Originally Posted by
Eric_H
Hey guys,
I need a bit of a headcheck to see if I have a point or am simply developing in to a crotchety old kung fu dude.
There's a school in my neighborhood that teaches (IMO) some pretty BS "shaolin" kung fu that is a pretty big joke. Talking to former students the teacher learns a form from a videotape and then teaches that to his students. Barely any combat skill, apparently they do some very light TKD-style sparring.
Recently, they've been advertising around various forums and I've found it necessary to counter their ads that they teach "authentic shaolin kung fu" or "self defense." I think it's morally wrong to teach somebody a bunch of nonsense and claim it has any veracity to actual combat skill.
Additionally to teach "flowery hands" type of kung fu cheapens the reputation of kung fu as a whole - so what they're doing makes what I, and the other reputable teachers in my area do look worse because we get lumped together with them as Kung Fu people.
Am I in the right or wrong to call BS when I see it? Or should I simply let things go as "caveat emptor?"
Do you want to defend the honor of Kung Fu? Try this, open a school (if you haven't already) teach authentic Kung Fu techniques and methods that produce good KUNG FU FIGHTERS, ala Sanda, Kickboxing, Shuai Jiao, or even those who can compete in MMA. Get your reputation out there as a traditional Kung Fu school that actually produces fighters winning competitions or at the very least can spar hard and compete with the best of them.
Than, low and behold, when people ask you what you teach, you tell them Kung Fu. They will have a puzzled look, "Kung Fu, I heard it does not train you to be a good fighter?" To which you respond, "That may be true in some cases, but it is not the style of Kung Fu but the teacher and their lack of knowledge."
This, more than anything else will restore respect and honor to Kung Fu, much more than being a "crothety old Kung Fu guy" who ********es and moans like an 80 year old woman!
Last edited by Iron_Eagle_76; 08-10-2011 at 05:14 AM.
"The hero and the coward both feel the same thing, but the hero projects his fear onto his opponent while the coward runs. 'Fear'. It's the same thing, but it's what you do with it that matters". -Cus D'Amato