Originally Posted by
Yao Sing
I've been out of it for quite awhile now so I don't know if anyone still says "Wah Lum power never goes sour" but it was thrown around a lot with a certain group during their time period.
See, this to me is really odd. I don't see the value in where forms come from. I just don't rank forms all that high. What's critical in a style, any style, is the techniques.
Forms are a training aid and it's a good sign of knowing the material if you can create forms. As I see it they should be put together as needed. Worshiping forms is really focusing in the wrong direction and a big waste of time.
Seems like 99% seem to feel there's way too much focus on forms these days and that's what's dragging TCMA down.
A good, knowledgeable instructor should be able to create forms and drills on short order. The better the instructor the better the forms and drills. MC can do both, and I've seen him throw together drills on the spot.
That tells me he knows the techniques, which is more important (to me at least) then having the ability to recites sequences of movements by rote.
You seem like a good guy. I would suggest you focus on what counts, techniques, and not so much on choreography.
And yes, Bruce is out of the system. Been out for awhile. I think most of the guys from my time and before are gone.
Yao Sing,
I never said I worship forms. I think knowing the origin/s of any style/form is very important. Anyone can make up a form or a drill, that doesnt mean anything to me. This is the problem with martial arts today, everyone just makes up their own stuff. Does this show the instructors skills, not at all, I have two year students that can make up forms and drills, hmmmm .
Dont get me wrong, theres nothing wong with throwing forms/drills together when there beneficial or needed for a demo or something, but just to do it to make some cash, well, thats just chop suey....
Anyway, My training has surpassed anything WL had to offer so I'm ok with my art / origin obsession. People want to make up new drills, I'm all for it, people want to make up new forms, well, thats another story. Like my teacher told me, the old masters always made refinements to their style, when needed, but they never changed the entire drill, set, etc. They only found ways to make their art more "EFFICIENT" and updated drills to better enhance the workout, thus providing more skill to the participant. Other times, they would create their own drills or forms, but only after fully understanding their art at the highest levels. Never was it to profit financially.
All I was saying when I first started to respond to this thread is that I spent many years in WL, not 1, 2, or 3 years, but several. I think I know exactly what WL is and always will be.
Last edited by Citong Shifu; 08-29-2007 at 07:16 AM.
The Style Doesn't Make The Master Famous. The Master Makes The Style Famous!