jmd161

Dragon is an animail style. One of the two animal styles that does'nt come from a real animal.The other being Phoenix. Dragon is a mixture of soft Internal style and Hard External style. I can't really say to much because i'm not sure what Dragon style you speak of.In my style of Black Tiger (Hak Fu Muhn) we have Dragon Pek Kwar. Here's a couple of Dragon Style websites. http://www.shaolin.com/page.asp?content_id=997 http://www.dragonslist.com/links/go.php?id=847 http://grndragon.worldgate.ca/ jeff

It's funny i can tell you've always been into karate. I used to say the same thing when i was learning Niesi Goju Ryu Karate.You'll be surprised to know that certain styles of kung fu like Hung Gar and Black Tiger are harder than a lot of Karate styles. And i do mean in contact and on the body. jeff

I did not use your age to discredit your martial arts training.I used your age to show you how long i've been in kung fu.So i think i know a little more than you when it comes to kung fu. It does not make me a Master ,but i have studied various styles of kung fu. You have to realize that the Chinese concept of respect and the american/British concept of respect is totaly different. Age means nothing in the response i made to you .It was just to show my experience in kung fu. Like i said i wish you luck in your training at Shaolin Temple i just did'nt like the way you said you doubted that you could find training as good at home.My sifu is chinese and he will tell you that there are great masters outside of Shaolin Temple and China. You have to understand the Chinese Government runs Shaolin Temple now.It's not the same Shaolin Temple everyone has read about over the Centurys.Yes there are monks at Shaolin Temple ,but they do not all hold the standards that monks use to uphold at Shaolin Temple. I'm not going to try and burst your bubble. Have a great time and let us know how it goes ok? Regards, jeff

Now you're going a little overboard. Just because you're going to China does'nt mean you're going to get better trained in kung fu.I myself used to think that way ,but i woke up and realized how stupid i was ,and noticed how "Dumb" i sounded. You'll be surprised to know that there are just as many if not more bad and phoney teachers in China.You going to China is a good thing ,but don't think that you are going to learn a better form of kung fu because you'll be fooling yourself..I see that you say your age is 16yrs old i've been in kung fu 18yrs in martial arts 22yrs.My sifu is the Grandmaster of one of the rarest styles of Shaolin kung fu ,and he's right here in Miami,Fl USA.People call and write him all the time from Hong Kong and all over China.To come learn Sil Lum Hak Fu Muhn (Shaolin Black Tiger Style) kung fu from him. You are getting a great chance to learn at one of the birth places of kung fu ,but don't knock the many great sifu/teachers that are in the US. and other countrys around the world teaching kung fu. That is a sign of Disrespect! It's obvious you are too young to see that ,but it is a sign of disrespect.If you know anything about Shaolin Kung Fu you know that respect is very important.One of the most important things in Shaolin Kung Fu. Go and train and have a good time we look forward to hearing about your experience,but don't disrespect the many Grandmasters and Great Sifu outside of China.Most have left China because Traditional kung Fu was illegal inside China.Thus the reason why Wu Shu is so popular in China. jeff

I'm sure there would be a language barrier ,but from what i hear you could make very good money teaching english.That could pay for your room and board and training at the temple. jeff

I know of a few ,but why are you trying to learn Dim Mak? My old sifu moved to Cali he is a Monkey Style and LongFist master. But again why do you want to learn Dim Mak? If you are already learning kung fu you know how to kill with out learning Dim Mak.I ask this because that's what any master is going to ask you when you ask about Dim Mak.Since you are looking for it most are not going to teach it to you because it's not normal for someone to want to learn Dim Mak out of the blue. You can try ,but i doubt you find any takers.Dim Mak is only taught to inner circle students or disciples period!And you must be a well respected student before it's even talked about in front of you. Don't mean to burst your bubble just letting you know what to expect. jeff

BigGuy, When i started kung fu i was around 350-360 lbs 16yrs later i'm around 280lbs.I can move and do everything with the guys around 150lbs.The only thing that can stop you is. Guess what? YOU! 3yrs ago i started Hak Fu Muhn (Black Tiger) Style.I kept hearing you're too big for Black Tiger it requires alot of speed.Well 3yrs later i'm one of only two people chosen by my sifu to be a disciple and pass on Black Tiger style.So size is nothing no one can measure your heart. jeff

I would think it would be great to train in the Shaolin Temple.You hear so much about the temple both good and bad.I don't know how much you'd learn in 4-8 wks ,but hey go for it.I have a tape here of a american training in the Shaolin Temple he trains there 6mo out of the yr.He is very good you see the head teacher working with this guy and he is just amazing.The head teacher goes around working with all the students and he does everything with little effort. If you check Shaolin.com or maybe ShaolinWolf.com one of those is a guy living in the Shaolin Temple you can e-mail him and he'd write you back.He has pictures and everything on the website.He's American or British i think either way he speeks english. jeff

Dragonseeker, To finnish my answer to your question. I have also studied Wu Shu for awhile back in the late 80's.I stopped because it's not what i was looking for.I was looking for a kung fu school in New York and i came across this school that i thought was a kung fu school ,but it turned out to be a modern wu shu school. Don't get me wrong alot goes into wu shu the training is very hard ,and takes a very strong person to stick with it.I'm into combat applications not flashy tournament forms. jeff

I've been reading the replys to this topic and i have to say some of the answers really make me laugh. If you can't fight with one style how can you fight with two or three? I think training has alot to do with it.Also the skill level of the teachers.Just because someone carries the title sensei/sifu does'nt mean they actually fully understand how to teach someone.If a teacher does'nt fully understand how to apply a technique then how can he teach others to apply it.Sounds crazy does'nt it ,but this is going on all over the world. Yes i agree that you have alot of lazy people out there also.The difference between ancient times and now is.That back in ancient times your skill level in your art meant life or death.We don't use our martial arts that way anymore.Although we should train that way because if the time ever comes that you need to use your martial arts it will be life or death. jeff

The word Wu Shu means. Wu = War Shu = Art Wu Shu = War Art But Wu Shu is usually the showy acrobatic flips and kicks that have no real combat effectiveness. Jet Li, Jackie Chan,and Sammo Hung all do Wu Shu. kung fu = Means skill in anyone can have kung fu in running,flying a kite,etc......... The words have gotten twisted over the yrs ,but Chinese martial arts for combat are usually called Kung fu and the flashy non combat stuff is known as Wu Shu. jeff

My Sifu jeff

There have been many interesting answers to this topic ,but i don't think any have really answered the question. Shotokan_Karate0, Your question of does fighting like a animal really work. Answer= Yes The thought of animal styles is to have the spirit and mind set of the animal more than really trying to look like the animal.Don't get me wrong you do mimick the animal ,but that's not just what goes into animal styles. Someone posted that when you attack like a tiger you go through the person and when using crane you evade and counter strikes that is correct.Tiger is a powerful animal so it fits strong ppl. Someone tall and skinny would fit better with White Crane style to avoid direct attacks from someone big and powerful.Monkey Style is deceptive you never no what a monkey is going to do.A monkey stylist can turn and run like in fear ,but if you chase them they can stop on a dime turn around and attack you and then you're in trouble.Or a monkey stylist can attack you head to head with speed and power. I could explain every animal style and why it does what it does ,but that would take to long and plus. I don't want to I think you kinda get the point. Animal styles are very effective because you carry the spirit of the animal and mind set along with the techniques into combat. jeff

The style of kung fu i study is Hak Fu Moon (Black Tiger) Style.When you start Black Tiger you start at the begining.No matter what your rank in another style of kung fu in Black Tiger you are a novice.Black Tiger is a advancesd form of Shaolin Kung Fu so you need to have a solid kung fu background before you learn Black Tiger. jeff

Iron Fist 05, It's really not a stupid question.There is so much myth behind Drunkards Boxing that it's easy to get confused.The answer is " No " you don't have to be drunk ,but some masters do have their students drink a little to get the feeling of being tipsy. jeff

monkeygirl, Hey war fans are very cool and you're right not much info on the web.Im impressed you sound very mature for 15yrs old.I must be getting old? I have a 14yr old who instant messages everyday about kung fu and he knows so much.He's also from a TKD background.I guess the web has alot to do with that these days.It brings so much info to you that you'd never get otherwise. Keep us posted on how the fan form is comming along.I have a video here somewhere of our Black Tiger War Fan Form.Maybe i can upload clips of it so you can see? jeff

monkeygirl, You did a great job of explaining that i was surprised.How do you know so much about Chinese War Fans from a TKD background? jeff

Travis, Sorry to take so long to get back to you. The style you speak of is not a Shaolin Style of kung fu.It comes from vietnam and i'd say it's more like a kenpo type style.Alot of people try to link their style to shaolin kung fu because of the shaolin name. From my dealings with kenpo people they tend to do alot of kicking when they spar.They depend on their kicks alot.You should be ok because the way you say that you plan to spar.But remember a person is going to do what they feel more comfortable with.But since it's going to be a kickboxing match he's going to keep distance and try and work from there. jeffhttp://www.geocities.com/jmd161/img0007a.gif

Hey Henry, Good luck with your training it should be a great experience. I've thought about it myself in the past.Then by a chance meeting with a Choy Lay Fut master i met my current sifu.It's great to learn kung fu in a traditional manner.It's going to be real tough so stick with it don't give up it's well worth the pain.I've found out through my sifu most of the schools that call themselves traditional are nowhere near what a traditional school is.My sifu teaches me for free his only desire is to pass on Black Tiger style to good students.the training is very tough it's free and yet there's only two of us training under him. So think how tough the training must be that no one wants to learn for free? The Black Tiger school in Hong Kong does the samething they teach for free.They only want good students. Anyway good luck in your training. jmdhttp://www.geocities.com/jmd161/img0007a.gif

TJS, It all depends on what type of sparring you guys plan on doing? Do you plan on using techniques or do you plan to just kinda kickbox? What i mean by that is at my school when we spar there's no gloves or pads involved.So we spar using techniques and go semi-full contact.We use various attacks and hand techniques along with kicks ,sweeps,etc........Most schools just put on gloves and pads and really just kickbox.That does'nt help you learn how to use your techniques in combat.I'm not knocking that type of training i just prefer to use combat applications when i spar. If it's pretty much kickboxing it's hard to say what you're going to face from these guys.Some might be from a TKD background and prefer to kick you? Others might be from a boxing background and never throw a kick?It's hard to say when you're kickboxing that person is going to do what ever they feel at home with. Now if you guys are going technique wise and plan on using semi-full contact it depends on the persons style you're sparring against.A Hung Gar person is going to use alot of tiger techniques and try to overpower you.Inclose fighting it's going to be hard to match a Hung Gar persons power and technique.So you would need to keep space between you and them for your attacks.A Choy Lay Fut person is going to Blitzkreig you meaning they will attack you in a whirlwind type manner not giving you a chance to counter.One attack after another.A wing Chun person is going to let you come to them and then once you commit yourself to an attack they'll chain strike you to death. Do you have any idea to the guys style you're going to be sparring against? If you do i can help you out? There are so many southern styles that it would take forever to explain what to look for. What style do you study? I might be able to help you from that angle also.I've studied karate,as well as many different styles of kung fu both northern and southern and family styles. jmdhttp://www.geocities.com/jmd161/img0007a.gif

TJS, What are you looking to find out? I've studied several different southern styles and i can give you some info that might help answer what you want to know. As for Choy Lay Fut it's a southern style ,but it's as close to a northern style as a southern style can get.It has many hand techniques like the southern styles but also has plenty of high kicks.Most southern styles are shortrange styles of combat that use alot of fist techniques and low kicks below the waist.Choy Lay Fut on the otherhand is a longrange system that has both low and high kicks within it. My current style of kung fu Sil Lum Black Tiger is a southern style very close to Hung Gar.We have alot of hard fist techniques and iron body training.Along with deep rooted solid stances,but we also have longrange techniques like CLF.We practice all the kicks both high and low ,but we rarely kick above the waist. Hope this hels you out a little? If you have any questions just ask away. jmdhttp://www.geocities.com/jmd161/img0007a.gif

Yeah they don't look so hot anymore ,but they're still in good shape. jmdhttp://www.geocities.com/jmd161/img0007a.gif

I don't know who told you that ,but that's not true.Just because a grappler gets a hold on you does'nt mean you're going down.Every move has a counter so to say that makes no sense.There are so many ways to break a grapplers hold that it would take forever to explain them.I will admit that once a grappler grabs you you have to move fast or it's over.I as well as millions of people all over the world watch UFC/Pride fights.It amazes me how many openings are left in these guys guards.I've worked with my sifu in many of these positions and i can't understand how these guys miss some of the techniques they do.The full mount is not the great position most ppl think it is.If you know your techniques you could submit someone in the full mount while on your back with ease. Back to the point. If you know how to strike and bring out the power in those strikes a grappler should never be able to take you down.Remember a grappler has to go through your range and strikes to get to his range. jmdhttp://www.geocities.com/jmd161/img0007a.gif

I also have Asics and they've held up for near 10yrs now.I would say they were well worth it i paid about $40 for them. jmdhttp://www.geocities.com/jmd161/img0007a.gif

Pictures Of The Black Tiger Grinder Dummy http://www.black-tiger.org/dummy-14.jpg http://www.black-tiger.org/snap_01.jpg Pictures of Grandmaster Wong Cheung on The 108 Plumbblossom dummy http://www.black-tiger.org/Master%20pum%201.jpg