Is Shaolin-Do for real?

[Judge Pen]

The part I don't get is once you reach a certain level surely you'd have worked out your preferences by that stage and you'd steer towards a certain path. And SD's curriculum alone wouldn't be sufficient to further you along that path (because its tendency is to give you a small taste of so many things). So it might be a great style for beginners, but for advanced SD students (a lot of whom have posted in the last 3-odd pages) I don't get why you wouldn't gravitate towards a more specific art. Sounds like BQ is supplementing his SD, I know Bruce has (I had a similar discussion with him at one stage while he was still SD), I know you have enough experience to be in the category of student I'm picturing JP. Why don't you guys become e.g. a pure bagua student, a pure taiji student, a pure hsing i student, a pure black tiger student, etc, etc? And to do so would probably require looking outside your SD system and specialising?

I'm thinking of the analogy of SD == high school where you get a broad taste of lots of material, then you go to university/college to specialise in your subject of choice. You could stay at a local community college and supplement your learning on your own (totally possible in the academia analogy), but to get optimal results you could seek out the elite and learn/interact directly with them.

I dunno, I realise it's all opinion and no-one's going to change anyone's mind. I just view things from my perspective and in a good week I'll get 20hrs in and in an average week 10-14hrs and it's just not enough for basically the 5 elements, that's pretty much what I concentrate on in solo training. Couple of animals to mix it up sometimes and some "qigong" exercises. I couldn't comprehend trying to advance my WC significantly and I could possibly have access to a tiger system and a monkey system as well if I begged. Not possible IMHO, I'd have to drop something to learn something else. But it obviously works for you guys.

I've been doing SD for almost 20 years. I keep doing it for a number or reasons: Because it works for me. Because I don't feel that I have to do pure bagua or pure tai chi or pure whatever to feel like I can take the principles from more than one and make it all part of my own. Because there's limited alternatives where I am located. Because my lifestyle limits my commitment to training right now. Because I am loyal to teachers that have treated me well and given me ample leeway to make my own path. It's not like I always tow the party line here--many things I have said are contrary to SD's history, but I've never once been criticized for it (at least as far as I know).

I stopped doing SD for a few years in college and law school. I tinkered with some jiujitsu and aikido but I really felt like my training at SD was very good so I went back with full knowledge as to what I was getting into. It's a very good, very applicaple art when trained properly. Trust me, I wouldn't keep doing an art that was this controversial if I didn't feel it had real value.

There is a "tai chi, ba gua and hsing Ie" teacher here in Knoxville. I've checked out his school and I wasnt' impressed with their structure, training or abilities. I've thought about doing some cross training in aikido (because the teacher here is no frills and hard-core even with aikido) and comparing/contrasting that with my Ba Gua practice. But right now, I need to get off the forum and get back to work.

[Toby]

I've been doing SD for almost 20 years. I keep doing it for a number or reasons: ...

Fair enough. I'm not trying to change your mind, nor any other SD student's. There are just a lot of things about SD that I can't understand, which probably reflects on me not necessarily on SD.

But right now, I need to get off the forum and get back to work.

And I've got to train .

Anyway, most of you currently active SD guys are too nice to argue with. I liked the glory days of SD advocates like themeecer, the early days of this thread.

[naja]

I do SD for some of the same reasons JP does, though I've only been in it for a little over one year. I've thought about cross training, but my options are limited in this area, and so is my funding, so I stick with SD.

I find that I enjoy it more when I can put extra time into practicing on my own. But time is limited, and I can see where someone of another style that has less to keep up with can focus more on those things in and out of class. But I've already noticed that I am drawn towards certain aspects of it and others do nothing for me. I can choose to focus on my strong points while working on strengthening my weak areas.

[shen ku]

just curious what is you favorit uniform to train in, or what type of conditions do you prefer which type for, or do you prefer one for different forms or styles??

[shen ku]

also, prefer barefoot training or shoes and if sheos what style and why?

[BentMonk]

just curious what is you favorit uniform to train in, or what type of conditions do you prefer which type for, or do you prefer one for different forms or styles??

I wear my gi and wrestling shoes to formal SD classes. I prefer the gi over the frog button because of durability while sparring hard. I need the shoes for stability. When training informally I wear an Under Armor type shirt, gi bottoms and my wrestling shoes.

[naja]

also, prefer barefoot training or shoes and if sheos what style and why?

Barefoot all the way. Except when it's cold out. Then I wear the cheap Feiyue Martial Arts shoes.

[Judge Pen]

We all should train in jeans/slacks, t-shirt and street shoes. If I can't move in regular clothes, then what good is it?

I always wear shoes now after I injured a ligment in my foot. I like cuffed bottom pants so they don't get down around the heels.

[bakxierboxer]

We all should train in jeans/slacks, t-shirt and street shoes. If I can't move in regular clothes, then what good is it?

That was "the usual" "uniform" for the day-to-day classes in my old schools for the same reasons.

... I like cuffed bottom pants so they don't get down around the heels.

That last is normally "taken care of" by actually having a waist that's smaller in diameter than your hips.... which leaves a place for your belt to rest on and hold those pants up.

[Baqualin]

that was "the usual" "uniform" for the day-to-day classes in my old schools for the same reasons.



that last is normally "taken care of" by actually having a waist that's smaller in diameter than your hips.... Which leaves a place for your belt to rest on and hold those pants up. :d

nice!!!!:d

[sanjuro_ronin]

Nude and oiled, that's the way to go, if it works when you are naked and oiled up lady a porn star, you know its gonna work all the time !!

[bakxierboxer]

nice!!!!:d

Thank you, kind sir!
(JPs photo(?) doesn't seem to indicate that he actually has this problem.....)

[peace&love]

I like to train in jogging pants or shorts and a T shirt. I usually do my forms before or after running a few miles. I will change from my running shoes to traditional martial arts shoes. When going to formal class, we usually where whatever as long as it is not restrictive or hinder movement for circuit training, forms, sparring, etc. In formal class, I do prefer martial arts pants. As far as competition goes, I like my old Southern styles uniform made by Jonie without the sleeves. I feel more mobile in the arms and it feels more comfortable while competing.

Did any of the SD guys out there make it to GM The's seminar in Johnson City? If so, how did it go?

[naja]

Did any of the SD guys out there make it to GM The's seminar in Johnson City? If so, how did it go?

I meant to show up for the tai chi section, but got caught up doing yard work and the likes...

I'm sure I'll here about how it went, and what I missed out on Tuesday night at class.

[bakxierboxer]

Nude and oiled, that's the way to go, if it works when you are naked and oiled up lady a porn star, you know its gonna work all the time !!

Aaaaaaaaaah, I hate to point this out, but yer so excited by your "vision" that yer fingers are getting tongue-tied.