How much fighting does a shaolin monk do?

[wiz cool c]

I asked my teacher this[he lived in the shaolin temple for 7 years] couldn’t get a very clear answer, but later he told me they do applications about once a month, and spar at testing’s ever 6 months, and play different types of fighting games amongst themselves in the evening. Anyone here have any other info on this topic?




For Bagwot ahead of time. "How do you kill that which has no life"

[GeneChing]

Most of the monks that teach laowai are forms specialists. The genuine ones have a solid grasp of applications, but they might not be big on free sparring. Shaolin troupes typically keep a few sanda guys too, as they used to get a lot of challenges and still do every once in a while. If I were to make a gross generalization, I'd say look to the taller monks for the fighters. A lot of the taller monks don't have as many forms. They generally don't have as many long weapons in their curriculum because they take up too much space when practicing in formation like they do at Shaolin. But the bottom line is that each monk is an individual with individual skills.

[wiz cool c]

as far as my teacher he lived in the temple about 15 years ago and teaches privately at his home these days . i am the only foreigner he has ever taught. he is not a specialist in forms but does know them and can teach them, his specialty is the hard qi gong stuff. as far as his application stuff goes, he seems to know them but to what extent i still cannot get a clear understanding. He doesn’t break down a whole form move by move like I have seen some instructional videos do, but teaches me kind of some basic principles of a form and how you can apply them to stand up hands by your face practical fighting way. Yet if I ask him an individual move from the form what does it mean he always seems to know,and explain them.


Thanks for the input Gene,clears things up a bit.

[LFJ]

The TCMA (lack of) pedagogical method is a great way for things to not get passed on properly and quickly disappear, if people aren't being trained on how to use what they practice and only get random insights on individual movement applications when they ask.

Most monks might have an answer for individual applications if you ask them, but they generally aren't trained in traditional fighting anyway. If you've been under one coach who teaches like this even after some years, you have been wasting your time. I would say forget about the monks (and "monks") and find a folk master who knows traditional Shaolin fighting and is willing to teach it. They exist. Otherwise, training time is better spent elsewhere, if even just at a boxing gym.

[wiz cool c]

I feel I have learned a lot of very valuable stuff from my teacher, some fighting other physical training and conditioning, but if I was doing it purely for fighting than yeah I think I would go elsewhere. Actually I have also been training in Thai boxing lately cause there is a great gym 5 minutes from my place. And getting most if not all of my contact training from there. I do notice some of the concepts I learned from my shaolin teacher do work well though in sparring.

[LFJ]

Yeah, as long as you have a place to do regular sparring with people. It's good that you face another style with it too. MT is one of the most common standup styles in MMA and very tough. Good style to test against.

[wiz cool c]

[QUOTE=LFJ;1277836] MT is one of the most common standup styles in MMA and very tough. [QUOTE]


Really wow I didn’t know that. MMJ hun, I need to check that out.

[LFJ]

Just stating a fact, not as if you didn't know. What's with the attitude, @$$hole...

[wiz cool c]

I heard there is a style called Tae Kwan Du ,supposed to have really good kicks, thinking of checking that out too!

[LFJ]

You're in Shenzhen, right? I know a very good fighter just moved there who's enthusiastic about fighting with good southern kung fu. If you want to stop wasting your time playing make believe kung fu with "monks" and coming on here to complain about it, you might like to meet up with him. I might also visit soon. Where are you?

[wiz cool c]

if you want to do the whole tough guy kung fu challenge thing,go challenge someone that is in their 20s,six foot or over,200 pounds or more,and trainng to compete,.i am 43 5 foot 9 165 pounds with reconstructive knee surgery. and don't say this is not a challenge cause you just called me an a@@hole,then tell me to meet you and your friend for some sparring. here is a solution,we don't like each other,stay off my posts. in the meantime I'm going to find a Tae Kwan Du and MMJ school to learn some really great kicks

[LFJ]

I was actually trying to be nice to you in this thread. You've responded like a child. Obviously you are not satisfied with your training. I'm suggesting you train with someone who is not only a good fighter but also enthusiastic about teaching how to fight with kung fu, not just play forms and saying "if a guy grabs you, do this". (And I didn't say sparring, I said "meet up"). I know how to use Shaolin in free fighting and meet people who come through here to exchange ideas throughout the year. But if you are not interested, carry on playing make believe with your "monk" teacher and learning nothing about how to fight with it. I would not waste years of my time like that.

[wiz cool c]

i got to put this guy back on ignore,so annoying.

[rett2]

Going to a Buddhist monk to learn fighting seems like an unusual choice. Buddhist monks teach wholesome conduct, reducing needs and expecations, living in harmony with your surroundings, and seeing things as they really are. Do fighting and arguing sound like they fit into that equation?

LFJ’s advice was sound and given in good faith, and I believe he was sincerely offering a friendly meet-up, not issuing a challenge.

[pazman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFLGRidfFo4

[wiz cool c]

i dont know what you are thinking ,but when someone calls me an @sshole then says him AND HIS FRIEND who is a great fighter want to meet me ,doesnt sound all that friendly. also i never said i need more sparring partners, never said i did.thaiboxing is enough. and i already know how to fight been doing martial arts all my life. i am trying to find out what others others who do shaolin know about shaolin monks and their fighting experience.

[wiz cool c]

lets start again, the topic is(how much fighting does a shaolin monk do) not,please give me advice on sh.t i have known for 20years

[wiz cool c]

[QUOTE=pazman;1277875 QUOTE]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quE2gLjbzIQ

[LFJ]

I've met and trained with several members of the forums here. No one is ever hostile. We just share our knowledge/experience, discuss, teach each other things in exchange. I know a number of other members have also met others from this message board too. It's not a strange thing to offer. It seemed to me, Wiz, that you aren't getting the kind of information you want out of your Shaolin training, by your numerous posts that seem to be complaints about not getting practical training in traditional kung fu.

And Wiz, I called you an @sshole because although the point I was making was obvious I was actually commending you on testing your stuff against one of the most common and toughest standup styles you're likely to face, which is more than what most kung fu guys do. Your smart@ss reply was childish. If you are actually 43 but autistic or something, then I apologize.

[wenshu]

uddhist monks teach wholesome conduct, reducing needs and expecations, living in harmony with your surroundings, and seeing things as they really are. Do fighting and arguing sound like they fit into that equation?

yes, why wouldn't they?

[rett2]

yes, why wouldn't they?


What makes you think that?