Hendrik.... I pondered a lot on whether to comment on this thread but decided to put in my two cents.
First of all, I believe you already know that I am Chinese, born and raised in China, and learned my kung fu there as well. I also have a background in Chinese philosophy, Chinese Medicine and Chinese herbs like you, and so have an upbringing very similar to you.
I can understand where you are coming from and some of your postings, but I need to point a few things out.
First of all, you need to realize and to remember that how kung fu is taught here in the western world is very different from how it is taught in China. Back in China, kung fu is taught as part of our culture and it becomes our way of living day-to-day, and is richly immersed with religion, Chinese medicine, philosophy, and martial arts; kuen kuets present philosophies that we end up using as part of how we live. However, in the western world, kung fu is more of a combative sport and emphasis is mainly on the physical, fighting aspects, and lesser of the other components. Neither way is totally right nor totally wrong - they are both different, extreme, and unique. One should not impose either approach on the other, but respect the other for what they are meant to be. There is much to be learnt from each other.
Secondly, the medicinal part where you describe the deficiencies of the kidney, 小周天(Xiao Chou Tien) or 大周天(Da Chou Tien), Jing, and other aspects of the human physiology according to Chinese Medicine forms a critical part of our health, again from a Chinese perspective. True that we Chinese believe in internal conditioning as a necessity to physical conditioning, but the approach is very different from things here in the west where physical conditioining is the first and formost. From a western perspective, the human physiology is very different and westerners adopt a very different approach - I definitely know this as I work with a lot of MDs, Oncologists, and western healthcare practitioners all the time. In the Chinese aspect, this physiological part is deeply engrained in our kung fu training, but not so in the western world - the focus there is more on the physical strength, muscular physique, conditioning, etc. Again, different points of view, both correct from their own perspective.
Thirdly, WCK and kung fu training, or shall we use it in your terms, "TCMA". Everyone aligns their kung fu education with key factors, including (not necessarily in this order) (a) the sifu they are able to find/study with, (b) their personality, (c) the availability of the martial art near where they are located, (d) their religion, (e) their cultural background, (f) their individual reasons why they want to learn kung fu and how they want to use it, and (g) other unique personal reasons of their own. With this in mind, everyone's level of pursuit into the martial arts is different, and from their own perspective they are all doing the right thing. There are folks on this forum who share their experiences and shed light onto the many different paths that may exist, so that individuals know what options there are or may be. And then there are those whose only interest is to cause trouble, act arrogant, and belittle others with condescending posts. And that's all part of what a forum like this will be like.
I needed to put this post because I feel that people may start getting a bad taste in their mouths as discussions go on. There have been past posts by a variety of people that you, I, and others have addressed as egotistical, close-minded, etc. But, when I read your posts in this thread and how you are so adamant that people walk the 2-door way you describe or else they really don't know the kung fu way, then with all due respect I feel that you come across as falling into the same condescending category as well. Which makes you not that much different from those people. And judging from your past posts, I don't believe you are such, but of course I could be wrong.
We need to realize that, yes there are differences between the kung fu path that people treat both in the western world as well as in China, and I think it is great that you are trying to enlighten people with what the differences are. But I feel you also need to respect other people's perspective if they do not agree with what you are saying, and just move on. Otherwise, you may inadvertently be leaving a bad taste in people's mouth.
After all, a discussion forum is after all... a forum for discussion. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and healthy discussions and debates should always be encouraged.
Last edited by ntc; 05-16-2011 at 11:28 AM.
The more you know, the more you find you don't know...
Originally Posted by LoneTiger108
You know it sure does help weigh up your contributions to this forum Hendrik when you're honest about your studies. Maybe these two gentlemen are your latest research, because neither practise Wing Chun do they?
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