Why are you interested in TCMA history?

[YouKnowWho]

I have over 200 TCMA books. I always skip the history part. The reason is simple. No matter how good some ancient TCMA guys were, it has nothing to do with my own TCMA ability. Can someone explain why the TCMA history is interest or important?

[Kellen Bassette]

Because, if you are aware that in ancient times, Kung Fu was meant to develop fighting skill; you won't be to hide behind "tradition" as an excuse to practice Kung Fu as just a performance art.

[YouKnowWho]

Will you hate when someone makes the following statement in his book (this are exactly the words that I had translated from a book)?

- My teacher's teacher used to be able to spit out a sword from his mouth and kill his enemy 300 miles away.
- My teacher used to be able to spit out a sword from his mouth and kill his enemy 300 feet away.
- I used to be able to spit out a nuts from my mouth and hit on a tree trunk. Since my high blood pressure, I no longer be able to do that.

If I write a book, I'll include the following:

- My teacher's teacher could stay in horse stance and finish eating his dinner.
- My teacher could stay in horse stance and finish watching Beijing opera.
- I used to be able to stay in horse stance and finish drinking my beer. Since my high blood pressure, I no longer be able to do that.

[sanjuro_ronin]

I like the historical parts because they tend to give us SOME insight into why an art came to be.

[mawali]

My preference is to study with the old teachers of yore then read about them later.
When I met Lu Hungping (seminar format) he was already in his late 70's, somewhat hard of hearing but his instruction was worth the short time and effort. I tried to find information about him in TCMA book but could hardly do so. A former teacher (Prof Hou Chi Kwang) heard his name and I believe the 2 met up while in my local area. I add that TCMA history (post 1955- I am guessing here) often leaves out those people "who do not give face" to the present state of affairs so there is a lot of bias in post 1960s exposition of CMA masters. There are people who, although not left out but since they cannot be ignored, very little information is given. Often, informal relationshops tend to be downgraded if not official in knowledge so that often leaves a void by non mentioning of important personages in CMA. This leaves a lot of innuendo to be taken and made up in the absence of true and validated information. This has been my experience when talking with, a few CMA teachers I have had. Again, much stuff is left out and based on my teachers responses, I have validated that modus operandi.

It beez like dat!

[GeneChing]

Here is the definition of 'tradition' according to Merriam-Webster:

a way of thinking, behaving, or doing something that has been used by the people in a particular group, family, society, etc., for a long time
: the stories, beliefs, etc., that have been part of the culture of a group of people for a long time
—used to say that someone has qualities which are like the qualities of another well-known person or group of people from the past

Note the terms 'long time, and 'from the past'. All tradition means really is a connection to the past so to use the term, you must know your history. Martial myopia has twisted up the term to mean something stagnant, which is really a shame. I think a lot of this comes out of translation error. The term in Chinese - chuantong 传统 - is slightly different. Chuan means summon, propagate, or transmit, which is close. Tong means govern, command, control or unite. Of course, this is a new term, developed in juxtaposition with modern wushu. The real distinction here is between sport and non-sport martial practices. By a strict definition of the word 'traditional' you can argue that modern wushu is in fact traditional because it descends from traditional culture, as do all modern manifestations of martial arts. But that just confuses the nibblers, and I digress...