VCD and Transmission of TCMA

[SPJ]

The old way:

The teacher showed you a move. You practice it. The teacher will correct what you do wrong. You have to practice it many times and do it right every time before you move on to new things.

I have to take notes and even draw pictures, There were no books to buy. Imagine I have to practice and memorize 108 moves in a routine. I have a lot of cheat sheets and cue cards.

The 21 century:

DVD, vcd, books, internet, video clip hostings, etc.

I became a big buyer and collector of books and vcd of TCMA from China since 1997.

I have a personal library sort of.

The book stores in China Town, downtown LA. They always alert me of new shipments. My latest collection is the Sudden Thunder frame (Fu Lei Jia) of Chen Tai Ji. I heard about it long time ago. Now I get to see it on VCD.

Is this good or bad?

More video learning and study; and less teacher student interactions?

[Vash]

Originally posted by SPJ
I have a personal library sort of . . . Is this good or bad?

It's good. I rather like the Old Way, as you described. Very similar to the way I prefer to train.

More video learning and study; and less teacher student interactions?

. . . That's a bad thing. They make good reference tools, or in my case, different views of similar concepts, but they shouldn't take the place of a teacher's instruction.

[Merryprankster]

VCD and Transmission of TCMA

I think they finally developed a vaccine for this. In the meantime, try plenty of rest and see the doctor for some antibiotics.

[WanderingMonk]

SPJ,

depends what you want out of ma.

if you want to know how to fight, be a champion, then you are on the path to information overload.

if you are enjoying it as a collector looking at pretty paintings, then by all means continues. VCD/books cost less than stupid painting. so, more bang for the buck.

of course there are other reasons, but these are just some I want to cover.

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

there's no replacement for a good teacher, but a good book is probably better than a shitty teacher.

[David Jamieson]

Learn from everything and everyone who shares your interest.

most importantly train and train towards your objective.

you can gain sound advice from several angles.

A single interaction can result in a few keys being bestowed on you if you are mindful of what you were shown. That is something I have found to be true.

The student / teacher relationship exists in all student /teacher settings. Culturally it is imporatant in a lot of respects, but there's no knocking a good sifu, coach or teacher of anything.

If you get results, you get results, period.

cheers

[IronFist]

Having books and videos is awesome. They might present different perspectives that you may have missed. They're also good if you can't meet with a teacher very frequently, or if you move and can't go to your classes any more, etc.

GDA said:

there's no replacement for a good teacher, but a good book is probably better than a ****ty teacher.

Agreed.

[3rdrateIMAkilla]

Didn't Ralek gain his skills through a video?

[MasterKiller]

I use everything I can get my hands on....VCDs, websites, books. Why limit yourself?

[J]

Which bookstore do you get the books and VCDs in Downtown LA? Where is it located?

Thanks,
J

[jun_erh]

spj- what are some of your favorites? I like a couple of the wudang and san shou ones myself

[SPJ]

There are several Chinese bookstores. They have some Wushu books in English. But mostly are in Chinese.

The one I found the best is on Broadway all the way toward the end of China town section. There is a parking lot and shopping plaza. The name of the bookstore is Great Walls Bookstore.

They have a whole section for VCD's. There is also a section for books.

I visited the place 3 to 4 times a year. For new arrivals you have to leave your phone number.

I studied a mixed bag of shools since late '60.

My primary interests:

1. Chen Tai Ji: Da Jia (Lao Jia), Xiao Jia (Xin Jia) and recently Fu Lei Jia.

2. Tong Bei Quan: I am a total sold out for it. My bread and butter. TBQ + Shuai Jiao.

3. Ba Ji: almost never leftout.

4. Liu He Praying Mantis; studied in Wushu club in Chien Kuo high school in the 70'. the whole routines. They are from Zhang Xiang San and Liu Yun Chiao branches. They were big at the time.

5. Ba Gua and Xing Yi basics.

Some Shaolin routines and Wu Dang Song Xi, staff, and sword plays.

In the 70's, all Wushu clubs in Taiwan taught Praying Mantis, no way around it. When people said Kuoshu Ser, it was always Tang Lang this Tang Lang that.

[SPJ]

There were big reasons why I studied them.

The body mechanics and tactics and strategy are different.

But here are the keys.

I studied to have:

Tai Ji waist.

Tong Bei shoulder.

Praying Mantis forearm and hooking hand (sou).

Walking steps of a swimming Dragon (Ba Gua).

Pi Beng Zhuan Pao Heng of Xing Yi fists.

But they are too different to be the same.

Cheers.

[IronFist]

Originally posted by J
Which bookstore do you get the books and VCDs in Downtown LA? Where is it located?

Thanks,
J

Dude try eBay

[GeneChing]

Ha. Remember VCDs? The title of this thread made me chuckle.

Read From Warm Hand to Warm Hand ~ My latest feature for YMAA.com. It addresses the same topic as this twenty year old thread, only sans VCDs.