Kung Fu Ideal

[MightyB]

What's your Kung Fu Ideal?

----
What I mean is... to me, kung fu should be something like dirty boxing. Praying Mantis fits nicely into this framework for me. It should look and behave similarly to boxing with the addition of a some hand traps. Also, the du (hook) plays heavily into my idealized version of Praying Mantis kung fu.

The dirty boxing ideal (again - for me) helps integrate the chin na, traps, and takedowns that are found in the system in a realistic way.
---

So have you thought about what kung fu should look like for yourself? Do you have a kung fu ideal?

[sanjuro_ronin]

What's your Kung Fu Ideal?

----
What I mean is... to me, kung fu should be something like dirty boxing. Praying Mantis fits nicely into this framework for me. It should look and behave similarly to boxing with the addition of a some hand traps. Also, the du (hook) plays heavily into my idealized version of Praying Mantis kung fu.

The dirty boxing ideal (again - for me) helps integrate the chin na, traps, and takedowns that are found in the system in a realistic way.
---

So have you thought about what kung fu should look like for yourself? Do you have a kung fu ideal?

I hit people, I hit them till they are no longer a threat and then I hit them some more, just to be sure.
On occasion I may choke them out or break a limb, just because I feel like it.
:p

[MightyB]

I hit people, I hit them till they are no longer a threat and then I hit them some more, just to be sure.
On occasion I may choke them out or break a limb, just because I feel like it.
:p

You can learn that by watching the UFC and regularly fighting at bars. But what is it that you're striving for by participating in a TCMA?

[sanjuro_ronin]

You can learn that by watching the UFC and regularly fighting at bars. But what is it that you're striving for by participating in a TCMA?

To do what I listed above, with STYLE !!
:D

[David Jamieson]

Quick. Clean. Efficient. For me, this is the ideal of martial art.

Kung Fu as a lifestyle is a totally different concept to me as I take it to mean the holistic development of a person including outside of their martial study. Just martial arts alone does not cut it for me as Kung Fu development.

[GeneChing]

At least, the course of this thread is going towards how to fight with Kung Fu, just like so many other thread here.

That being said, for me personally, it's about crazy weapons (http://www.martialartsmart.com/weapons-chinese-weapons-exotic-weapns.html). I've always wanted to Jackie-Chan some one with an umbrella stand or a garbage can lid.

In the big picture (which as a publisher, is something I'm always looking at), Kung Fu is something for everyone. It's fighting for fighters. It's showboating for stunt people. It's wushu for kids. It's tai chi for the elderly. It's cosplay for cosplayers. It's even drunken for the drunkards. If the Kung Fu style doesn't fit, find another style.

[MightyB]

That being said, for me personally, it's about crazy weapons (http://www.martialartsmart.com/weapons-chinese-weapons-exotic-weapns.html). I've always wanted to Jackie-Chan some one with an umbrella stand or a garbage can lid.


You need to cut me a crazy deal on a single, non-flimsy tigerhead sword. I don't need the twin set, and I don't want wushu tinfoil.

---

Yeah it's another kung fu for fight'n thread... er - well, what else should we talk about other than the ninjettes and cosplay hotties?


Maybe we should talk about the ninjettes, and cosplay hotties.

[sanjuro_ronin]

You need to cut me a crazy deal on a single, non-flimsy tigerhead sword. I don't need the twin set, and I don't want wushu tinfoil.

---

Yeah it's another kung fu for fight'n thread... er - well, what else should we talk about other than the ninjettes and cosplay hotties?


Maybe we should talk about the ninjettes, and cosplay hotties.

There was a time I looked to kung fu for more than fighting and, at the time, it filled that need.
No longer.
To me, NOW, MA are about fighting and all that goes with it.

[GeneChing]

As China continues to rise as a world economy, so rises their prices. I've seen some nice expensive stuff, and of course, there's always antiques (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36807), but I don't anticipate any price drops in the near future. Makes you long for days of old, yes?



To me, NOW, MA are about fighting and all that goes with it.
No cosplay in fighting. Unless you count ring girls. :p

[MightyB]

As China continues to rise as a world economy, so rises their prices. I've seen some nice expensive stuff, and of course, there's always antiques (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36807), but I don't anticipate any price drops in the near future. Makes you long for days of old, yes?


No cosplay in fighting. Unless you count ring girls. :p

I've found some stamped in combat steel... unfortunately they're not quite "right". The half-moon hand guard is too small, and they don't have the simulated edge on both sides of the blade. Plus the balance is way off. Not sure what's up with that. Used to be easier to find good ones.

[sanjuro_ronin]

Very true, re the Cosplay and you know I likes me a good cosplay !!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/p480x480/198354_530159053715010_1241751086_n.jpg

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTr5KDEHLJqF1Gks31BRg31RO-vsO_D047H3A0sicIY7AiGm5BJ

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/11956_494781717244507_1063717404_n.jpg

http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/beautiful-cosplay-girls-36.jpg

http://comicgeekos.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Cosplay_fairchild-6.jpg

[YouKnowWho]

Also, the du (hook) plays heavily into my idealized version of Praying Mantis kung fu...

By using "hook", you can pull yourself into your opponent and speed up the "clinch" process. This is why the praying mantis system can be the bridge between the striking world and the grappling world.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/52/mantishands.jpg/

Without that "hook", the

- boxing coach won't be able to integrate throwing into his boxing.
- Judo instructor won't be able to integrate striking into his Judo.

Such a simple idea is so powerful that many TCMA styles have ignored it. Without "hook", a punch is just a punch. With "hook", a punch is more than just a punch. The sooner that you can put that "hook" on your opponent's body, the sooner that you can turn a striking game into a grappling game.

[wenshu]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j4AYK8KGKU

[GeneChing]

All fighting and no cosplay makes sanjuro_ronin a dull boy. :p

I'm not sure wenshu is quite with the program here regarding cosplay, but that was a pretty cool vid.

As for the tiger hooks (http://www.martialartsmart.com/45-007.html), the term 'combat steel' has no real meaning beyond marketing. It's similar to when foods are marked as 'natural ingredients'. We imply that 'combat steel' should mean that it is combat worthy, but it's really something that American martial arts vendors made up. There's no certification of quality, nor any specific criteria for standards. Tiger hooks are a particular problem as they are unusual weapons. Good luck on your quest to find some, MB.

[wenshu]

By using "hook", you can pull yourself into your opponent and speed up the "clinch" process. This is why the praying mantis system can be the bridge between the striking world and the grappling world.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/52/mantishands.jpg/

Without that "hook", the

- boxing coach won't be able to integrate throwing into his boxing.
- Judo instructor won't be able to integrate striking into his Judo.

Such a simple idea is so powerful that many TCMA styles have ignored it. Without "hook", a punch is just a punch. With "hook", a punch is more than just a punch. The sooner that you can put that "hook" on your opponent's body, the sooner that you can turn a striking game into a grappling game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9EHav8ZqAQ&t=1m10s

[wenshu]

I'm not sure wenshu is quite with the program here regarding cosplay, but that was a pretty cool vid.

cosplay? /dev/null

[sanjuro_ronin]

cosplay? /dev/null

COStumePLAY.

[MightyB]

All fighting and no cosplay makes sanjuro_ronin a dull boy. :p

I'm not sure wenshu is quite with the program here regarding cosplay, but that was a pretty cool vid.

As for the tiger hooks (http://www.martialartsmart.com/45-007.html), the term 'combat steel' has no real meaning beyond marketing. It's similar to when foods are marked as 'natural ingredients'. We imply that 'combat steel' should mean that it is combat worthy, but it's really something that American martial arts vendors made up. There's no certification of quality, nor any specific criteria for standards. Tiger hooks are a particular problem as they are unusual weapons. Good luck on your quest to find some, MB.

Actually Tiger Claw's seem to be all right visually. I'm not going to be hacking any zombies or engaging in ritualistic duels, I just can't have them be wushu flexible. They need to be rigid and somewhat evenly balanced. Are the TC brand tiger hooks fairly rigid?

[MightyB]

cosplay? /dev/null

http://th03.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2012/248/d/8/ladies_darth_vader_and_boba_fett_by_abbiegoth-d5domz5.jpg

[wenshu]

http://i.minus.com/iVYMPQnm4gtxS.gif

[GeneChing]

Are the TC brand tiger hooks fairly rigid? They are pretty light. Almost wushu light, but not quite that light. Keep in mind that I have three very heavy pairs, so my standard for light vs. heavy is skewed.

[MightyB]

They are pretty light. Almost wushu light, but not quite that light. Keep in mind that I have three very heavy pairs, so my standard for light vs. heavy is skewed.

Good to know. I'll probably split the cost with a friend of mine since we'll both need to practice outside of class and TC's looks good enough for practice. Using a single hook sword is kind of a rarity, but I find it to be a much more "martial" form than the double.

[mooyingmantis]

My ideal kung fu allows me to dance around in my pajamas chi blasting the $hit out of everyone I do not like or agree with! :D

[GeneChing]

And in keeping with our cosplay theme...
http://www.kungfucalendar.com/images/Phuong.jpg

:cool:

[omarthefish]

As China continues to rise as a world economy, so rises their prices. I've seen some nice expensive stuff, and of course, there's always

Sorry for the topic drift but...

Not sure how much is has to do with China's rise as with the dollar's fall. The Chinese yuan has been worth a lot more for a long time. It was only PRC govt. policy that kept the exchange rate artifically pegged at 8.3 to the dollar. Since they started letting it move naturally on the market, in just 4 or 5 years it's moved to about 6.1 to the dollar and Chinese monetary policy has still been artificially limiting the speed at which the exchange rate changes. Point being, the "real" exchange rate, unimpeded by specific policies was, according to a lot of articles I read back when the change from set exchange rate to free(er) market rates was being contemplated, the "natural" rate even back then was said to be somewhere between 4 and 6 to the dollar.

So just plain falling dollars and euros have caused an increase in Chinese product prices of about 25% even without China needing to ask more for it's products.

On the other hand, since I get payed in Chinese yuan over here, my effective student loan payments have dropped significantly. :D

[JamesC]

http://www.google.com/search?q=cosplay&client=safari&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=gMcJUqD1NqLD2QX1uoHgBg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=320&bih=356&sei=g8cJUunOL8in2AX1moDIAw#biv=i%7C39%3Bd%7CFvw5bp XFpGcfMM%3A




Am I doing it right?

[GeneChing]

Sorry for the topic drift but... That's a good point. My comment is an oversimplification. The bottom line is that no one can import martial arts gear out of China at the prices we had a decade ago. It's also worthy of note that this affects the entire martial arts market. Beyond CMA gear (http://www.martialartsmart.com/kung-fu-tai-chi-shaolin-styles.html), China also manufactures the bulk of MA gear for all styles, including MMA (http://www.martialartsmart.com/mma-gear.html).

[sanjuro_ronin]

http://www.google.com/search?q=cosplay&client=safari&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=gMcJUqD1NqLD2QX1uoHgBg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=320&bih=356&sei=g8cJUunOL8in2AX1moDIAw#biv=i%7C39%3Bd%7CFvw5bp XFpGcfMM%3A




Am I doing it right?

No.
You are wing chunning the internet.
Stop it !
:D

[sanjuro_ronin]

http://th02.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2012/130/2/4/x_man_cosplay__mystique_by_kawaielli-d4z7bpv.jpg