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

yes i am joining an off shoot of the temple itself. however i have put serious thought about just packing up and leaving. their life is so much simpler than our complicated strait laced get in line bull****. pardon my french. but i think they have the right idea. i will however be attending dayly meditation and prayer cerimonys. hope that has answered your question Henry

Hello all, well its been a while since i posted or even replyed to this board. mainly because i had no news. now however i do. in 5 months time im off to china to join the shoulin temple. im not just posting to brag. im posting for two reasons. im going for 3 years and im scared to death of leaving everyone behind my friends my family... EVERYONE! and secondly i have access to a computer once every 2 weeks. and i am currently making a mailing list for my jornal walst im there. so if u want to hear how much i suffer. or just laugh at me send me a msg. and i will be starting it up within the month as a build up. i am also sending copys to several newspapers in the uk. yours sincerly Henry South

i teach a self defence lesson in my local college and ive always got people (guys mostly) comming up to me and telling me to teach them fancy kicks and take downs but frankly it has taken me (and anyone whos ever trained in kung-fu for a long time) an age to perfect fancy moves for practical use. i do however teach some eagle claw style kicks to improve fitness and flexability to give my students a fighting chance. yours Henry

dear yoda, i thank you for enlightening me, if you hadnt posted that i would proberly still be walking around clueless! anyway thank you again im sure my class will find that incredablely interesting. yours sincerly Henry South

i think maybe the more "enlightened" karate forum peeps should start our own team. "the shotokan net nerds!!!" as alot of you have said the program is disrespectful to the martial arts world. im sure we could show them a lesson or two! whos with me?! Henry South

Sorry i forgot to mention i had left home before i was awarded my first sword. my parents were the same when i told them that i wanted a meter long razor sharp blade tho.

when i got my first sword it was the most fantastic and liberating experience. one that must be savored. im not trying to be pompus but i think that the longer you wait and the more you train with wooden wepons the first time you unshith your REAL sword you will know that you can use it and not take your arm off. and you know that it is yours and you have erned it. yours sincerly Henry South

it all started about 9 years ago when i first started up shotokan and my parents told all my reletives (including my grandmar and grandad) i have only just been luck enough to see my grand parents again after 9 years. and yes they remembered perfectly what my mum had said to them the day i started karate. "hey gran my son has just started a MARTIAL arts course" being 80 years old they thought my mum had ment that i was selling MARITAL aids to marrages that have gone bad (eg sexual aids) she has only just found out that infact i do not sell viagra door to door but practice a form of self defence. hope i have brought a smile to your faces! :lol: it certainly did mine! yours sincerly henry south

the pine(wood) that is broken is specially cut against the grain of the wood. you then follow though a straght forward punch aimed directly at the center of the board rotateing your fist (keep your arm and wrist straght) be warned that this will hurt your hands for the first few hundred attempts , after that you fists become callous and hard try an inch thickness to start with then work up as you become more confident. it is also good to read into some mind over matter books. anyway im sure others will know more than me about this so good luck and i hope i have been helpful. yours sincerly Henry South

dont "run"into your opponent. more of a slide just shove off your back foot in a ready stance and come in hard fast and low. you may also wait until you feel they might over reach on a punch side step and bring in a middle kick to the ribs. another thing... dont think about the belt! it will just put you off. yours HenrySouth