Guitars, Motorcycles and Kung Fu Weapons

[Yum Cha]

Carrying on from an off topic idea in the Sport Fighting thread.

"The question was, are weapons simply extensions of the arm/hand/body?"

A point was made that one must wield a weapon uniquely, each with its own individual character and skills, (more or less?) I can let others speak for themselves or rejoin as they see fit.

I made the point that I think weapons are more anonymous. That basic skills get modelled across multiple weapons types, and that anything becomes a weapon.
Personally, I don't get attached to weapons, and I like playing with different ones for the variation.

I don't think they are simply an extension of the body, but core skills are the same in many areas.

If you agree that modelling exists, then the issue becomes how well you train that skill, not how well it applies.



The metaphor applies to Guitars and Motorcycles as well, I reckon.

Some guys get attached their own set-up and find other guitars a bit awkward.
Other guys can jump from guitar to guitar, good or bad, and play with comfort.

Not talking about subjective quality of music or guitar, but simply the ability to adapt and perform at your average level or better.

I used to ride a 750F Supersport, now a VTX1800c Motortrike, some time on a Bavarian Manure Wagon too. I jumped on my friends 1100F variant, and couldn't get it OUT of first gear! Jumped on another friend's fireblade 250 and couldn't get it INTO first gear! LOL

I think the modelling skill is trainable, and its an attitude. Adapt, look for strategic advantage, act.
When you pick up a staff, do you think, this is too heavy, or too skinny, or do you immediately think, "with this weight I could crash most guards..." etc...
Do you get emotionally attached to favorite weapons?

Chinese weapons have a similarity across many groups, and the differences in techniques for special weapons are simply to take advantage of the different elements on that weapon. Foundation skills aside, understanding the unique character of each individual weapon and being able to integrate that character is the key skill.

Fighting with a pencil isn't like fighting with a knife. Fighting with a shovel isn't like fighting with a Kwan Dao. But, of course, we all know, they are.

I will submit, however, training with Wu Shu grade weapons is rather self indulgent.

[David Jamieson]

Some guys get attached their own set-up and find other guitars a bit awkward.
Other guys can jump from guitar to guitar, good or bad, and play with comfort.

poor is the craftsman who blames his tools.

Fighting with a pencil isn't like fighting with a knife. Fighting with a shovel isn't like fighting with a Kwan Dao. But, of course, we all know, they are.

a pencil is only like a knife in taht you can slash and punch with it. It's not as strong as a blade in a slash, and to puncture to any depth with it, you must hold it properly. A blade is more forgiving to it's user when used to slash or stab. It is made to do these things and functions correctly. You still need to hold and move it right for efficiency, but bottom line, the weapon dictates it's use. Anyone, can stab anyone else but only a person with attitude (as you say ) would venture to stab someone with a pencil if need be. Or even think of it as a possibility in a conflict!

Fighting with a shovel is absolutely nothing akin to using a halberd. Too much wind resistance. Kwando is for removing limbs & heads in a single chop.

Obsolete though for quite a while now. Boxers were probably the last organized fighting force to actually use them in a mass conflict.

[TenTigers]

the thing with a weapon, is if it's made properly, it has a balance point, so even if it's heavy, it still is usable. If I pick up a set of butterfly knives that are twice as heavy as my own, I don't feel comfortable, but I can manage them alright.
You would hate my Harley. It's a '73 Shovelhead, ape hangers, and bored out from 74cc to 89cc. It used to have a raked front end,8"over, with a drum front brake (which is like no brake at all) Now it has a stock front end with disc brake, so it stops. Tranny's tight but hard to find neutral.
Guitars? Depends on the set-up/ I play Mostly Les Pauls, but I own a few Strats. I like my action low and I like light guage strings. My Les Paul Custom '57 reissue has a fatter neck, but within moments, I settle right in. However, if I get on a guitar with a higher action and heavy guage strings, I can't express myself the same way. I was playing my friend's G&L and he had heavier strings. He says,"You sound good on the tens." But they're not for me.
Likewise if I can't get a decent sound out of the amp, I'm completely frustrated. I like my sound warm, a bit overdriven, and lots of sustain. I can't stand a brittle, barky sound.
Guns are the same way. I like the way my Sig feels in my hand. I don't like the Berretta-too fat. I checked out a Kimbar .45 and it felt great. Like it was made for me.

[David Jamieson]

wtf? are we all motorcycle riding, guitar playing kungfu guys?

what's up with those connections? You guys don't paint & draw too do you?

[uki]

You guys don't paint & draw too do you?

i draw mazes and doodle in my book...

[TenTigers]

yeah, I was a commercial artist for awhile-illustration, magazines, books, etc

[Yum Cha]

Old 73 Shovelhead? Is that an AMF? Man, you must be game. LOL.
89cc? Perhaps 89ci. Not bad for a 'small' twin.

I'm an acoustic player. Still play first guitar I ever bought in 74 or thereabouts. Nothing special, Castella Dreadnaught, sounds good. Used to go light strings, but I strung it with medium strings and it made it a lot easier to play other guitars.

I never took much note of allegedly better or worse guitars. They sound different, there are cheap ones that are total sh1t, for sure, but mostly, they are just different. Played some great guitars too, martins, gibson hummingbird, all the jap makes, ovation. No biggie, happy with my Castella.

Until I played the legendary 'old martin'. A friend in California has this 56 Martin acoustic. All my muso friends raved on about it, blah, blah, blah.... You just get used to it with musicians. It was just a little thing, noticably smaller than the standard dreadnaught, might of even had a shorter neck, something was different. I remember he said it had shims under the frets.

Man, it melted into your hands like a woman. The action was just 'there'. Never mind the sound - loud little bas1ard it was too... Maybe that was it, I don't know, it just played itself. Only time an individual guitar really jumped out and grabbed me in that way. Of course, I shat myself when I found out what it was worth. Kinda like lusting after Miley Cyrus, wrong on to many levels...

And I don't think quality gear is the be all and end all, all those harp players made great stuff with cheep-a$$ mikes and amps....

Yea, graphic design too....

Papa always told me 'bout the "renaissance man"...

[jdhowland]

wtf? are we all motorcycle riding, guitar playing kungfu guys?

what's up with those connections? You guys don't paint & draw too do you?

Interesting observation. I used to be a commercial artist, too. Prefer fine arts. My ax is a forty year old Les Paul but I pick up an acoustic more often. My wheels are a '95 BMW K75RT with full faring. Guess I'm kinda ueber-Teutonic because my sidearm is a Walther P99 in 10mm configuration.

Maybe the David Carradine hippy/monk image was the wrong icon. Somebody needs to write the screenplay for the hard-rockin' metal-totin' biker/sensitive artist who happens to love gung fu.

jd

[David Jamieson]

Interesting observation. I used to be a commercial artist, too. Prefer fine arts. My ax is a forty year old Les Paul but I pick up an acoustic more often. My wheels are a '95 BMW K75RT with full faring. Guess I'm kinda ueber-Teutonic because my sidearm is a Walther P99 in 10mm configuration.

Maybe the David Carradine hippy/monk image was the wrong icon. Somebody needs to write the screenplay for the hard-rockin' metal-totin' biker/sensitive artist who happens to love gung fu.

jd

Yeah, that was predator vs alien.

pretty green here about that les paul.

[Iron_Eagle_76]

the thing with a weapon, is if it's made properly, it has a balance point, so even if it's heavy, it still is usable. If I pick up a set of butterfly knives that are twice as heavy as my own, I don't feel comfortable, but I can manage them alright.
You would hate my Harley. It's a '73 Shovelhead, ape hangers, and bored out from 74cc to 89cc. It used to have a raked front end,8"over, with a drum front brake (which is like no brake at all) Now it has a stock front end with disc brake, so it stops. Tranny's tight but hard to find neutral.
Guitars? Depends on the set-up/ I play Mostly Les Pauls, but I own a few Strats. I like my action low and I like light guage strings. My Les Paul Custom '57 reissue has a fatter neck, but within moments, I settle right in. However, if I get on a guitar with a higher action and heavy guage strings, I can't express myself the same way. I was playing my friend's G&L and he had heavier strings. He says,"You sound good on the tens." But they're not for me.
Likewise if I can't get a decent sound out of the amp, I'm completely frustrated. I like my sound warm, a bit overdriven, and lots of sustain. I can't stand a brittle, barky sound.
Guns are the same way. I like the way my Sig feels in my hand. I don't like the Berretta-too fat. I checked out a Kimbar .45 and it felt great. Like it was made for me.

Sounds like a nice ride, Ten, even though I pity anyone who owns a "Troublehead" I have an '03 FXST with 12 inch apes on a 3 inch riser, Vance & Hines Straight Shot pipes, chrome engine kit, and too much chrome bling Aside from martial arts, motorcycles are my other great passion in life. Have owned a few other Harleys and a few sport bikes, but love anything with two wheels. Hoping here in the next few years to build a project bike, preferably a bobber with a springer front end and a "cheap" sporty engine, hopefully the 1200cc if I can find one cheap enough. Don't play any instruments but as for weapons, good friend of mine just bought a Glock 19 9mm, and after shooting it, I fell in love. They are on sale right now for 349.99, may have to splurge on myself a bit

[SPJ]

without instruments we may also just sing our emotions, feeling out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7q-b...video_response

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxvnK8VWFhw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyCVxPEPx5Y

[SPJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G2F6...eature=related

he is totally into his own music.

much envy.

are you totally into your kung fu as he is into his music?

[Yum Cha]

I was originally after a Harley trike, even ready to order one new and get the customisation kit, but the Honda came along. Truth is, I'm much more into vintage. No fuel injection, electronic ignition (maybe), etc. I like those 'essential' machines. Battery, coil, spark. Fuel, carb, spark. valve lash, timing, primary drive and chain tweaks. Oil and plugs replaced. Fini. You always know what's going on. I hate that sh1t where some idiot light comes on and the b1tch throws it in. LOL.

Heard the legend of the lost WWII Military Harleys?


What about Harmonicas? Cross harp?

Can you ad-lib with a weapon as well as with music?

[sanjuro_ronin]

[David Jamieson]

wow that 52 mapletop les paul is to die for!