that some of the monks would fall asleep during their meditations. Deciding that they needed more physical stamina, he introduced to the monks a system of exercises that later developed into the modern Shaolin style. However, the texts that first attributed him to Shaolinquan have been shown to be unlikely forgeries. Historical evidence has shown that the Shaolin monks during and before this time harboured retired soldiers who taught the monks self-defense techniques that they had learned during military training. In around 500 CE, the Shaolin monks, in order to protect themselves from bandits and criminals, began to codify what they had learned into a "Shaolin" style.

The fighting styles that are practiced today were developed over the centuries, after having incorporated forms that came into existence later. Some of these include Bagua, Drunken Boxing, Eagle Claw, Five Animals, Hsing I, Hung Gar, Lau Gar, Monkey, Praying Mantis, White Crane, Wing Chun and Tai Chi Chuan

Styles

Hundreds of different styles of Chinese martial arts have developed over the past two thousand years, many distinctive styles with their own sets of techniques and ideas. Also, there are many themes common to different styles that lead many to characterize them as belonging to generalized "families" (家, jiā) of martial art styles. There are styles that mimic movements from animals and others that gather inspiration from various Chinese philosophies. Some styles put most of their focus into the belief of the harnessing of qi energy, while others concentrate solely on competition and exhibition.

Chinese martial arts can be split into various categories to differentiate them: For example, external (外家拳) and internal (内家拳) (or hard (剛) and soft (柔)). Chinese martial arts can also be categorized by location, as in northern (北拳) and southern (南拳) as well, referring to what part of China the styles originated from, separated by the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang); Chinese martial arts may even be classified according to their province or city. The main perceived difference about northern and southern styles is that the northern styles tend to emphasize kicks, jumps and generally fluid and rapid movement, while the southern styles focus more on strong arm and hand techniques, and stable, immovable stances and footwork. Examples of the northern styles include Changquan and the sword and broadsword routines used in contemporary Wushu competitions, and examples of the southern styles include Nanquan, Houquan (monkey style) and Wing Chun. Chinese martial arts can also be divided according to religion, imitative-styles (像形拳), and more.

List of different Chinese Martial Arts styles

Baguazhang (八卦掌 Pa Kua Chang) - Eight-Trigrams Palm
Bafaquan (八法拳)
Bajiquan (八極拳) - Eight Extremes Fist
Bak Mei (白眉拳) - White Eyebrow
Black Tiger Kung Fu (黑虎拳)
Chaquan (查拳) - Cha Fist
Changquan (長拳) - Long fist
Chuo Jiao (戳腳) - Poking Feet
Choy Gar (蔡家)
Choy Lee Fut (蔡李佛) - (Mandarin: Cailifo)
Dachengquan (大成拳) Great Achievement boxing
Ditangquan (地躺拳) - Ground-Prone Fist, Ground Tumbling Boxing
Do Pi Kung Fu (道派)
Dragon Kung Fu (Lung Ying) (龍形拳)
Duan Quan (短拳) - Short Range Boxing
Duck Kung Fu (鴨子拳)
Eagle Claw (鷹爪翻子拳)
Emeiquan (峨嵋拳)
Fanziquan (翻子拳) - Overturning Fist, Tumbling Boxing
Five Ancestors (五祖拳) - Wuzuquan or Ngo Cho Kun.
Flower Fist (花拳) Huāquán
Fu Chiao quan (虎爪拳) Tiger Claw
Fut Gar (佛家) Buddhist family Style
Guoquan (狗拳) - Dog Fist
He Quan (鶴拳) Crane Boxing
Feihe Quan (飛鶴拳) Flying Crane Boxing
Guohe Quan (遊鶴拳) Playing Crane Boxing, Wandering Crane Boxing
Minghe Quan (鳴鶴拳) Crying Crane Boxing, Calling Crane boxing
Shihe Quan (食鶴拳) Eating Crane Boxing, Preying Crane boxing
Suhe Quan (宿鶴拳) Sleeping Crane Boxing
Zhenhe Quan (震鶴拳) Shaking Crane Boxing
Zonghe Quan (縱鶴拳) Jumping Crane Boxing
Houquan (猴拳) - Monkey Fist
Drunken Monkey (醉;猴)
Huaquan (華拳) - China Fist
Hung Fut (洪佛) - Hung and Buddha style kung fu
Hung Gar (洪家)
Hu Quan (虎拳) - Tiger Fist
Jeet Kune Do (截拳道) - style founded by Bruce Lee
Jing Wu Men (精武門) - Jing Wu, a famous school based in Shanghai that teaches several different styles.
Jing Quan Do (精拳道) - modern synthetic style
Jow-Ga Kung Fu (周家) - Jow family style
Kuen-Do (拳道)
Lanshou Men - Blocking-hand Boxing
Lau Gar (刘家) - Lau family style
Lai-Ga-Sau - a recent separate branch based in the United Kingdom
Leopard Kung Fu (豹拳)
Li (Lee) Family - (李家) - Li Family or Lee Family style
Liu Seong Kuntao (also Liu Seong Gung Fu, Liu Seong Chuan Fa) A modern style combining the martial arts of China and Indonesia and is now based in the United States.
Liuhe Bafa (六合八法 Liu He Pa Fa, Lok Hup Ba Fa) - Water Boxing
Long fist kung fu (Northern Shaolin Long Fist Kung Fu)
Luohan Quan - (;羅漢拳) Arhat Boxing
Mei Hua Quan (梅花拳 Plum Blossom Fist)
Mian Quan - Continous Boxing
Mok Gar - (莫家) Mok family style
My Jong Law Horn (迷蹤羅漢拳)
Nam Pai Chuan (南派拳)
Nan Quan (南拳)
Northern Praying Mantis (北派螳螂拳)
Pai lum - White Dragon, Pai Family Method
Paochui (炮捶) - Cannon Fist, Sanhaung Paochui
Phoenix (Wu Jia Quan Fa or Wu Jia Dragon-Phoenix style)
Piguaquan (劈掛拳) - Chop-Hitch Fist, Axe-hitch boxing
Praying Mantis: see either Northern or Southern Praying Mantis.
Rat Kung Fu (蔡家 Choy Gar)
Sanda (散打) or Sanshou (散手)
San Soo (散手)
Shaolin Nam Pai Chuan (少林南派拳)
Shaolin Quan (少林拳)
Shen Lung Kung Fu (神龍功夫) - Modern variations of Southern style chinese martial arts based in the United States.
Shuai Chiao (摔跤 Shuaijiao) - Chinese Wrestling
Shequan (蛇拳) - Snake Fist
Southern Praying Mantis (南派螳螂拳)
Tai Chi Chuan (太極拳 T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Taijiquan) - Ultimate Supreme Fist
Taizu Changquan (太祖長拳) - Emperor Taizu long fist
Tang Lang Hu Shi - Praying Mantis Kung Fu and Tiger Style Kung Fu
Tantui (彈腿/譚腿) - Spring Leg style
Tien Shan Pai (天山派)
Tongbeiquan (通背拳) - Through-the-Back Fist
Tueh Ming Sin'Kung - modern style combining Northern and Southern traditions based in the Netherlands
Turtle Kung Fu
White Crane (白鶴拳)
Wing Chun (詠春 Ving Tsun, WingTsun) - made famous by Bruce Lee
Wudangquan (武當拳)
Xingyiquan (形意拳 Hsing-i Ch'uan) - Shape-Intent Fist
Xinyiba (心意把)
Xinyiliuhequan (心意六合拳) - Heart Mind Six Harmonies Fist
Yau Kung Mun ( 软功門)
Yingzhaoquan (鷹爪拳) - Eagle Claw Fist
Yiquan (意拳 I Ch'uan)
Yuejiaquan (岳家拳) - Yue-family Boxing
Zhuan Shu Kuan - modern composite style containing elements of Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai and Long fist kung fu. It is based in the United Kingdom
Ziramen - (自然门) - Natural boxing
Zui Quan (醉拳) - Drunken Fist

[BlackDragon]

Conclusion

History of all martial arts vary. Do your research, and use the list of chinese martial arts to aid you. There are several styles to learn about in the Chinese Martial Arts systems.

[BlackDragon]

Some styles and discriptions of Shaolin Boxing

Drunken Fist Boxing

n Zui Quan or the drunkard boxing, boxers falter, waddle, fall and sway just like drunkards.
Zui Quan can be used for both fighting and maintaining health. However, the drunkard boxers go out of their way to
stress the combative side of their style. They blend a series of movements, actions and skills of the martial arts and try to confuse their opponents with special skills which often lead them to surprise triumphs.
Execution of the drunkard boxing demands extreme flexibility of the joints as well as suppleness, dexterity, power and
coordination all of which can be developed in the course of practice.
The main feature of the drunkard boxing is to hide combative hits in drunkard-like, unsteady movements and actions to confuse the opponent. The secret of this style of boxing is maintaining a clear mind while giving a drunken appearance.

Mantis Style

Mantis Boxing
he mantis boxing has many routines and branches.
The major five schools are as follows:
1. Seven-star mantis boxing, which is also called Arhat mantis, features seven-star steps, hard-hitting, and vigorous
movrmrnts. It tends more towards hardness than suppleness and its stances are comfortably spread and extended. The
basics of this school include waist technique, leg technique, shoulder technique as well as standing skills and hitting skills.
2. Plum blossom mantis boxing, also called taiji plum blossom mantis boxing, uses small steps and its movements are continuous deft and smart, like blossoming plums. It is almost an exact copy of the mantis. This style of boxing demands clear-cut rhythms in unleashing the tricks and emphasizes a smooth, deft and supple generation of power. It uses more sideway than straightforward force.
3. Six-combination mantis boxing, also known as monkey mantis boxing, stresses the inner and outer, three combinationswhich make six combinations. It uses mind to guide the movements of the body and pays equal attention to both the mental and physical. It uses hidden, rather than obvious hardness and resorts more to inner forces.
4. Hand-wringing mantis boxing is also called plum blossom hand-wringing matis boxing. It comes from the plum blossom mantis boxing but because it uses hand wringing tricks in its routines, it came to be called hand-wringing mantis boxing.When delivering blows, the hands are in the shape of palm; when retreating, they are in the form of hooks.
5. Twin mantis boxing. This style of boxing also comes from the plum blossom mantis boxing. Its movements have a
delicate symmetry and thus it is called twin mantis boxing.

Arhat Boxing

Louhan Quan or the Arhat boxing originated from the Shaolin-style boxing. It has been called the 18-hand tricks of Arhat,
which consisted of 18 combating skills and techniques. Along with its 24 movements in advancing and retreating, the
Arhat boxing uses six routines of fist plays, two routines of palm olays, one routine of elbow play, four routines of holding
and strangleholding, each of which has its own practical value and health-building effect.
The original Luohan Quan was called the 18-form Arhat boxing which was improved and developed through years of
practice. It later became the 27-form small Arhat boxing, the 54-form big Arhat boxing and the 108-form Arhat boxing.While practising, Arhat boxers can be as soft as willow twigs, as agile as a smart monkey jumping over a mountain gully, as mighty as a lion, and as powerful as a dragon stirring the sea. According to the practice proverbs of the Arhat boxing, the head of the Arhat boxer is like a wave; hands are like meteorites; the body like a willow twig; footwork is like that of a drunkard; blows are triggeres by the mind and power is generated throughout the body. It should be difficult to tell whether the hits are substantial or empty. Free application of the Arhat boxing skills can be achieved through years of practice and exercise Luohan Quan was created by monks in the Shaolin Temple from watching and imitating the different forms and expression of the different Arhat statues in the temple, and through meditation. They added to these movements the skills of combat. There are quite a few Arhat boxing maestroes among the generations of Shaolin monks. The best in the contemporary period was Maestro Miao Xing. Maestro Miao Xing had been called "Gold Arhat". He was a native of Dengfeng in Henan Province and knwe the combat skills as well as being fond of literal arts, especially Buddhism. He used to work on his farmland, and chanted Buddhist scriptures and practised martial arts after work. Later he traveled throughout the country and met with many Wushu masters. In this way he mastered the martial arts of different styles of boxing. Several years later, Miao Xing shaved his head to become a monk of the Shaolin Temple but he continued to practise his martial art in his spare-time delving into the skills of combat.Once he was seen practising his martial art by the abbot of the temple who praised him and taught him the Shaolin style of boxing and cudgel plays. The abbot also taught Miao Xing the Arhat boxin, acupoint touching, joint dislocating, holding and strangleholding, breathing exercises and other Shaolin-style martial arts.Whenever challengers of the Shaolin martial arts came, the abbot would appoint Miao Xing to meet them and Miao was always the winner, thus earning the respect from among other monks. Eventually Miao was promoted to be the supervisor of the temple and was asked to teach the martial arts to other monks. After the death of the abbot, Miao Xing succeeded hi and also served as the chief of the Shaolin martial arts masters. He had some 5.000 monk disciples and 200 laymen disciples. In 1939, Maestro Miao Xing passed away at he age of 58.The characteristics of the Arhat boxing are plain and simple. It combines simplicity with the beauty of the expressions of the Arhats. It hides its combative skills and blows in the Arhat-like actions. Movements are smoothly comfortable and fully spread out with clearcut rhythms and the cooperation and coordination of attack and defence are rational. After practising for a long time, the Arhat boxing can strengthen the physique, tone up the body, give one self-defence skills and cure diseases.


Eagle Claw Boxing

Yingzhao Quan or the eagle claw boxing is a traditional animal-imitating style of fist play that incorporates the movements,
tricks and methods of the eagle. It is a mixture of the Yue-style boxing and the school of tumbling boxing. It is also called Yingzhao Fanzi Quan ( eagle claw tumbling boxing ). Because boxers form their hands into the shape of an eagle's claw, their style came to be called Yingzhao Quan. The traditional routines of the eagle claw boxing are said to have been
created by Song Dynasty General Yue Fei. Li Quan, a monk of the Ming Dynasty, mastered the essentials of the
Yue-style boxing before combining the eagle claw and tumble boxing to form eagle claw tumbling boxing. Li taught the style to Monk Fa Cheng who later passed it on to Liu Shijun of Xiongxian County in Hebei Province.
Liu Shijun, born in a poor family, used to sell fluecured tobacco for a living but he was deeply fond of martial arts. One day, when out selling tobacco till late, he stayed at a small inn. As he practised his martial arts by himself, Monk Fa Cheng who happened to be staying at the same inn, was woken up by the sounds of Liu's movements and actions. After he completed his exercises, the monk told Liu that his routines were good for maintaining health but not for fighting enemies. Liu, annoyed by the monk's remarks, asked Fa Cheng to fight with him. The two fought a practice bout. Eager to win, Liu unleashed three attacks in a row but all were easily warded off by the monk. As he launched his fourth attack Monk Fa Cheng used the eagle claw trick to catch Liu's wrist. Although he tried all he could, Liu could not shake off the monk's hand. Fa Cheng then touched an acupoint on Liu's back and Liu felt sourness and numbness spread throughout his body and fell to the ground. Realizing the monk was excellent at martial arts, Liu begged the monk to teach him. He
followed Fa Cheng and learnt the eagle claw boxing and its secrets. Three years later Liu left his master to travel alone
and spent the rest of his life studying the art of fist plays and teaching youngster. Liu Shijun served as martial arts
instructor at the barracks of imperial guards in Bejing during the Qing Dynasty and taught the eagle claw boxing to Liu
Dekuan, Ji San, Ji Si and nephew Liu Chengyou. Liu Chengyou passed it on to his sister's grandson Chen Zizheng who went to teach the art in northeast China, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The eagle claw boxing features simple but powerful moves. When moving, the boxer attacks relentlessy and looks formidable, but when standing still, he looks like an eagle awaiting the chance to pounce on rabbits. The northern-style eagle claw boxing features comfortably spared movements which are aesthetically pleasing while the southern-style features delicate but spectacular acrobatic tricks.
There are many branches of eagle claw fist play which imitates all the movements of an eagle, the eagle boxing which
stresses both the claw, and the flapping and fanning of wings, and the rock eagle boxing which imitates the eagle flying up and down a rock cliff.The eagle claw boxing is spectacular with boxers jumping high one minute and walking in a low position like an eagle diving into the woods for prey the next. Sometimes they run as fast as a shooting arrow while at others they stand steadily like an age-old pine tree. They demonstrate to the full, the bravery and flexibility of an eagle

[silver fox]

i'm thinking about training in a chinese martial art, there are so many styles to choose from but i'm sure alot of styles will not be available to me. so all i can do is accept what is in my reach.

[silver fox]

from what i've read about the various styles of the chinese art, it's amazing and genius how styles are created from one technique, which makes the the chinese martial art more complex than any other martial art from my opinion.

[47MartialMan]

I have some displeasing results on my reserach about Shaolin stuff.

Two people (one a Eastern Philosophy/Buddhist professor at a major university)

Myths and legends can blow things out of proportion.

[dasher43]

wow, i didnt relise there was so many style of chinese martal arts

[living in the way]

Originally Posted by 47MartialMan

I have some displeasing results on my reserach about Shaolin stuff.

Two people (one a Eastern Philosophy/Buddhist professor at a major university)

Myths and legends can blow things out of proportion.

you seem to have something negetive on every post, you have no self control,
you have no disaplin, youv trained for many years yet youv leanred nothing from
what youv been studying. you disrespect everything here, your are a disgrace to martial arts, you may think you teaching kids with your 2 cent classes when you havnt learned 2 cents your self. your very negetive old man. and before your time is up youll wish that you have tryed to be everything you could be, every spirit can use refining you have not refined yours from the day you started martial arts.

for in martial arts there is much respect to give and much to be received

but more importantly to become a better person, to defind your character, to help all instead of discourage. you are just a little kid inside wishing to live out your dream as being a martial arts movie star you are a martial stylist, you dont know the true meaning of martial arts and if you simply think its a fighting art then you look no deeper than the skin on your body because martial arts is ocean deep and higher than a tsunami wave.

[47MartialMan]

Well, Ive tried to remain in hiatus, but after receiving a email notification on this thread, I had to respond.

Originally Posted by living in the way

you seem to have something negetive on every post,

How can anything exist without a counter-part? Surely anything has a pro and con. I state things not to be negative, but to point out things which are not as effulgent as they appear. Everything can be examined from any position.

Originally Posted by living in the way

you have no self control,

I have more self control than you acclaim. For example, upon posting, when I had neared the count for Board Black Belt Status, I took a hiatus. I did so only until "Complete" contacted me via PM, which was my pre-planned intention. And I had self control in taking another hiatus, until now. And I have much self control where I rarely get upset and I can even regulate my blood pressure lower than norm (usually freaking out my physician). Furthermore, this is only a internet board, my control in real life is no reflection.

Originally Posted by living in the way

you have no disaplin, youv trained for many years yet youv leanred nothing from what youv been studying.

You have no proper punctuation. Woe is it that someone maybe be a tad lazy to hit the shift/cap key. I have learned more in my studies than you may realise.

Originally Posted by living in the way

you disrespect everything here, your are a disgrace to martial arts, you may think you teaching kids with your 2 cent classes when you havnt learned 2 cents your self.

To speak about something from a diferent view is not to disrespect it. Though a opposite view may upset someone who become benign, denial, or naïveté, apart from a state of acceptance that things are not always what they desire it to be. Many of my students have grown and live adult lives. I may even have a few older than you. Most have not continued in martial arts, per physical practice, but they continue after my guidance. ALL of them contact me and continue to state how thier lives were changed from my mentoring.

Originally Posted by living in the way

your very negetive old man. and before your time is up youll wish that you have tryed to be everything you could be, every spirit can use refining you have not refined yours from the day you started martial arts.

Indeed, I am a old man by your standard, but younger to others by their standard. Spirit of martial arts or anything, becomes indifferent when others are trying to physically harm another. And in relation to spirit, it is more consentient when someone opposes issues apart from what they were lead to believe. For example, a rebel is not a contemptuous insurrectionist or iconoclastic person whom may seem to lack spirit. On the contrary, such position challenges, creates, and meliorate many issues.

Originally Posted by living in the way

for in martial arts there is much respect to give and much to be received

Respect must be earned. I cannot give anyone respect, nor expect and/or accept it, without earning it. For a forum, I do not look for either.

Originally Posted by living in the way

but more importantly to become a better person, to defind your character, to help all instead of discourage. you are just a little kid inside wishing to live out your dream as being a martial arts movie star you are a martial stylist, you dont know the true meaning of martial arts and if you simply think its a fighting art then you look no deeper than the skin on your body because martial arts is ocean deep and higher than a tsunami wave.

Well, speaking of a kid inside, it would seem that you maybe such by going into such detail in your post. Not all martial artists are better people, as per even religion. Even as per Shaolin. I had nevered stated that martial arts is only about fighting, though most things about it, even in its very name, is about conflict. Without conflict of certain issues, even per studying and applications, martial arts could not exist. As martial artists we prepare for physical, mental, and spiritual conflict. If in preparation for conflict, which conflict is undesirable, (undesirables should be addressed), such will make a forum more concise.


*disgruntled* I may have to delete a post to keep the count at 2007

[Ben]

Originally Posted by silver fox

from what i've read about the various styles of the chinese art, it's amazing and genius how styles are created from one technique, which makes the the chinese martial art more complex than any other martial art from my opinion.

true chineese martial arts have developed into complex and varying styles, I think they are a true testament to how many various things a martial artist of any stature can learn, for this I give the chineese martial arts credit


However, I don't mean to misinterpret what you are saying but more complex is by no means better. I have had experience in Chinese MA but I switched back to my original Japanese art which was fundamentally simpler. why?


chinese proerb (ironically)

I am not afraid the one thousand techniques that you learn

I am afraid of the one technique you learn and practise one thousand times

of course just because an art is more complex doesn't mean you dont learn its foundations as well as a 'simple' art, but its my experience that complex chineese arts consist of many techniques for flexibility, whereas 'simple' arts consist of techniques that are practised more often

for example
chineese dojo lesson

warm up - shaolin
stretching - shaolin (about 5 different stretches)
short shaolin drills (about 6 different drills)
wing chun kung fu (about 4-6 techniques)
shaolin forms (3 forms)
chi kung cool down

japanese dojo lesson

warm up (1-2 warm up techniques)
self defense (4-9 techniques)
sparring/grappling/free fighting (3-4 short rounds, mixed parteners)

both these classes occured over two hours. I found it difficult to catch on with the chineese arts which moved very quickly in thier lessons. Of course there is no right and wrong way but fandamentally the chineese 'complex' arts didnt give enough time per technique as a pose to the japanese 'simple' art which emphasezed perfection of one technique before moving on.


I know this isnt a representation of the whole picture as different masters teach differently. Also Both arts include simplisities and complexities, so its unfair to label one as simple and another as complex. However this is my experience with more 'complex' arts in comparison with 'simpler' arts

[Sensei Tom OBrien]

BlackDragon,
My thanks for sharing so much information about so many styles.
Thanks Again,
Sensei Tom

[Chapel]

Originally Posted by living in the way

you seem to have something negetive on every post, you have no self control,
you have no disaplin, youv trained for many years yet youv leanred nothing from
what youv been studying. you disrespect everything here, your are a disgrace to martial arts, you may think you teaching kids with your 2 cent classes when you havnt learned 2 cents your self. your very negetive old man. and before your time is up youll wish that you have tryed to be everything you could be, every spirit can use refining you have not refined yours from the day you started martial arts.

for in martial arts there is much respect to give and much to be received

but more importantly to become a better person, to defind your character, to help all instead of discourage. you are just a little kid inside wishing to live out your dream as being a martial arts movie star you are a martial stylist, you dont know the true meaning of martial arts and if you simply think its a fighting art then you look no deeper than the skin on your body because martial arts is ocean deep and higher than a tsunami wave.

Martialman is a firebrand, a devil's advocate and makes illogical leaps more often than I like (sometimes they are good just to get someone thinking about a disproof). But as much as I hate to admit it he does strengthen someone's own ideas by forcing them to defend it.

I do find him quite frustrating at times, but I would never go so far as to say that he is a disgrace to his art (partially because I have no idea what art he represents ).

[47MartialMan]

Originally Posted by Chapel

1.) Martialman is a firebrand, a devil's advocate and makes illogical leaps more often than I like (sometimes they are good just to get someone thinking about a disproof). But as much as I hate to admit it he does strengthen someone's own ideas by forcing them to defend it.

I do find him quite frustrating at times, but I would never go so far as to say that he is a disgrace to his art (partially because I have no idea what art he represents ).

Well, I guess you got me figured out, though I dont pretend otherwise.

2.) My art is your art

[John Takeshi]

Originally Posted by 47MartialMan

Well, I guess you got me figured out, though I dont pretend otherwise.

2.) My art is your art

I think I can guess, based on your argumentation.

Let's see.....okay, first, when you begin an argument, you begin with a very basic, offhand, unrealistic, and impersonal sentiment that sets the tone for your ineffective argument. Even when it hits on target, it doesn't hurt.

so

1) you study taekwondo.

Secondly, when you provide "supports", you do little more than fumble around for a wrist lock to twist someone into submission, even though you're the only one who's convinced that it's working.

so

2) you study a blend of aikido and hapkido.

Thirdly, when you think you've taken the high road, even though you haven't, and you think you've proven your point or heightened the argument with your gutter-antics, even though you've just belabored a moot point to the point of absurdity like a drunken tavern-brawler pleased with the sound of his own keyboard clicking, you beat the mundane into the realm of boredom until everyone leaves the thread out of ennui, and you proclaim yourself champion master debater simply because nobody stuck around to naysay your hypotheses.

so

3) you study MMA.

Then, you overwhelm the board with your sheer output of posts, as if quantity made up for quality, and proclaim an air of authority by virtue of an air of affluence.

so

4) you study internet warriordom.


Am I warm?



Note: I'm not saying any of that is true, just that this is a scholarly evaluation of his method of argumentation using deductive logic and the scientific method to pinpoint his art of choice. Any and all gripes with what was written above lies not with the author, but with the method of argumentation employed by Martial Man 47.