What the bleep do we know!?
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Originally Posted by jacksawild
We have some very useful terms thanks to the giant minds that have preceeded us. Terms like: Inertia, Gravity, Momentum, Pressure, Mechanics, Leverage, Electricity, Energy, Power and we have some inspired mathematics which we use to break these "effects" down in order to understand their respective aspects academically. The ancient Chinese didn't have these luxuries which we today take for granted; the only way for them to understand how physics worked was by watching, recording, theorising and learning (that should sound familiar to any science bods out there). What this resulted in was an all-encompassing term - Chi or Qi - when we think about force in scientific terms we realise that there is just one energy in the universe, this energy vibrates at different frequencies producing different manifestations i.e light, sound, heat and even in concentrated form all matter is this simple energy. This is proved by the matter energy equivalency calculation came up with by Einstein (E = MC2 or Energy = Matter mulitplied by the speed of light squared), so every particle of matter is infact a huge amount of vibrating energy, infact it is mostly empty space (This should sound familiar to traditional martial artists).
You do know that when the astronauts gazed down from space upon the earth they saw the Great Wall of China - the only man made structure visible from space? You do realize that for any architectural structure to maintain long term integrity it MUST have mathematically sound and solid plans, right? Isn't this the way how the Greeks, Egyptians Romans, etc built their momeuments? Do you know how many ancient buildings (palaces, castles, houses, temples, bridge, tombs, etc) are there in China throughout the ages? Are you suggesting these were all built by heuristic method? Chinese civilization and it's extention is but a miracle? I hate to break the news to you, my friend. Chinese has mathematics and science thousands of years ago. Where do you think compass, gun powder, rockets, etc came from? They all came from a people who speaks of Qi.
Qi is not lumping everything mysterious that we don't understand and label it as such. That's ignorant people who has no idea what Qi is that do that. They do that so that they don't have to be questioned about it by those who seek the truth. Qi can be theoretically demonstrated as an intelligent design. Ancient scholars have used the Yijing (classic of change), which is now also inspirational to Quantum Physicists and information technologists, to demonstrate this clearly. It involves the understanding of Shu (mathematics), Xiang (phenomena), and Li (reasoning) - that I called the Holy Trinity of Yi. This intelligent design is not theoretical only. It exists in at least 2 forms - human body (as the grand representive of all sentient beings/animals) and the solar system (as the grand representive of all celestral systems and all levels of ecologies). Whether this intelligent design is divine or not, that's upto you.
So if you think you are the ONLY enlightened "scientist" who have figured everything out, please think again. The fact that Chinese have very little interest in building crazy machines and tools to "experience" the world is because it is our cultural bias (if you will) to adhere to nature and to be holistic (ie Daoism).
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OK.. I'll admit, I despise mixing the mystical with the physical. It is ok, however, to know that there are things that we don't understand; this in a way, is mystical in and of itself.
You are certainly entitiled to your opinion. Personally, no offense, I find that it lacks a certain maturity in the thought process. There is a leap of faith into science and justifying the means by the end in your arguement.
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When we learn combat Kung Fu we are infact learning how motion and energy work together without the complex equations. We are directly experiencing the universe and our brain is automatically making sense of it, which is exactly what it is best at doing. If something about our fighting system doesn't work, we disregard it; we invent new techniques and test them, if successful they are added to our canon. When we read of the old masters talking about chi or energy and it sounds mystical to us, that is because it seemed mystical to them. This is the way the universe works people, those who endeavour to learn the secrets will have an advantage over those who do not.
First and foremost, not one needs to learn to fight. As you said you/we are "naturally" wired to do so. So why bother with a "fighting system"? Just make a fist and start kicking and punching. Now if you insist on a "fighting system" that would means a "design" is involved right? In that case, could you enlighten us with your "fighting system" in its entirity in the simplest manner possible?
Qi simply is a unified theory that unites the mind-body continuum with the space-time continuum. It simply is a plan or map (just like any architectural plan) of an intelligent design. How mystical is that? BTW, in some ways Quantum Physics have very similar perspective and dynamics IMHO. It can be used to explain a Kung Fu system; hence, the term Quan Fa (pugilistic system-method).
What do you fight with the mind, the body or both? Is the mind present or adscent when you are fighting? Do you become the slave of emotions or you use emotions to your advantage? Do we know these factors apply to our opponent just the same it applies to us for sure? If so how to "prove" it?
I consider myself more of a mystic but I don't talk about anything being "secret". The plans (pun intended) are there in plain sight. Do you have the eye for it that's up to you. As my teachers and mentors said "Kung Fu is in the details there is no secret."
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Everything can be explained by science but science can't explain everything (:D I just made that up).
Agreed.
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If you discount chi because you are "scientific", you are failing on both levels as a scientist and as a martial artist. Not until you directly experience that which you lampoon should you make any assumptions and if you try the techniques in a half-arsed way never expecting results, guess what? You wont get any. Do you really think thousands before us would have wasted their time for nothing?
I am sorry. You kind of lost me there.
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Oh.. and please, the next person who speaks about Quantum Physics and kung fu, please understand it first... in other words... shhhhhhhhhhh
Well, you are entitled to your opinion for sure. I would suggest that you watch the movie "What the bleep do we know!?"
Mantis108