Is Shaolin-Do for real?

[Judge Pen]

I always liked the "suspended break" at that site. I haven't tried it myself, but it looks impressive.

The candle thing is simple physics, but as GT pointed out, it's not as easy as it might look. Does it equal "fa jing" in the true sense of the term? I don't know; as least no one is saying he is shooting his chi.

And BM2, I may have more rank, but you have been around for a lot longer than me. I just didn't take as many years off as you before I started training again!

[Wharg0ul]

Just a quick question. If it is indeed air that blows the flame out....how is it that one can blow out the SECOND candle in a line of three without blowing out the first? A subtle change in angle of attack, maybe? Because the air isn't going to go around the first candle and then strike the second.

[Golden Tiger]

Originally posted by Wharg0ul
Just a quick question. If it is indeed air that blows the flame out....how is it that one can blow out the SECOND candle in a line of three without blowing out the first? A subtle change in angle of attack, maybe? Because the air isn't going to go around the first candle and then strike the second.

I have never seen that one done and I would have to see it first. I have seen it done with a jar over it . (they always seem to wait till the O2 runs out in the jar to shoot chi at it though...hmmmm)

And no JP, its not the mystical chi that does it unless you could call the focus and directing of energy (the snap) "chi". I have done meditation longer than some of you all have been alive and I haven't to date been able to point at someone and give them a "chi blast". (Not to say that it can't be done, just that I don't have personal experience with it).

[Brad]

Putting candles out with punches means you're good at putting candles out with punches. Yeah, tricks like that take work and focus, but it doesn't necesarilly translate to martial arts ability. Same with breaking boards and bricks. I think time spent learning these tricks could probably be spent in much more effecient ways of improving martial arts skill.

[Brad]

Ok, I downloaded the clips... kind of cheap tricks if you ask me He uses an open palm making it much easier(imo) to put out the flame. No root or strong waist movement required(though he does dramatize his movements a bit). Just quick hands pushing air at the candle.

[Brad]

Too bad the forms clips aren't working.

[Brad]

They screwed up their email link too... It's allways a good idea to test your links when you put a website up

[Golden Tiger]

Originally posted by Brad
Ok, I downloaded the clips... kind of cheap tricks if you ask me He uses an open palm making it much easier(imo) to put out the flame. No root or strong waist movement required(though he does dramatize his movements a bit). Just quick hands pushing air at the candle.

I beg to differ Brad on the "no root or strong waist" part. If you do the mechanics correctly, you will find that your waist is generating (or conveying) the motion from the legs to the palm.

Before you call it a cheap trick, I suggest you try it, video tape it and post it. Then, if you can still say it is nothing more than a trick and does nothing for power, focus or martial art skills, I will say that you have made an informed decision.

As for the open hand being much easier, open your mouth as wide as you can and try to blow out a candle.....larger diameter of air flow is not always better.

[SimonM]

I have done candle punching; it's much easier with an open hand.

[lxtruong]

I have no idea why this is the case, but I've done this. I lined up 3 candles and then put out candles 3, 2, then 1. It was very weird, and I have no idea why this happened. I'm a beginner with this type of stuff, so I wouldn't say that it was necessarily an advanced skill. Or maybe I just got lucky? Or has to do with the way you strike with a palm strike.

[Golden Tiger]

Hard to say what happened there lxtruong, you might just already have the "stuff". A good way to practice is to light incense or other smoke producing material and the practice the technique. That way, you can tell where the "shockwave" is going and how to correct the position to make it strike where you want it to.

Just an idea.....

[Starchaser107]

...

[Brad]

Before you call it a cheap trick, I suggest you try it, video tape it and post it.

Going to buy me a video camera?

[Jhapa]

Originally posted by lxtruong
I have no idea why this is the case, but I've done this. I lined up 3 candles and then put out candles 3, 2, then 1. It was very weird, and I have no idea why this happened. I'm a beginner with this type of stuff, so I wouldn't say that it was necessarily an advanced skill. Or maybe I just got lucky? Or has to do with the way you strike with a palm strike.

how much did your hand move. in the video he moves his hand about 1 foot, that's a lot of distance. i have seen clips that hand only moved about an inch from atleast 1 foot or more away. now if you can blow out a candle with your hand only moving about an inch, now that takes skills. i have only done it twice out of 100's and i don't know how i did it. if you asked to do it, i probably won't be able to do it to save my life. i was not impressed with the clip of master smith blowing out the candles.

[Brad]

BTW, I emailed the guy about most of the vids not working, and he said he's in the middle of switching servers...