Marinating and Reflecting

[tungmojingjung]

Just sitting here marinating on my kung fu learning from times past to the present. In all honesty it seems that everything I've ever desired to learn has been given to me. I have accumulated much over the years and am very humbled and thankful to those who have instructed me in the proper way. Fighting now is an obstacle that I have overcome, by that I mean Kung Fu with me is not about fighting anymore, I experienced that stage long ago.

From a young boy until now, Chinese martial arts and the science of it, I mean going beyond the style and technique has been my unyielding passion, this is what i'm supposed to be doing. If I have reached any success in Chinese martial arts it is due to the quality instructions from those I consider my teachers, without them, I would not have been able to endure.

What I would like to do now with concentrated efforts, is pass this great martial science onto the younger generation and perhaps they will be empowered with self-confidence, self-discipline, self-control while becoming their own HERO, ultimately becoming a productive member of society. When I was at the height of my kung fu learning, I frequently went to the Great Star Theater and watched classic Shaw Bros. Movies; if I went early I could watch Kwan Tak Hing play Wong Fei Hong.

Most of all I remember being introduced to Lau Gar Leung on the big screen and thought his skills were fantastic. I soon came across a article in the then, "Real Kung Fu" magazine that had a feature on Lau Sifu and the different styles he experienced, I, thought if I could just learn what he knew in my ignorance somehow my skills would elevate, I, came to learn this was not the case, what I did come to find out is success in kung fu is not by emulating, rather hard and deliberate work. When folks ask me about Tung Mo Wun Hop Kuen, I would like to state that Tung Mo Wun Hop Kuen is an inclusive system of martial application. In TMWHK, one may witness skills and concepts from different systems, the only difference now is its interwoven nature of skills providing more options of applying which gives it a unique character and flavor. Tung Mo Wun Hop is neither this nor that style, rather it is a omni thinking discipline that places emphasis more so on the individual than any of the given styles that are a part of its makeup.

This system of work is all encompassing, simply meaning my learning since the age of six, beginning at the local boys club until now has set the stage for myself to learn, absorb and now renew. This now is natural and alive for me.

The true essence of Tung Mo Wun Hop Kuen is freedom. You are free when you can exercise your skills and forget about them, all the while confident in your knowledge and abilities.

[YouKnowWho]

Kung Fu with me is not about fighting anymore, ...

What's the purpose of your

- "hammer fist" if you don't intend to "knock down" everything in your striking path?
- "foot sweep" if you don't intend to "take down" everything in your sweeping path?
- ...

I'm very interesting in people's opinion about "hammer fist" and "foot sweep" if "combat" is not your priority.

[GeneChing]

Kung Fu with me is not about fighting anymore What has changed is the pop culture image of what fighting is. With the spotlight on MMA, fighting is in a cage with and audience and ring girls strutting outside. I love MMA, but that's such a narrow definition. I had to fight a guy in a river once. We were chest deep in a strong current. All the BJJ in the world wouldn't help that situation. But that's a pretty narrow definition as well. It's not like that happens to most people. It's only happened to me once and I don't foresee it happening again.

Right now, I use Kung Fu to fight off 'fat ass syndrome'. I don't want to have a fat ass so I practice. And I have to practice pretty hard because a fat ass is a formidable opponent, especially when you get into your forties. :p

[taai gihk yahn]

I had to fight a guy in a river once...It's only happened to me once and I don't foresee it happening again.

well, once you've passed the interview test for KFM Editor, why would you have to take it again?

[tungmojingjung]

Okay, I see I need to clarify this for some people, there was a time when I exercised kung fu for fighting and yes in deed fought I have. in that sense its not about fighting anymore because I don't have time to fight anymore, either you will do me or i'll do you is my mindset these days, i'll let the wild tigers fight, because i've been there did that already.

[wenshu]

Kung fu hasn't been about combat since the Ming dynasty.

[hskwarrior]

Right now, I use Kung Fu to fight off 'fat ass syndrome'. I don't want to have a fat ass so I practice. And I have to practice pretty hard because a fat ass is a formidable opponent, especially when you get into your forties.

are you referring to ME? i said are you referring to ME? LOLOL.

watch who you're calling fat ass man! LOl

[hskwarrior]

Kung fu hasn't been about combat since the Ming dynasty.

actually and totally untrue. just a short few generations from me and my elders were using their gung fu in revolution after revolution. In america it was used over and over and is now being used in some police organizations.

sport isn't the only proof whether or not something is effective. fuk the rest.

[GeneChing]

well, once you've passed the interview test for KFM Editor, why would you have to take it again? LOL. Yea, good point. I actually wrote about in Shaolin Trips: Flashback (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=937)


either you will do me or i'll do you
This statement just doesn't sit right with me.


are you referring to ME? i said are you referring to ME? LOLOL.

watch who you're calling fat ass man! LOl I would never dare. You'd unleash some crazy 5 animal move which would defeat my Shaolin doH! ;) GO GIANTS! (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58901)

[hskwarrior]

I would never dare. You'd unleash some crazy 5 animal move which would defeat my Shaolin doH! GO GIANTS!

http://www.poorparenting.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/homer_doh.jpg

[wenshu]

actually and totally untrue. just a short few generations from me and my elders were using their gung fu in revolution after revolution. In america it was used over and over and is now being used in some police organizations.

my bad

Kung fu hasn't been about effective combat since the Ming dynasty.



sport isn't the only proof whether or not something is effective.

But nearly 3 centuries of failed revolutions is?

[bawang]

But nearly 3 centuries of failed revolutions is?

more like 3 centuries selling opium and pimping boat women.

[tungmojingjung]

Okay Gene. i'll re-phrase that abit: with me now fighting isn't experimental in the sense of exercising skills to see what works for me, I am very confident in myself and my abilities and if put in the position to have to defend myself let's just say I hope my foe is ready, because i'm determined.....

[hskwarrior]

Kung fu hasn't been about effective combat since the Ming dynasty.yeah it is your bad. you should have had better luck but it looks like your luck SUCKS. BIG TIME.


But nearly 3 centuries of failed revolutions is?

shows your ignorance. when you call me your sifu i will teach you the right way. till then maybe you are better off with SHAOLIN DO.



more like 3 centuries selling opium and pimping boat women.

boat woman can ride better than land lovers.

[MightyB]

Right now, I use Kung Fu to fight off 'fat ass syndrome'. I don't want to have a fat ass so I practice. And I have to practice pretty hard because a fat ass is a formidable opponent, especially when you get into your forties. :p

http://www.fugly.com/media/IMAGES/Gross/flexible_fat_guy.jpg

Beware of the fat arse! You never know when it will strike!

[wenshu]

yeah it is your bad. you should have had better luck but it looks like your luck SUCKS. BIG TIME.
shows your ignorance. when you call me your sifu i will teach you the right way. till then maybe you are better off with SHAOLIN DO.


Read a history book Slim.

[hskwarrior]

Read a history book Slim.

go learn some gung fu TOUGH GUY.

don't forget when you wanna know the real call me sifu!

[wenshu]

too real for me seefood
http://i.imgur.com/QLP4e.jpg

[hskwarrior]

are those your students? LMAo

i see u have a TON of support. nice job man really.

[sanjuro_ronin]

Kung fu isn't JUST about fighting, we all know this and not everyone does kung fu "to fight" or to be prepared to fight.
The problem is when kung fu is NEVER about fighting.
This is what I mean:
From the first time I started MA in 78 till the day I "retired" my "competitive spirit", MA ( including kung fu of course) was always PRIMARILY about fighting, a good 90% if not more.
Now, kung fu is about fun, exercise and maintaining as much of a "combat mindest" as I can now that I am no longer a fighter (literally).
In short, kung fu can be about "something else" NOW because it was "all about fighting" then.
If a person never goes through that "all about fighting" phase, IMO they will never know Kung Fu.

[hskwarrior]

kung fu is whatever you put your mind to. whether its forms, lion dancing or fighting. some people do it for themselves. others do it to test themselves in competition and reach for the gold. it when we start letting others tell us how we should feel, want, or do becomes the problem.

i am happy with what i do. my students are happy. they don't have dreams of becoming ufc champs. they're satisfied with what they're learning and confident in using it effectively in a hostile situation.

kung fu itself is the umbrella and under it falls the fighting, forms, lion dancing, basics and stance training then into weapons.

all of those who hate kung fu, thats your problem. deal with it.

[David Jamieson]

Kung fu isn't JUST about fighting, we all know this and not everyone does kung fu "to fight" or to be prepared to fight.
The problem is when kung fu is NEVER about fighting.


I agree with this. Fighting must be understood to have cultivated kung fu in yourself. You don't have to be the greatest or the baddest of all bad asses, but you should understand it (violence) in the sense of it being a reality that may occur in your life.

That's some real dharma baby. ohm...

[YouKnowWho]

Judo teacher: Judo is not only for fighting, it's good for health too. When I use hip throw to throw your body over my head, it's good for my health. :p

Student: It may be good for your health, but it's not good for my health. :(

Have people noticed that "TCMA for health" guys may spend more time in "power generation" and "strike into the thin air" than "TCMA for combat" guys do?

Is it fair to say that those who work on the heavy bag are "TCMA for combat" guys. Those who do not are "TCMA for health" guys?

[MightyB]

Judo teacher: Judo is not only for fighting, it's good for health too. When I use hip throw to throw your body over my head, it's good for my health. :p

Student: It may be good for your health, but it's not good for my health. :(

Have people noticed that "TCMA for health" guys may spend more time in "power generation" and "strike into the thin air" than "TCMA for combat" guys do?

Is it fair to say that those who work on the heavy bag are "TCMA for combat" guys. Those who do not are "TCMA for health" guys?

The crazy part is that power generation is an advanced concept that really only makes sense after you've begun the path of mastery of kung fu's most basic intrinsic skill - fighting. These TCMA for health guys are just plain nuts because the whole idea behind the power generation practice was for a guy to be able to deliver a tremendous strike. The health aspects are neat, but the basic basic basic foundation needs to be developed first. And it has nothing to do with "the street" or the too deadly primitive combat. Here's how I know... the creation myth behind the art that I practice. Wong Long developed mantis because of sparring sessions with his Kung Fu brother. These weren't life and death matches - these were games/contests between two friends. They fought for the pure joy of mastery of fighting techniques - and one guy kept consistently winning, the other wanted to win. This is the foundation of mantis - friendly but rough sparring between friends.

[hskwarrior]

The crazy part is that power generation is an advanced concept that really only makes sense after you've begun the path of mastery of kung fu's most basic intrinsic skill - fighting.

i feel like a broken record when a new student comes in. "YOU'RE USING TOO MUCH MUSCLE". OVER AND OVER.


These TCMA for health guys are just plain nuts because the whole idea behind the power generation practice was for a guy to be able to deliver a tremendous strike.

INSTEAD OF BEING A TOOL TO SAVE THEIR LIVES, THEY TURN TO THE ARTISTIC SIDE AND NEGLECT THE COMBATIVE SIDE.


They fought for the pure joy of mastery of fighting techniques - and one guy kept consistently winning, the other wanted to win. This is the foundation of mantis - friendly but rough sparring between friends.

AS IT SHOULD BE DONE.

[-N-]

i feel like a broken record when a new student comes in. "YOU'RE USING TOO MUCH MUSCLE". OVER AND OVER.

We tell the students, "The idea about taking 10,000 times to master a skill is that YOU are supposed to practice 10,000 times. Not that WE have to TELL you 10,000 times!"

[hskwarrior]

We tell the students, "The idea about taking 10,000 times to master a skill is that YOU are supposed to practice 10,000 times. Not that WE have to TELL you 10,000 times!"

preach on!!!!

[-N-]

preach on!!!!

In the old days, the teachers beat their students.

Nowadays, we taunt and ridicule them.

"I laugh so I don't have to cry."

:rolleyes:

[-N-]

Today, one student said, "That movement is pretty!"

I said, "It can be, if you do it right."

"Sometimes it pretty. Sometimes its ugly. Sometimes it pretty ugly. Better practice..."

:)