Prodigal Son

So how hard do you have to be to get those huge white eyebrows ? >>>PS<<<

Agreed. In fact I think more so. I find that I can hit people a LOT harder with my palm, and it doesn't hurt a bit. Even with good fist shape, damage can be caused by punching hard things - such as heads. Of course the disadvantage to palms is that you have to be that bit closer to carry it off, but I'm a short range guy anyway. >>>PS<<<

I've done enough door work to answer yes. >>>PS<<<

Crane Stance certainly makes a fighter look more ridiculous than any of the others, and standing on one leg would severely diminish your ability to move about. You're right, it's TKD ! >>>PS<<< Yeah, I know I'm gonna get flamed anyway, but that was a JOKE.

I've never fought anyone who used Drunken Boxing, but I have fought a few drunken boxers Anyway... Here are some of my theories on Drunken Boxing's use of booze... 1. It helped to create a state of joy during training - always useful to encourage folks to stick with an art and do loads of practice. 2. It brings about a state of relaxation. In WC we consider relaxation in our movements to be of primary importance, as it is the relaxation which allows us speed and power as well as sensitivity. Could be a factor for the drunken boxing guys too. 3. The psychology theory (which I completely support) 'State Dependent Learning' tells us - "If you're gonna fight when you're drunk, practice when you're drunk." 4. Have you ever tried to pick up a smallish unwilling child from the floor and they just go limp ? (Generally when it's their bedtime and they want to watch more TV) It makes it so much more difficult. Now imagine trying to manhandle a big guy who is employing such 'dead weight' energy - people who are really drunk are like that... SO there ya go. Probably all crap, but who knows. >>>PS<<<

Wing Chun is always a good choice, but it depends what you mean by 'soft'. I don't consider WC a 'soft' style - we just don't think of bloody noses as important to our martial develpment during training. It's conceptually very different from TKD, so in terms of fighting I think you'd be better sticking with one or the other. (Of the two I'd say WC every time, but then I'm horribly biased.) If you're looking for inner calm and bodily health (and a wicked fighting system for those that can see it) try Tai Chi & Chi Kung. >>>PS<<<

Hi Drunken Monkey... My teacher's Sebuk is Sifu Ng. I believe he trained under three of Sijo Yip Man's students, including Sifu Wong. Here's his site: http://www.wingchun.hk.com/sifu_intro.htm I train 'behind closed doors' in London. How about you ? >>>PS<<<

I fought a boxer one time. He was about four inches taller than me, and weighed about two stones more. He went for me, I angled off and hit him in the floating ribs on his left side. When he fell, I stoned him with balls from the pool table (at very close range) until I was dragged off. His head had swelled up like some hideous turnip. That must mean boxing's crap, then ? No. But there are a couple of Wing Chun pros there. We learn to: 1. Don't be there when the the attack comes 2. Exploit your environment - in this case pubs are full of glasses and pool cues. 3. Go for the soft bits. 4. Hit the same soft bits repeatedly until you've done the guy. And I didn't use any grappling. It's the fighter, not the art. >>>PS<<<

I know a chap who does Mantis, and indeed a lot of his techniques seem to be based around the Wing Chun "Fook Sau". It seems to work alright, though - he's a bouncer and is quite a handful when he gets going. It does seem to me that some of the applications are a bit dodgy - they use Fook where we never would - but then I haven't studied the style... And what would I know about Kung Fu... or anything else... >>>PS<<<

We don't have any grading system. If you can beat me, you're my senior. But then I belong to a small 'clan' - not a club - and we all know each other. I guess if you're running a big club belts could help with the organisation of the classes... Many years ago, I had a Shorinji Kenpo instructor who always wore a white belt - he said it was because he was still learning. I think that was a great statement to give to the students. So many people swagger around in their black belts, yet have never had to really beat someone down to earn it - they get them from demonstrations of kata and "one step sparring" - so what do belts really mean ? If it means that you have achieved some status in your 'art' (as opposed to being a good fighter), then why don't we adopt belts for and pottery ? Perhaps us Western Devils just need affirmation from others - especially from organisations - and perhaps we should try to know within ourselves how good we honestly are... >>>PS<<<

Maybe a little off topic, but here's a cute little Chi exercise to try. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, and get one of your chums to push you at shoulder level. Note how much you move about. Next, stand in the same position but focus your attention at the Hara (about two inches below your bellybutton). No mystical stuff, just concentrate on that spot. Get your mate to push you again, and see if there is a difference. Next week, 'Borrowing Force From The Ground' PS

thats enough to learn the basics, but after yellow belt (or whatever the first test may be) u really should to more. but its also about training methods and/or instruction. Enough to learn the basics ? You are having a laugh. Unless you WANT to train all the time, you are fooling yourself if you think you are going to learn anything but false confidence. Take up knitting or something less dangerous. I am shocked at what some on this forum consider 'training'. Martial arts can not be learned in a three hour McDojo class once a week with no outside practice. And if your teacher can't spot such appaling lethargy in his students (and stick a foot up their as ses), then he's just as hopelessly McDojo as the student. And if you can gain a 'belt' (whatever one of those may be worth) by training once a week, then surely you must look to the standards set by your martial art. Jeez - I was on 'probation' for a year with my teacher... What a bunch of old ladies. >>>*<<< P.S. KM vs WC ? Who knows. None of you - unless you do both arts. This debate is conjecture based on small knowledge, anecdotal evidence and misunderstanding. So there. *flips the bird*

If women want women only classes, then they should have them. I think that it's bad for their MA development, bad for the art as a whole and bad to segregate people, period. But if it's what they want, let them have it. Notice that there are few 'men only' classes... >>>PS<<<

Spot on, Kirves. As you say each of us has our way, and we should respect everyone's choice of way. I do, although sometimes it all gets a little heated. When I started on this forum I was hoping to learn all kinds of new stuff, but as it turns out I spend an hour or so each day defending the name of WC to people whose only yardstick is the UFC - and I am rapidly losing interest in doing so. I genuinely believe that the artist is more important than the style, and it is nice to see someone agree for once. respec' >>>PS<<<

Well, that's as may be Vale - and regarding the video I uploaded, I didn't shoot it myself and don't personally know the guys involved - but I do train like that and see enough people doing that stuff, so I doubt it was the result of countless takes and rehearsal. And of course we can't go all out in training, elbowing each other in the eye sockets and kicking each other's nuts - that would be pointless. But nonetheless I feel that anyone with eyes can see a marked difference in the energies and techniques of Victor, vs the clown in the original video. Regarding the list of fights you posted, I must confess I know little about any of them - I train to fight, not to be involved in competitions, challenges or 'scenes'. And WC works for me - I fight very regularly and rarely get hurt. So if someone is trying to prove to me that WC is a wack art based on a video of someone ELSE getting turned over, it just doesn't stand up. There are lots of McDojos doing WC and EVERY other art - and the world is full of crap practitioners of EVERY art. And loads of them have black belts and important titles - but they STILL can't fight. WC is no different. But I only fight when there are NO rules, and when I can inflict real injuries - like Ho' Dan says, we rely on speed attacks to soft parts of stronger opponents, so why am I gonna go in the ring with a Karate guy who is stronger than I am, and be bound by HIS rules? I'll only fight him to hurt him as badly as I can, as quickly as possible - not to win a stupid prize. We are not sportsmen. I dunno - maybe I'm the only good WC fighter on this green Earth (apart form my teacher). There Are No Friendly Techniques. (WC Motto) >>>PS<<<