Alan Armstrong

The Dragon is part of the element of surprise tactic. Clouds and Oceans; throwing and takedowns are part of the Dragons asernal. It is a reptilian style, with quick to stop and start movements. Un like the insect that moves each body part independently, the Dragon utilizes full body coordinated strength. The Chinese mythical Dragon can appear and disappear at will. We cannot realistically do this but we can seem to appear and disappear by utilizing the blind spots of our opponents. Quick side stepping, squatting and ducking can seem like appearing and disappearing to the opponent.

Do you practice chi power? Are you sure? Bruce Lee practiced chi power in his JKD. If you would like to share your story or opinion on how you use your CHI POWER then you have come to the right place. Or if you have a question on the subject I will do my best to answer it for you.

I don't have photos. This little rice in gloves idea is very simple to make. I also practice Chi-na. So this helps me also with practicing nerve holds as well as wrist locks. Don't take my word for it that it works; make a pair. Then wonder why you didn't make yourself a set before. Thank me later and tell me how you getting on with it.

While doing situps with full body spine extensions, on parallel bars. I decided to take it a bit further by using wrist weights. Relaxing in this backward position felt very difficult at first. Bit by bit my spine started to straighten up. My posture while walking improved. Just standing for a little while would give me lower back pain; that I longer have. For years the back of my neck has been giving me pain from past injuries; now when try to click my neck back into place, there is no longer a click. Happy to say that by accidentally doing this backward relaxation technique, has given me back something I thought would never be possible again. While twisting backward my spine was cracking all over. I wanted to share my little story because maybe it will help others with their spine. I never thought that I had a back problem or issues. Another bonus is that I'm a little taller now by about 1 1/2 inches. The parallel bars I'm using are in an outdoor exercising area for adults. The bars are wooden, about 5 inches thick and square. I just hook my feet under one side with my rear on the other side, then lean back. I would suggest having someone with you to help getting back up just in case you don't have the strength to get back up. This is just my personal opinion and experience. Please consult your doctor before attempting this exercise.

Katas are fine and free flowing ma movements are fine also. In time after doing ma for a very long time, the martial artist's nervous system and muscles are programmed to perform normally in a natural ma way, rigidity and tension should be replaced with spontaneity and gestural ma movements. Just the other day, giving a private lesson to a bjj on how mma combining aikido/wing-chun/tai-chi can free flow together, naturally. Practicing a style or one style in a kata has confined oneself to it, but buy being free flowing with a few styles or many ma styles, movements don't need to be so pronounced as Katate or Tai-Chi. Movements can be very subtle and can cause just as much damage to an opponent or even give more options for defence and offensive purposes. As martial artists do we really need to be so dynamic or animated or obvious. The old masters of ma became very subtle in their techniques, so much so that they don't look real or realistically true. My bjj practitioner student learned from me that it is going to take him alot of time and practice to be subtle and natural in his movements. Now he knows it is possible with this new knowledge, that is now for him realistically attainable! The Yin/Yang symbol sums it up best. Softness is contained in hardness with the white dot in the black background and visa versa. The proper symbol is drawn with a calligraphy brush swishing without closing or making any gaps. Most Yin/Yang symbols are made in a graphic solid way which is a contradiction to it's true meaning. A kata can be rigidly graphic or can be allowed to be free flowingly artistic; entirely your decision. The reason concrete cracks and crumbles over time is because it gets harder over time. This is why as martial artists we go with the nature of water and the softest flowing things of natire and not the way of man made concrete.

A kata that is not one's own is like reading a poem that someone else has written. To do the kata moves that someone else has put together is like reading that poem out loud. Practicing that kata enough times one can think and feel that they are the composer but they are not. Like interpreting classical music. Practicing katas that others have made are only practicing interpretations of someone else's work. Playing Motzart's music on a piano doesn't make that person a genius. Because the genius belongs to the composer and not to the copier or interpreter. Talent can always copy genius and genius will always belong to the originator. Originality is always a surprise and copiers are always surprised by it. Art is originality. Martial artists use originality and spontaneity to win battles. As every battle can never be completely duplicated the creative warrior was born. Out of martial art ways for developing and keeping the necessary skills for self preservation and survival skills to be past on, the paradoxical katas were invented. There is no longer a place for originality and spontaneity with katas in place because regimental conformity promises predictable, favorable, present and future results. Original problem solving is no longer required because katas have replaced it with predictably. There will always be Karaoke katas for future generations to learn; pass it on!

My experience using JKD in open karate tournaments worked too well for me but didn't work well in the eyes of the referees, because firstly it was too fast for the referee to clearly see what happened and secondly the referees are looking for solid 'Obvious' scoring karate techniques. So to make a point I would make my point obvious by striking my opponents. Would loose points but felt good even when getting disqualified. Could be considered bad conduct on my part but I know in reality that there is no such thing as disqualifications in real life combat situations. Personally JKD works better for me than what I have learned in the karate dojo. My physique is better suited for speed than it is for power. Speed is a major component for JKD techniques and Power is an important factor with karate. If my physique was better suited for karate I would change back to it karate ASAP.

I practice a variety of jumping jacks for agility. My shins are wrapped with a material rubber fabric fastened with Velcro. I'm almost 60 and have no major issues with my joints. Have had knee issues in the past, so occasionally I wear knee guards. A little preventative medicine helps alot.

Can you do a kata in a forest? Can you do a kata on a rocky sloped mountain side? Can you do a kata in complete darkness? Can you do a kata in a crowded room?

Hi Nidan! From my observations of younger fitness trainers with elderly people is that they both could do with some pandiculation theory and practice. I have talked to many people in the fitness game and they have never heard of pandiculation. Elderly people stop pandiculating and because of it they start to become less able bodied. It is so simple to do and learn that it is overlooked by the majority. Top athletes however know how to work pandiculation techniques into improving their performance records. Formula racing technology has improved the average car. The same idea for top athlete training (pandiculation) techniques to improve the average aging citizens to stay active, could work also. IMHO

Can anyone or is anyone capable of free flowing ma movement? Sure you have learned katas. I'm suggesting giving it a try, to move freely outside the kata routine box; could be a liberating ma experience.

Do you remember Bruce Lee in the movie "Way of the Dragon"? He made some wooden throwing darts and used them on the thugs with guns. The Wing Chun weapons are: The pole and butterfly knives. Also the not so well know darts. Stands to reason to have a long, medium and short weapon selection within a ma style. What I would like to focus this section on is the darts weaponry. The use of quickness by flicking hands and fingers into the face works well to flinch, unbalance and stun momentarily your opponent. If contact is made to the eyes or throat, it can cause some serious damage instantaneously. A perfect Wing Chun tool. This type of flicking with empty hands or with a weapon was used by Bruce Lee in his movies. Flicking and throwing small objects is the point I'm trying to make here. Be it a knife, dart or stone. They all can be used as hand held weapons also. As knives and forks for Chinese are considered weapon related items. Chop sticks are the preferred eating utensils. Food fights in schools would be more difficult to do, flicking food with chop sticks other than using the catapulting fork technique. But seriously, Wing Chun would suffer greatly, if small hand held weapons were practiced openly to students. It would be irresponsible of Wing Chun teachers to promote the use of knives or for the throwing of darts in their classes. Wing Chun schools would be closing down suddenly and small children could become accidentally, seriously injured. The flicking of hands or fingertips to the opponent face is the last remnant that remains for Wing Chun fighters. Practicing ma in a safe environment in a safe way is no easy task. Especially when training for the potential threats of hostile aggressors. Practicing as close as possible or realistic scenario ma, can be a health threat in the way of lethal accidents. Wing Chun is considered to be a self defense style. Sorry but I cannot agree! The Wing Chun's methodology's for this style is a complete one. Defence and attacking. Internal and external ma. Soft and hard... simultaneously defending and attacking. If martial artists were only to use their martial art for self defense purposes only, then it stands to reason that no martial artist would never-ever fight another martial artist. Martial art tournaments would not exist either. Martial arts should only be used for self-defense... that's another story. Spartacus Maximus may have a relevant point about what he wrote about aristocracy and nobility in martial arts! Off topic but I think relevent to Wing Chun. I was once told by my karate ma teacher the legend of a ma style that was only taught to princess of Chinese royalty. This style had no blocks and was considered to use only very fast straight forward fighting techniques. He told me this story some 40 years ago before knowing anything about Wing Chun. Could this style just happen to be Wing Chun. Because Wing Chun uses deflections and not full on blocks as in hard ma styles. Wing Chun theoretically has no blocks, only simultaneous attacking defensive techniques. The inner gate and the outer gate punching techniques do just that. They lop over or deflect under the opponent arm when punching. It is my hunch that Wing Chun contains this reserved for Chinese royalty ma style of fighting. Could Bruce Lee have known or found out about it, contained within his 2000 ma book library?

Kumite, one step sparring and forms are fine for beginners. My point is that, to continue without any end or conclusion is like painting by numbers for artists. Just copying and mimicking, painting by numbers the creative aspect will be drained away. Free flowing ma movements will help a martial artist to become independently ready for any situation as opposed to getting inhibited through repition. It is the creative element of surprise fighters that leave the prize fighters to wonder what happened!

Back to the subject of sensitivity. Wing Chun is not alone with it's senitivity aspects. With the sticky hands of Wing Chun. Tai Chi has it's push hands together with Yi Chuan. Although these are all Chinese in origin, there aspects of how they use that sensitivity differ. Aikido being a Japanese ma style, it has cross over simularities with Tai Chi techniques and also sensitivity aspects of connecting with the opponent. The connection of crossing the centre line applications of Wing Chun and the off line defensive aspects of Aikido, synchronize with the same sensitivity mind set. Yi Chuan push hands sensitivity practice do not cross the line but keep each arm separate as not to fall in to the Wing Chun cross grab locking wrist techniques. The Wing Chun sticking to the opponent idea is also within the Aikido ma relm. Both styles stick to the opponent throughout techniques from the start till the finish. Never giving the opponent any way out or chance of escaping. All of the above ma styles are not considered to be competing styles; there will always with some exceptions or adaptations to be seen. Sensitivity of touch while training in ma styles is considered to be a part of the internal aspects. As sensitivity is associated with female attributes it would not be questioned or doubted easily that Wing Chun was invented by a woman. If so, then Tai Chi and Aikido can easily persuade through sensitivity association to also be originally derived from a female martial artist.

Can a martial artist truly express his/herself with practicing only preset katas? Agility and the ability to maneuver around an opponent/s takes skill. This skill is developed from practicing against experienced opponent. Timing and speed is also an important factor. Katas are good for practicing form but not for other important aspects just mentioned. Katas are practiced at one's own speed. All opponent will differ in this aspect. For all opponent to fight at one's own practiced kata speed is very unlikely. For all opponent to attack within the spectrum of katas is not reality based either. Form should follow function and not the other way around. Learn the kicks-punches-blocks-etcetera and then let the techniques hit all by themselves.

As you may or may not know that Wing Chun forms are practiced standing in one position. Why? Could it be that the people learning them was confined to a small place, such as on a boat. Wing Chun's 'chi sao' is also practiced in a stationary position. In comparison Irish dancing was taught and practiced in peoples kitchen, that is why they don't swing their arms around and only use their feet. Could be asked or said, what is the big deal if a ma style was developed on a boat or from a woman. I believe the big deal exists because of the roots of a ma style is important. Bruce Lee became a legend in ma by first developing his Wing Chun skills and now we have JKD. Maybe if there was no Wing Chun, there would be no JKD either. I did happen to talk to my Wing Chun teacher about Bruce Lee. He thought that Bruce Lee was a talented individual that would not be duplicated. Also his answer about Wing Chun and JKD, is like the story of the son trying to teach his father on the subject of "how to make children"

Martial arts for me is also character building. Because of ma I have things in common with many people from Asia. Thailand-India-Japan-Korea-China. Building a connection over time, developing empathy and understanding with other cultures has changed my character for the better.

Tournaments are always full of surprises good and bad. Take'm for the experience value. There will certainly be moments to remember. I value my experiences with them; some of the most exciting times of my life was competing. Full contact. Light contact. TKD and Mixed tournaments; never entered my mind about building falsehood. Chalk them up to getting more experienced in martial arts, including the winning and loosing aspects. If you don't compete you will never loose! That could be a falsehood.

There has been much to say about karate and not much about about JKD. What was the original question? Karate and JKD are they compatible? Wasn't Bruce Lee trying to show us how slow and robotic Karate is? Also how karate is not 'in the now' methedolgy just to mention a few differences. JKD contradicts karate every step of the way. Or am I missing the point here?

Good form doesn't win fights. Good fighters win fights. Many good fighters don't do katas to have good form. Many ma styles don't have katas, so are you saying that they don't have good form? If you need katas go for it but remember not all ma styles require them. Show me a headlock in a kata; it is going to look just a little bit boring for the onlookers, holding that position for a minute while your face turns red from all the tension and strain. None kata styles have other priorities such as: strategy and timing and perseverance and strength and endurance and techniques and actual-practice-with-a-real-life-sparring-partner and skill and experience and should I rant more..body mechanics and while katas are a recipe of a style and not realistic for all martial artists! Katas can seem robotic and miss out on being "In The Now" concept, favored by Bruce Lee. For sensei8 If you are going to quote Bruce Lee please say so. As you may also know or not know, that Bruce Lee was not in favor of katas.

My I just say to use the initials WC is not correct because it refers to a 'water closet' as in toilet. WT is the correct abbreviate also called Wing Tsung. I wouldn't ask for a demo first; just ask a WT students for their opinion. Back yard or garage dojo as long as you are satisfied is what really counts. Many Kung Fu schools also teach WT. Personally I would need to see it to believe that they are into it or if it is just an addition style. WT is none traditional Kung Fu style which is a contradiction to Shaolin fighting principles.

Hi Spartacus! Seems to me but I am no doctor or therapist or trainer etc. Just needed to clarify all that first. You could be over working your heart. Blood and oxygen are not circulating quick enough around your body; I think you are border lining for a heart attack. I take in as much oxygen into my body just before my intense short practice then recover. Drive any car long enough or fast for long periods and something is gonna give; people aren't much different than cars. Short burst with intense training works. Recover and do it again. Repeat until you cannot; then call it a day. There is always another day awaiting a killer workout just make sure your no the one getting killed! All the best with your workouts.

The ruffians in my neighborhood growing up were boxers and soccer players The boxers knew how to knock people out and the soccer players could do head-butts that would leave an egg shaped welt on a person's forehead. Neither types did katas. People today move differently than in the past. They didn't have boxing or soccer. MA katas were designed for a different time, place and era. For katas to survive the test of time is questionable. I've witnessed karate tournaments being won by black belts using only one technique 'the reverse punch'. With all the techniques and experience that they have learned with katas and forget about all of that; the repetitive use of using only the simple reverse punch wins 1st place.

Almost 60 and train about 30 hrs 5 days per week. Every one I know cannot believe how old I am. To them I look like I'm in my late 40s. Past injuries remind me how old I really am, with a few recent ones to remind me what not to do in the future. Most of my training is conditioning with Chi Kung and Yoga exercises. Flexibility exercises for about 4 hrs per day. Core practice 1 hr per day. Eating right is what keeps me healthy. Gave up driving for walking. On a good day I practice sprinting and some stair sprinting with ankle weights. Agility and balance practice occasionally. Also go for long walks, resistance training with weights in a back pack and use heavy ankle weights. I do some Tai Chi in the park and TKD kicking exercises for limbering up the old joints. Forarm and Hand conditioning on wooden posts when they have healed from the last session. Wing Chun practice also on wooden posts and sometimes on metal lamp post. Am I getting old... I still can Hip Hop.. "old school" the kids call it. I can do Flamenco and Batuka semi-professionally! I don't do knuckle pushups I just tap them on hard surfaces. I don't do heavy bagwork; seems unrealistic to me, as I do my conditioning on wooden posts. My doctor gives me about 35 more years to live; so I my need to give up or retire the metal lamp post forearm conditioning practice soon.

Many years ago it occurred to me that flexibility and strength could be developed differently than the traditional ways. People with no arms can do incredible things just with their feet. Also people that have lost the use of their legs can develop incredible upper body strength. Another idea is to imagine living in a tree environment, having to hold your own bodyweight on a branch and stretching from one tree to another, as children this was natural fun and games. Another concept is to play with the idea of not standing but to walk on your knees or just feet and hands. Also propelling yourself without the use of your legs, only using your forarms. Stretching your limbs and tendons as if you are reptilian. Pandiculation stretching as cats do is also encouraged. By practicing these ideas it is hopped that they will make you first of all appreciate your body more and with continued practice you will become stronger and more flexible in your chosen martial art. I believe these "body movements" exercises to be more natural than the contrived modern day ones. If you do take the time to try out some of these ideas don't expect instant results. I do hope that your primeval instinct's are awakened to other possibilities of moving and stretching. We can as humans become a little obsessed with the man and machine connection; in this case with exercise equipment. Here is a new way, or should I say a very old primitive way to stay in shape the way our ancestors did before we walked the earth. By practicing and adapting what you have read here. it should be inevitable in time that you will discover that strength and flexibility should be one of the same and not devided in to two separate entities. Perhaps for practice do a load of laundry with only the use of your feet. Pick up each item of clothing by just using your feet to load the machine. Turn light switches on and off while standing on one foot. Tidy the house without the use of your hands. And so on!!!