You don't have standing to ask this one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hskwarrior
So my question is, if shaolin do was indeed authentic kung fu, and for this conversations sake, lets say it is......
Is there a specific reason why you guys wear karate gi's and belts instead of a typical kung fu uniform. WERE YOU JUST TRYING TO BE DIFFERENT?
I know my first question would be "why the karate gi's, karate bows, and all the stuff that says karate" when i first walk into a school of "shaolin" kung fu.
What that says to me is, you guys didn't know any better. But, with the internet these days, you'd swear someone might speak up and say....
"if we're kung fu why are we wearing a karate outfit?"
i know i would.
THESE GUYS ARE SHAOLIN.....I DON'T SEE ANY GI'S OR KARATE BELTS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm_7uOMuIeE
This isn't a reasonable question coming from you; you and I discussed five pages back that what you wear doesn't define your art. If it did, one could assume that your master was practising classical Italian maffia martial arts when he performed kung fu in a black button down, black slacks, and dress loafers. When I commented on how I wouldn't judge his kung fu based on what he was wearing, you responded that: 1) I was correct; and 2) he wore steet clothes when he practiced kung fu because he practiced kung fu for use in the streets.
So, why does SD wear gis? The official answer is all over the thread and you can look back and find it. Since I don't personnally believe the official reason, I won't propogate that myth here. I think they use gis for two reasons. First, I think they used what was readily available as martial arts wear when Sin The first started teaching in Kentucky in the late 60s. Second, I just think they're more practical and durable for some of the training we do.
Some shaolin schools wear the monks robes. Some wear the sams with the frog buttons. Some wear sweat pants and school t-shirts. I don't think what they wear is a really good indicator of authenticity or origin.
Every martial art that has adopted the colored belt system is riding off judo. That doesn't make all martial arts that use colored belts judo.