Crimson Phoenix
03-04-2002, 03:01 AM
Sharky, I know you urinate on them, actually YOU and your comments gave me the idea about the thread :D
OK, they are very common in southern styles...for example we have several (barehanded or weapon) in white crane, in Phenix Eye fist (cf Cheong and Draegger's book) etc...
What's your opinion about them? Do you know any? What about weapon 2-man sets? Which do you prefer and why??
Any opinion and comments warmly welcome ;)
I'll start: I believe they are very useful...I personally believe in the value of solo forms...so if you believe in these, I don't see how you could not find value in 2-man sets...
I think they teach you or at least can make you grasp the importance and application of a crucial factor of combat: sense of distance.
Practicing a solo form is nice...but practicing a two-man set helps you realize when you're in hitting range, when you're in danger, what targets are available and convenient in a given situation, what you are doing wrong that makes you expose a target on you, when you are safe, etc...
I alos think they teach you timing and rythm of fighting although to a lesser extent.
Other benefits could be, depending on the set itself stepping training (related to timing and distance, much better training than just training alone) or conditioning...it also help you realize the actual feeling of blocking or being blocked by a real human "opponent". It's stupid to say it, but even if we all know that a human body is not like a wooden dummy or heavy bag, many of us have been surprised of their first contacts with an opponent and how unique a human body feels when you hit (or when you are hit, if you're unlucky, or drunk, or lame hehehehehehehe).
I personally know one barehanded one, I'm learning one staff vs staff directly derived from our beginner staff solo form, and I know half of San Cai Jian, a unique sword form in the sense that it's a solo form that when cut at a precise point matches itself, enabeling you to practice it as a two-man form.
I know that after that, there is a barehand vs staff 2-man set directly derived from the solo and 2-man staff form too, and other armed ones. We are also encouraged at one point (but I'm not at this level, and I won't be before many years heheheheh) to create our own matching forms, pondering deeply about combat values and applicability (ie: it's not a form just for looks, or to do like in Hollywood)...
OK all, I'm waiting for your enlightened views and comments!!!!
OK, they are very common in southern styles...for example we have several (barehanded or weapon) in white crane, in Phenix Eye fist (cf Cheong and Draegger's book) etc...
What's your opinion about them? Do you know any? What about weapon 2-man sets? Which do you prefer and why??
Any opinion and comments warmly welcome ;)
I'll start: I believe they are very useful...I personally believe in the value of solo forms...so if you believe in these, I don't see how you could not find value in 2-man sets...
I think they teach you or at least can make you grasp the importance and application of a crucial factor of combat: sense of distance.
Practicing a solo form is nice...but practicing a two-man set helps you realize when you're in hitting range, when you're in danger, what targets are available and convenient in a given situation, what you are doing wrong that makes you expose a target on you, when you are safe, etc...
I alos think they teach you timing and rythm of fighting although to a lesser extent.
Other benefits could be, depending on the set itself stepping training (related to timing and distance, much better training than just training alone) or conditioning...it also help you realize the actual feeling of blocking or being blocked by a real human "opponent". It's stupid to say it, but even if we all know that a human body is not like a wooden dummy or heavy bag, many of us have been surprised of their first contacts with an opponent and how unique a human body feels when you hit (or when you are hit, if you're unlucky, or drunk, or lame hehehehehehehe).
I personally know one barehanded one, I'm learning one staff vs staff directly derived from our beginner staff solo form, and I know half of San Cai Jian, a unique sword form in the sense that it's a solo form that when cut at a precise point matches itself, enabeling you to practice it as a two-man form.
I know that after that, there is a barehand vs staff 2-man set directly derived from the solo and 2-man staff form too, and other armed ones. We are also encouraged at one point (but I'm not at this level, and I won't be before many years heheheheh) to create our own matching forms, pondering deeply about combat values and applicability (ie: it's not a form just for looks, or to do like in Hollywood)...
OK all, I'm waiting for your enlightened views and comments!!!!