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Caught this on you tube. Not sure if it's been talked about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUrO11FsSXA
Some new variations on the "wheel of life" type stage show. I was especially impressed with the blind two man performance at about 2:11 into the vid. Is this something they doing regularly?
How do you train for that? Or do you think the folds are not really "blind"
There were a few new variations. The Shaolin shows continue to evolve. It would be amusing to chart the progression of various acts in shows. I've done a little of that in my Shaolin Trips reports, but it's way too hard to keep good track with so many performances nowadays. Gotta keep it fresh.
I'm not convinced by that blindfolded demo. I can't say why. I've seen blindfolded demos before, and that one just didn't feel right.
I liked the needle-through-glass-and-balloon. I've seen that in other non-Shaolin shows. There some good needle throwing demos in our eXtreme Kungfu Qigong video which I touched on a bit in my e-zine review of that vid, eXtreme Kungfu Qigong: Hard Qigong and Water Lei Tai Fights in China's Amazing New Tournament. We also ran an article To Throw a Needle Through Glass
By Chen Xinghua in our 2005 Shaolin Special.
The eating glass is an old jianghu trick, which I've seen in non-Shaolin qigong acts too. Watch the sipping of the water. If they eat, then sip, they are spitting the broken glass into the water.
I loved the popping-up-the-staircase-in-headstand. I could only see a kid doing that. That's pretty intense.
I also was amused by the running-up-the-monk-staircase-with-buckets. That didn't look to hard, but it did look funny.
heh, yeah I kind of call the "shows" more like demonstrations. The UK production Wheel of Life was a show because it was mixed with acting and kung fu. At any rate The blind fold thing I am sure is instinct. Training several hours a day for years at a time makes it all instinct. If anyone trains that much you could probably do just about any form with your eyes closed!
when i first started trianing i was like "WOW shaolin monks" they're awesome. and was very impressed.
skip ahead 6 years
now im like "ok monks, are they from the temple or surrounding schools?" and they are all still pretty good, but im just not as impressed now.
but the shows are always fun to watch.
tell you the truth, i found wheel of life boring and i hated it. i found the documentary that came with the disc that showed auditions a better show.
In fact, I think live theater is the greatest expanding venue for martial arts now. These shows are selling well and exposing the general public to more CMA. Sure, it's showboating, but Shaolin showboating goes back to the days of the jianghu. Some criticize it for being too much 'wushu' but that's just silly talk. Only martial artists can understand authentic, traditional stuff - it's like pearls before swine with the general public. Besides, given that many of our traditions descend from the jianghu, to showboat for the general public, even with wushu, is actually a longstanding tradition. I've really enjoyed watching the evolution of Shaolin shows. It's pushing an envelope and forwarding CMA. If only one person sees a show, gets inspired, and joins a school, that show was a success in my mind.
For this show, the popping-up-the-staircase-in-headstand was outstanding. But I still don't believe the blindfold one. The timing of the reactions just looked to me like they could see. You'd have to break it down via slow motion to see if their reacting to the motion of their partner. I've seen blindfolded stuff - it can be done - you can key off the music for the timing - but I have this gut feeling that this particular example was faked.
i do enjoy the show gene. its just some of the stuff im not impressed by anymore. some of it i still am. and yes it does get cma out there to everyone.
I'm so tired of the bowl-stuck-to-the-belly schtick. It's cool when some little kid does it and they can pick him up out of a back bend, but the whole pull-the-line-of-people-trying-to-pull-the-bowl-off-the-monk is pretty tired. That's an easy one. There's no purchase on the bottom of the bowl, so the whole line of pulling people just wind up breaking the fingernails of the poor sap in the front.
After seeing the mass demo at the The First World Traditional Wushu Festival in 2004, well, that was hard for any Shaolin show to top. Literally armies of choreographed demonstrations. I've heard the demo wasn't as big this year and that most of the energy went into the opening ceremonies at the new auditorium. That show was supposed to be fabulous.
...I'm hijacking this thread for random Shaolin-related shows that don't look they will become major national/international tours, like this one below:
Quote:
Shaolin master shares seafarer’s tale at Mid-Autumn fest
Mid-Autumn fest this weekend at Chinese Cultural Center
http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townn...review-620.jpg
Shaolin Master Junming Zhao will stars in the Chinese Cultural Center’s original dance piece, “Zheng He in the Desert.”
8 hours ago • By Kathy Allen
Treasure ships, stormy seas, a giraffe, warriors, sailors and a Ming Dynasty sea captain will be an integral part of this weekend’s Mid-Autumn Festival 2014 at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center.
You’ll find all that and more in the festival’s “Zheng He in the Desert,” an original dance piece starring Shaolin Master Junming Zhao. The dance drama was created in collaboration with the Barbea Willliams Performing Company. The company will join Junming Zhao in performing the dance, as will members of Tucson Sino Martial Arts.
Zhao, a martial arts resident at the Confucius Institute at the University of Arizona, takes on the role of Zheng He, who was an admiral in charge of the massive fleet that led expeditions to Southeast Asia, Arabia and Africa, among other places. His feats expanded Chinese power and made him China’s greatest seafarer.
The dance, which incorporates story telling, fantasy, puppets and spectacle, includes pirate attacks, sea storms, and even a stop in the Sonoran desert. It will culminate in a procession in which the audience is invited to participate. The script of the dance piece is based on research by Tucson historian and educator Gloria Smith.
The festival begins at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and ends with the dance, which start at 7:30 each night. Admission for the fest — which includes the dance — is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and there will Chinese and African food for sale.
The center is at 1288 W. River Road. Call 292-6900 for tickets.
THREADS:Quote:
‘The Chinese Warriors of Peking’ bring martial arts drama to Rialto
By Tacoma Weekly Staff - September 6, 2018
https://i1.wp.com/tacomaweekly.com/w...00%2C200&ssl=1
The Chinese Warriors of Peking are bringing their acrobatic and visually spectacular show to the stage of Tacoma’s Rialto Theater on Thursday, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m. Hailing from China, the ensemble will perform thrilling physical feats fused with traditional Chinese customs to deliver high-intensity martial arts and breathtaking acrobatics. Set during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), this is the tale of two rival martial arts disciplines competing in the ancient Chinese capital of Peking. Under the direction of Qui Jian, this performance provides a culturally enriching experience filled with juggling, acrobatics, and live stage combat.
The troupe will act out a narrative from the history of China: Peking was the capital of the Ming Dynasty between 1368 and 1644. Once year, the emperor held a royal martial arts tournament in Peking, inviting warriors from all over the country to attend. In Tianqiao Square, large crowds were drawn to witness the warriors demonstrating their impressive skill. Every school and discipline of Martial Arts arrived in Peking from all over China. Before the tournament began, the crowd in Tianqiao Square was kept entertained by the Peking Opera girls performing with yo-yos and acrobats giving performances in juggling and contortion. Then, the drums and trumpets sounded as the emperor arrived. “Long live his Majesty!” the crowd chanted as the emperor announced the beginning of the tournament.
All of the different martial arts schools competed in the ring utilizing their various disciplines, techniques, and weapons to thwart their opponents. After several rounds of combat, the two schools left standing were the Shoalin and Wudang warriors. The final round was grueling and tense. The warriors were evenly matched but ultimately the Wudang warriors were struck down and defeated. The emperor rose, stopping the tournament and announced the Shaolin warriors as the winners. The Wudang warriors confronted the Shoalin warriors uproariously in the middle of the ring, dissatisfied with the outcome of the tournament. To settle the tension, the emperor promised that in next year’s tournament, he will offer the Shaolin and Wudang warriors an opportunity to compete exclusively with each other. The Shaolin warriors left Peking hailing their victory while the Wudang warriors vowed to seek revenge and defeat the Shaolin warriors next year.
A year passes as the next royal martial arts tournament finally arrives. It is held at the front square of the royal palace. The emperor arrived very early escorted by a group of female guards. They rode on horses, decorated in magnificent armor with spears in hand. They are followed by an acrobatic families’ presentation of Pagoda of Bowls and Icarian acts keeping the crowd, and the emperor, entertained before the tournament begins.
The emperor announced the beginning of the tournament and the special campaign between the Shaolin and Wudang warriors. Wudang warriors fought hard to seek their revenge as the two schools battled with breathtaking intensity. Ultimately, the contest ended in a draw. Frustrated by the outcome, the Wudang suggested a challenge of their own to determine the winner: one of their warriors must balance atop of four spears to be crowned the victor. The Shaolin warrior passed – the Wudang warriors can’t believe in their eyes. With the sound of drums, the frustrated Wudang prepared to attack the Shoalin once more. Unexpectedly, the emperor jumped into the ring, restraining the Wudang warriors by hitting their acupoints and rendering them motionless. To diffuse the tension once more, the emperor announced that he required both schools to be his royal warriors of Peking and defenders of the peace to the dynasty. The Martial Arts tournament ended as the two schools are appointment to defend the city of Peking together.
Tickets are $29, $39 and $49. For information, visit http://www.broadwaycenter.org/events...iors-of-peking or www.facebook.com/events/1856608841025984.
Martial Arts in Live Theater
Interesting Shaolin Monk show
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