Shaolin Monks and fighting ?

[GeneChing]

One of our former contributors offered this translation on his website:

Shaolin Monk Shi Yan Jue Formally Challenges Xu Xiaodong (of MMA)​
Original Chinese Language Article By: http://news.china.com
(Translated by Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD)


Shi Yan Jue (释延觉) - Shaolin Monk Ordination Certificate No: 018 (13.11.1996)
On the 3rd, May, 2017, (at 9pm in the evening), Shaolin monk – Shi Yan Jue (释延觉) – formally issued a ‘challenge’ on behalf of the Shaolin Temple - toward MMA-fighter Xu Xiaodong, on the grounds of his continuous and repeated ignorant and disrespectful behaviour toward traditional Chinese martial arts, with particular attention being drawn to the events surrounding the 20 second video uploaded onto the net by Xu (in late April) – purportedly showing a Taijiquan master being tripped over and repeatedly punch about the head (by Xu – who later claimed that through his actions, he had defeated ‘all’ traditional Chinese martial arts). Shi Yan Jue holds the position of ‘First Rank Dharma Protector’ (第一护法 – Di Er Hu Fa), and conveyed the challenge via the internet:

‘You dare to claim that you have challenged (and defeated) ALL traditional Chinese martial arts? You dare to claim that ALL traditional Chinese martial arts practitioners are liars? On what grounds do you make these claims? Mr Xu (徐), it is obvious that your attitudes and opinions are very naïve in the extreme, and are the product of a confused and disturbed mind. As this is the case, your inner turmoil interprets all things around you through a sense of despair, and your so-called ‘MMA’ technique has instilled in you the ability to despise all things. Despite your claims, you do not understand ‘real’ fighting, or the ‘true’ nature of traditional Chinese martial arts. MMA stresses an artificial fight limited by a set of contrived rules – whereas traditional Chinese martial arts are built upon a historical foundation of ‘fighting to the death’ – with no contrived rules being in operation. As this is the case, young Chinese people in China should be respectful of traditional Chinese martial arts, and hold their teachings with a sense of awe.

As Mr Xu appears to carry-out much of his fighting with his mouth – I would consider it the most honoured of sacred duties to ‘correct’ this young man’s attitude, and ‘educate’ him during a martial contest. As I am disinterested in rules – Mr Xu may decide on what grounds this context should be fought – either with or without rules. If I should possess the good fortune to prevail, then I request the Mr Xu permanently retires from public view (making no further statements) after first apologising for his disrespectful behaviour, and confirming his respect for the efficacy of traditional Chinese martial arts. As Mr Xu is motivated by money, if I lost, then half any money raised by others on my behalf would be donated to charity (with the other half given to Mr Xu). Listen to and respect this ‘challenge’, issued by the 34th Generation Shaolin Monk and ‘First Rank Dharma Protector of the Shaolin Temple (at Henan).’

Shi Yan Jue (释延觉)

(要挑战整个武林？传统武术全是骗子？这样的言论还是说明徐先生太幼稚了，藐视一切不太好，你也是mma选 手，想你也清楚什么是真正的格斗，不是那几拳几脚的竞技，真正的无限制规则是要死人的，年轻人对中国武术应 该心存敬畏之心。看到徐先生的嘴和拳头都挺硬的，想和徐先生较量一下，规则自选，公开平台，我赢了，徐先生 承诺以后退出武术圈，不从事任何武术相关工作，不发表任何武术相关言论，百万奖金一半捐助。我输了，随你要 求。少林寺第一护法，三十四代武僧——释延觉。)

That MMA vs Taiji Fight Everyones Talking About meets Shaolin Monks and fighting ?

[wiz cool c]

There is a lot of commercialism and business here. there are also thousands of young students training fulltime. it is still a great environment and atmosphere to train here. My Shifu's school in in the mountains a little outside the Temple in the surrounding village. this works for me cause I don't like to see hordes of tourist daily.

Another thing is you can live a life style of self discipline and self control here[with the exception of the abbot;]. where as in the states you have businessmen running schools with big fat beer bellies. My Shifu eats three simple meals a day ,no snacks ,no junk food. the young men training here do the same. they also sleep early wake early and train all day. So take the good with the bad.

As for the training it varies from school to school. Most schools do basics, forms, weapons, strength training, sanda kick boxing which includes sparring and pad work, acrobatics and specialty skills. the traditional applications are being trained less and less, the older Shifus still teach qin na and other fighting skills.

[Orion Paximus]

One of our former contributors offered this translation on his website:That MMA vs Taiji Fight Everyones Talking About[/URL] meets Shaolin Monks and fighting ?

I hope Shaolin hosted a tournament to see who should represent their art in this matter or that the "monk" actually has proven himself in someway.

I think they are taking the wrong tone with this though. Humility has always been at the core of Shaolin and they should continue to be nothing but humble and courteous in their.. uh challenge.

It solves a few issues for them; first they wouldn't come off like insulted babbys and second, if they lose, they can do it with a smile and some grace.

[wiz cool c]

this Shaolin Monk is going to get his ass kicked in my opinion. in all reality this man probably did "some" sanda possibly a little possibly more when he was a teen and did a lot of the other skills commonly associated with Shaolin training. Most of these Shaolin monks /Shaolin students, and teachers rarely ever train past their mid twenties. There are some monks/practitioners that train into old age ,but many treat their training as a job. The MMA fighter will take him down and beat him. No ground game = loss. Why is this not understood already. Shaolin monks have nothing to prove. The only thing that makes any sense would be for a Ta Gou sanda fighter to step up and have that mma fighter agree to fight under their rules. A non competitive fighter wont beat a competitive fighter at his game period. I just got back from training in Beijing with my old coach and friend pro fighter Yao Honggang. I watched their bjj training. they trained for three hours at a time about an hour straight of rolling and they do this daily.

[Jimbo]

I also feel that if this monk fights Xu Xiaodong he will get his @$$ handed to him.

OTOH, is the MMA/CMA challenge still on, or is this challenge to Xu just a belated, face-gaining ploy on the monk's part? Reportedly, Xu has gone into hiding, and it seems like things have gone a bit quiet. Has Xu been shut down?