Henry South

some old clever guy once said that "kung fu is nothing but dancing without Qi" now i belive that most of the kung fu systems use their more advanced techniques that involve Qi. and a lot of very practical attacks and defences inamongst them. actually what im saying isnt going anywere as the guy that started this thred has obviously see karate kid and decided that he rules. good luck. and find a school. no offence ment. Henry

welcome. personally i would join a shotokan class, harder training but overall a more practical art than the ryu systems of karate. good luck whatever!

welcome. personally i would join a shotokan class, harder training but overall a more practical art than the ryu systems of karate. good luck whatever!

i used to hold back against girls.. then i fought the slovakian womens team and now im scared that if i dont hit them hard enough they will hit me back! my hat goes off to them, they are proberly the best karate team i have ever fought in my carrer.

kung fu means "hard trained" or "hard work" and wushu is the traditional term for the style of martial arts most commen to china.

the literal translation of Chi or Qi is breath but it reffers to all types of energy as Grandmaster Wang Ju-Rong states in one of his books on tai chi's 24-48 postures. there are all types of chi for example Ren Qi is heavenly energy, Kong Qi is the air we breath as energy, and Dian Qi is elecrical energy Qi is the intrinsic substance or the "vital force" behind all things. And on a compleatly different subject, watch matrix2 because it is excelent!!!! reply if u have time, Henry

but dont you think that peoples decision of what chi is, is much like a decision of religeon. the fan does create energy too. it is a downward force thus it is energy that is being exerted downward. for example if someone has decided that energy is drawn from the earth then let that be there sorce if it works for them. it may not be the same in strength as it would be if drawn from their dantien (shakra) but if it is a force they can command then it is classed as energy surely. write back this is getting interesting!

no offence taken, but u know how some people can be in here. as to your last post it is quite interesting because it brings up the whole question of what chi you are reffering to. as some belive that chi is all around and is drawn in from all living things and can be expelled as such were as some belive that chi is brought up from inside yourself is relesed. personally i think it is both, i think that all living things have life force that can be drawn from or given to.

dont worrie about it gao im sure the many different sects of monks do different rituals for different reasons for example there are many types of shaolin monks (wondering monks, fighting monks to preaching monks) there is no right and wrong in what either of us have said as no particular sect was mentiand in the question. what style do u practice Gao? i do shaolin boxing, taichi chean (+taichi sword) and shotokan karate.

the bald head symbolises one of the many sacrafices made to attain enlightenment and the dots (traditionally burnt onto the forhead) symbolises the years of service. dont quote me on this but i think it is 3 to every 20 years. hope i have been of some help. although there is proberly some KF elitist out there who is just waiting to kick me in the ass and prove me wrong

well thats great and all but all i was doing was stateing something that i have seen in a light hearted manner! why does everyone have to take offence at everything anyone says in this place! and chi is energy in all forms chi means energy so yes it is chi. chi is what u get from walking down the street so yes to answer your question it is chi. i dont know u try and start a friendly conversation and if u dont say everything to the book it gets mocked hard. and gao i know the technique you are talking about but slightly different to how u explaned it. Ranting Henry (no longer rocking on!)

hi all, im sure many of the people reading this will know about the uses and power of a persons own energy flow or chi and how it can be built and disscarged at will by a master or intermediate student in many forms of kung fu/tai chi . i just thought an interesting topic this month would be what people have see in the way of chi useage. personally the best ive seen is the old punching candles technique done by a friend of mine. the aim of the game is the punch a candle flame out and the bigger the distance that divides your fist and the candle for it to gutter the stronger your chi. anyway he can gutter three candles one behind the other from a foot. pretty damn good if u ask me. reply if u have the time if not then any stories would be welcome. rock on, Henry

there are many types of dragon styles but the most well known one is the one that originated in the kwangtung shaolin temple. although you dont see much of the traditional style anymore their is a sort of bastardised style that is taught today. however get a good teacher and you will have no problems sorting out the toughest opponent with this traditional and deadly martial art. hope this has helped in some way Henry South

dear Iron, u havent told me anything i didnt know already and frankly (as i said in an earlier post) i know i am not learning in the actual temple. i wouldnt want to. i want to go to china, explore and learn martial arts. nothing more. i also wanted to share this experience with others of like mind who may consider going as well. i will be learning from people who did learn themselfs in the temple itself and national champions. and thats good enough for me. so if u wish to partake in a disscussion like were i can buy several deacent cheap pairs of wushu shoes i would ask you to please stay out of a friendly exchange of knowlage. yours sincerly Henry South

just to clear the air about this. i do not pretend to be a monk or to be learning in the actual temple. all im sharing is an adventure. that im sure will be life changing for me. regards Henry