back_fist

I dont think they are really necessary in relation to one another. However, the guqin is an amazing instrument. I too would love to have the chance to learn to play one.

Left butterfly palm, the sun's ferocious arrow fist, hammer of god falls, right piercing fist of heaven!

True, belts are not necessarily a marketing scam, what I really mean is that since they are not necessary to the teaching or learning of martial arts, they most often are just a tool to gain more students and an excuse to justify charging more money. TAZ, i think it is amazing what your teacher does. He must be an honorable man. In my opinion if one is unable to teach for the love of the art, then do the right thing and dont teach at all. Martial arts should not be thought of as an easy money-making business.

Qi is necessary for life. You have it whether it is Christian or not.

Flat punches can generate more sheer power, vertical punches can fit easier going up under the ribs or throat and best used for certain angles. At least this is how we utilize those two types.

Also, I believe you should do your part and spread this news to anyone it will effect. This is a moral obligation, and if I were you I would have lost my respect for my masters for their high level of greed and deception.

What is this? These testing fees, they must be in replace of mothly dues, are they. Or are you telling me it costs 50 just to move a rank? What is the meaning of this? I find this very disturbing. I simply dont believe the $6000 test, as no one would ever pay this. It is ridiculous. It is blasphemy. Belt ranking systems are foolishness anyway, just a marketing scam to gain and keep interest resulting in more money for likely incompetent "masters" who feed the growing commercialization of our martial arts. I dont mean to offend anyone, these are just my feelings. If martial arts are not taught out of love for the art then they are bound to be corrupted. Ranking is not of any importance past the surface, so why bother with it.

I scoff upon such claims! scoff, scoff, scoff

If by chance there is a hung gar school near you, i think that it would an absolutely perfect transition from shotokan. Hung is also known as tiger crane style, and it may have the perfect balance between your powerfull shotokan techniques (tiger) and the alternative techniques of the crane. I dont think you would have much success with drunken fist, in my opinion it would be better to stick with your style and increase your training.

First of all, Tai Chi is executed quickly when applied in combat. It is practised slowly to develop your inner strength. When it is applied in combat, it should be free of any muscular strength at all, utilizing only tendon, ligament, and through opening you qi pathways. Also important to note is that not all Tai Chi systems are combatitive. Chen is the eldest and most difficult system, and the most martial based. The other systems of Tai Chi, such as Yang and Wu, were developed from Chen and focus more on overall health, by maximizing qi flow. So to answer your question, it depends on the attitude of the Tai Chi practitioner. If they focus on the combat direction of tai chi, then this question becomes just another "insert style vs. insert style". And Tai Chi can be an extremely powerfull martial art if that is its aim. I hope this helps.

Yes, it certainly looks reasonable. It appears to be far more respectable than many schools I have seen. Though I'm not sure why he feels it necessary to teach both Yang and Chen Taichi. I would definatley go for the chen if you are interested in taichi.

First block, then strike. Repeat as desired.

I think the main point here is that no instructor will take you seriously if you dont take them seriously. Attempting to learn more than one style at once is foolish and impatient, and will likely lead to confusion and a general waste of time. It is like trying to be a Muslim and a Catholic at the same time, many of the concepts just dont work together. You will likely become ineffective at using either styles strengths to the fullest.

If the Hung Gar school you are thinking of going to is anything like mine, you will not have the time, energy, or desire to train in any other style at the same time. Thats not a blow to bjj i'm just being realistic and traditional hung gar demands a lot from you.

I think this is directly linked to the particular school and instructor. For 4 years I trained at a hybrid martial arts school where the instructor was probably the most arrogant person I have ever known. And being his students was like being brainwashed. He was always telling us how great him and his style that he had put together were, and for some reason everyone seemed to treat him like a god. Over my years there I saw him turn many students into ego maniacs because they revered him and naturally followed his example. By the time I recieved my "black belt" I could not take it anymore. I knew there had to be something better out there. Since then I have found a new world of martial arts that I had been blind to before as a result of a corrupted and misleading martial arts school. I thank God that I finally saw the light or I'd still be there today.