Alan Armstrong

Thank for sharing stonecrusher69The nipple line as you are calling it is "The Yin line" As the nipples define the borders of Yin and between the Yin line to the shoulders represents the Yang area. The two vertical lines are the Yin lines, that pass through the nipple, the area between these two lines represent the one Yin gate, from the head down to the toes. The Yang lines are the vertial lines of the shoulders, the Yang lines and Yin lines are creating two outside gates, from nipple to shoulder. Keeping the elbow fixed, is the "Imovable elbow principle" The Pak Sao with energy moving horizontally or sideways from the opponent, violates the forward energy principle; with your minimal version, keeps it in the maximum efficiency principle of Wing Chun. Doing the Pak Sao while moving in to the opponent should make it a deflection and not a block; as Wing Chun aviods blocking more in favor of parries and reflections. In your description of Pak Sao, it could also be a palm strike to the side of the opponent's head, in clinch type situation standing or on the ground. Having said all that, with my version of the dos and don'ts of Wing Chun, I'm in total agreement with your explanations. Once again Thanx for sharing.

Perhaps kick boxing, Muay Thai, TKD, JKD, would be better for your development, especially JKD as it's open to what works best for the individual. In JKD your input for the better, can change the curriculum, whereas, a style is designed to be drilled and not changed, as one style fits all like it or not; like it or leave it. There is a deeper side to martial arts, that is not often talked about, that concerns its ineffectiveness against what is not taught. The element of surprise, as not knowing what it is going to happen, then why bother training for it. How special you are made to feel by belong to an elite organization, that give out paper and plastic awards for your efforts and achievements, against other compliant opponents. By practicing on a virtual playing field is giving and promoting a false sense of security, on a scale similar to the wizard of oz. There is more reality in a playground fight, due to conflict for a silly reason, than there is for a trophy, that's why the karate kid movies needed to make the final fights personal and competitive at the same time, to combine the two put it in to a pespective that esculated in to a heightened drama and tension senerio; otherwise it would be a playground brawl or just another tournament fight. If you really want to fight, then train the way you fight and fight the way you train, or as close to it as possible.

The Italians use aldente. As when cooking pasta to aldente, not over cooked or under done. Also with cooking, food over or under makes all the difference, to the food. It applies to everything, as simple as making toast. Knowing when to stop when making a picture, as with drawing or painting. As too much of a good thing can also be bad. As we are all different, parameters differ for all of us, from all of us being human, we can all learn from each other in this respect. Moderation is not an exact science, it is more of a feeling of being on the right track, going in the right direction, on the right train, at the right time, within one's own boundaries.

As Bruce Lee would make an imaginary bridge, with the enemy falling for the attack, then he would simply land a strike on another point. Making contact with a bridge or simply going around (like water) deceptive attacks can work separately or orchestrated together. Controlling the bridge/forearm with a split second pack Sao, is all Bruce Lee needed for access to the Island/opponent.

Thanks for sharing Bulltahr. I like to see different martial art cinematic perspectives at play.

Technology today plays a greater role in the learning process. All of this technology was none existent in the recent past, therefore less distractions. Where people today are tuning out of the now experience, and in to their music, facebook and text messaging... I remember back in high school when the hand held calculator came out, there was a big debate as if they should be allowed in the class room and if they are unethical, or they will make people lazy as well, also becoming too reliant on technology. Now calculators are in phones, today what's the big deal about them.. Know it or not, we are surrounded! Surrounded by robots! Who makes the coffee "A coffee machine" robots. Who cooks "Microwave" robots. The baby sitter "TV" robots The secretary "Answering machine" robots Musical entertainment "Radio" robots. Your best friend that tells you everything you want to hear "Advertising" robots. Who takes you on holiday "Airplane" robots. We are becoming increasingly inferior to our robotic operating surroundings. Eating franchised food and wearing franchised clothes and driving franchised cars and motorbikes... Are you practicing, perhaps franchised martial arts? I personally don't. So yeah, things were different for me, didn't have much to work with but go by with alot less, than what people seem to need today.

Sorry.. Then perhaps the other fella says "No you hang on a minute" as he pulls out his false teeth dentures and puts them in his pocket.

Just needs an honorable mention, the mouthpiece. Probably the best little piece of equipment that you will buy. Not only will it save you on visits to the dentist, it will help when landing heavy blows, when gritting the teeth together is necessary. Could help you to not get knocked out, as the jaw becomes alot stronger when wearing one. Might be handy to have one on you when having a night out on the town, as it is light and very useful to have, if unexpectedly caught in a violent situation. There is a psychological point to wearing a mouthpiece, as that you are ready for business are they?

Practice/implement jumping jacks in to your warm up. Practice your jumping kicks on a hanging bag. Jump over things. Jump as high as you can bringing your knees to your chest; be careful not to knee yourself in the chin, as this can happen. Oopppss ouch!

How is your (kicking) training now?

Never say never, just never know what is waiting for you down the road.I believe the more combat knowledge and experience the better; this includes boxing.

Which reminds me of what the dumbest bank robber said to the police, of "Why did you try to rob the bank" his answer "That's where the money is"

Hi Luther! Experience in martial arts comes in all shapes and forms, from good examples to bad. For you to notice the bad then you will hopefully recognize the good also; and apply it to your game/advantage. The real danger is learning bad habits, which are difficult to unlearn. Remember you are practicing in a (spoon fed) civilian dojo, whereas military MA is as close to realistic as possible. Perhaps military MA training is for you, maybe this is something worth considering, in the near future.

Performing a kata (in competition) above one's grade level, will most likely be less appreciated, than one that is within the scope of the student. Better to be great at the first kata learned, than to be sloppy at all ten katas. As the difficulty of the katas become more challenging, the student's experience, skill and proficiency will also rise. To practice katas for tournaments and winning trophies, works for your motivation, then who is to say this is right or wrong, artists no matter the label, go through learning phases, just as if when learning to walk for the first time, that can eventually lead to doing summersaults. Keep on keeping on that works for you.

The Geneva Convention tried to put some kind of humanity, in to the treatment of prisoners, how much of it was disrespect, in favor of genocide?

Moderation is an art in itself, only a few can say that they have mastered it, and I bet some of them are exaggerating them selves further than they should. While still on the subject of moderation; without trying to milk this subject dry. The Chinese have a visual metaphor to describe finding the balance or moderation. With a pot of water on a stove, if the fire below is generating too much heat, the water, will spill over and put out the fire, if not enough heat the water will not boil, as the water will just evaporate away. Overstressing the body while exercising is just as bad as not doing enough. As researchers have found by following Olympic athletes, that they can develop cancer quicker than everyone else, due to over stressing the body. (Sorry can't back up the authenticity on this statement) Self discipline for martial artists or any type of artist, needs to master moderation; this is why our little yin/yang symbol, is there to remind us, how to make sweet and sour sauce; among other things. The moderators here on KF.com understand moderation, very certain of that.

It's true that katas can emphasizes different principles, that don't always relate to hand to hand conflicts. As self defence katas from a blunt stick will need to draw from a different set of tools and movements, that need different principles, such as being calm, strong and quick. As self defence against a sword with forearm blocks isn't going to work, ideally each kata needs a rhyme and reason for its existence. Whereas if my opponent is alot taller than myself then my movements need to adapt, same holds true if my opponent is alot smaller yet physically stronger. Katas are perfect for a perfect world where all things are equal, as we know in combat, everything is far from perfect and equal in a fight, thefore the kata might be about being out numbered or regaining oneself to continue fighting. As katas are made to be practiced with perfection in mind, then to know and understand its original purpose, is worth while looking in to, because I can assure you, everything that exists has a purpose, knowingly or not; more so if your life is in danger.

This is what older people do, discussions on ache's and pains and operation and meds and ...Instead of other things. But health is important, no denying it, because without it, what do we have?

This is tragic, hope she pulls through, there are many people that care for her and wish her back to normal.. please keep us informed

Had another bout with specialists regarding the skin on my face. Was subjected to frost bite, which turned worse by developing dark red blotches as my immune system was over reacting. With painful, dry ice treatment on my face, that resembled stubbing a cigarette on my face, having at least 20 treatments, the skin specialist told me that there is nothing more that he could do and dismissed me as his patient. Two years later now my face was a disaster, while on holiday in another country, I visited a skin specialist, with a cream and using a special soap, my botches have completely disappeared. So hear we have it, two specialists one giving me treatments over the space of a few years and the other with a 30 minute examination, cured me, without the very painful dry ice treatment. The deference with these specialists, was also that the first one was free and the second one was not; which could be why the saying "You get what you payed for" is worth mentioning here.

As Chinese combat arts has gotten a beating by mainstream martial arts, due to the ineffectiveness and flowery forms, the answer for these misconception is contained in this topic of: Guo Shu, the lost history of Chinese Martial Arts and Chin Na Fa The book:CHIN NA FA by Liu Jin Sheng http://www.kungfunewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/chin-na-fa.pdf

Hi stonecrusher69 Internal wing Chun training. Perhaps using a motoring analogy might help explain this aspect. As the driver needs a connection with the road visually and also physically. Developing a sensitivity through the steering wheel and the car suspension system. The better connected this man/woman and machine become, the more skilled the driver is. This connection isn't obvious like body building, the driver looks just the same before and after these skills are obtained. As body building is an obvious exterior cause and effect, whereas internal type training is as if nothing has happened. Internal isn't easy to measure whereas exterior is easy to measure. This is why Wing Chun has been considered by those that have an exterior ruler to measure by, cannot measure it and call it an empty martial art. As Wing Chun is a principle based system of combat difficult to measure in external terms as in the Western civilizations bigger, fast, further to reach the outer planets first, where in the East, inner space, micro technology, smaller is better. Bruce Lee was tapping in to both the internal and external aspects of martial arts, making the most out of every molecule he had and died doing it, paying the ultimate price. The internal martial arts is just as big as the external, the difference is one is seen and the other needs to be felt. A sensual touch and how a race car driver feels the race track, both belong to the internal world, which is only touching on a far larger subject than can only be mentioned here. Is it not the insensitivity in this world that could be improved upon to become more connected with what is worthwhile? Internal medicine, natural medicine, reliving unnecessary stress and pain, learning how to relax, feeling good about oneself, are also connected to internal Wing Chun training and of course wanting to be like a race car driver.

Even if just punching on a bag, it's still a good idea to wear a mouthpiece, as it will help to keep teeth from clashing. Wearing a mouthpiece is just good practice, even during light sparring, as the jaw is a valid target, better to play it safe. There is a psychological aspect to wearing a mouthpiece, as in being ready to take a hit and ready to give if need be. Wearing a mouthpiece during practice, will help to get past the gag reflex, that can happen, also learning to be comfortable wearing one might take some time to get use to. In regards to mouthwash, with boxing, breathing in through the mouth and out through the nose, cleaning out nasal airways is advisable, before practice; also after practice for hygiene reasons. As for not getting sucker punched on your first day, just a little boxing humour, hopefully you can take a joke on the chin now and then.

Keep up the good work shortyafter

maybe competitive doctors or surgeon are not popular with some, but it worked out in my benefit. Having low standard treatment with my first heart attack lead to having three more attacks. Was a real painful nightmare for me, with some doctors who were downright nasty. Sometimes specialists aren't so special, one can only hope things turn out for the best. I did get lucky and eventually landed in the hands of some very good surgeons. As I was scheduled to be operated on by one German surgeon, three other surgeons stole me and whisked me away to the operating theatre, two men from India and one from Canada. These latest doctors were very professional and were using the best equipment and procedures for the time. Competitive doctors/surgeons worked out for me, I think the German doctor was procrastinating or wasn't sure or confident enough to operate on me. I had seen the German doctor after surgery, he looked embarrassed about what had happen (with his patient being highjacked) lucky me.