fallen_milkman

Qigong or chi kung is a name for any exercises used to develop internal energy. Most traditional Chinese martial arts have some form of qigong training in the system.

Chinese broadsword. I like the feel of it better than any other sword I've held, and I like the way it looks better too.

I'm a little skeptical that you'd be learning just "snake style" on its own. I didn't think it was taught as a separate style.

Train well with a fan, and it can be just as good defense as any striking weapon. I have a friend that keeps his with him and all times.

Anyone else seen this movie yet? I freaking LOVED it. Not only is it a great movie, but I've never heard a better soundtrack for a children's movie. "Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George" by Jack Johnson and Friends. I highly suggest looking into it.

Different people answer this differently. Here is my take. Kung fu is the Romanized Chinese form of gong fu. They mean the same thing. Basically, in this context, any martial art originating in China. Technically, the Chinese apply the term gong fu to any skill you put a lot of effort and time into mastering, but using it to refer to Chinese martial arts in general is pretty well accepted. Wushu has two meanings, again depending on who you're asking. The more common use for it that I hear is in reference to the sport based on Chinese martial arts. However, it can be used as a synonym for gong fu as well.

Um...mine is a Wu Tang Clan quotation. Nothing too special.

Hughes by decision. Both are great fighters, but Hughes has an insane "win or die trying" attitude.

You have just asked a question that can't be answered, and is a lifetime of study.

Cane is also a weapon integrated into our style of kuntao. I've learned a few locks with it.

Depends on the school for sparring (most probably do some), but definitely yes on forms.

I personally prefer the environment I am in. We have fun, we chat, rank is no big deal. We are all there to learn and become friends. Respect and fear are two different things.

Hehe, no winter break here. I graduated! I never have to go back to school again. That still feels weird, but in a good way.

Just got done with my first sledding of the holiday season! Everyone was done with finals, and we just had freezing rain over old snow. Can anyone say ICE SHEETS?! We were going so very, very fast. Amazing.

Sledding with friends (with hot chocolate afterwords!) is the best part of my Winter-een-mas season. My entire extended family also comes over Christmas eve and we all catch up and eat some good food. I guess gift giving and getting is kinda cool. I mostly do it because my family does. I feel silly celebrating Christmas without being Christian, but oh well. As long as it keeps my mom happy, I'll pretend. A bit of drinking with friends on New Year's Eve never hurts either...

Dead Alive...Peter Jackson directed it. It's a zombie-ish movie. There is a scene with a lawnmower used as a weapon...hilarious! I always thought Orgazmo was pretty strange and also hilarious. Cheerleader Ninjas. God-awful. A friend of mine rented it for some reason. The movie somehow combines "teen" girls, ninjas battles, and softcore pornography. Also, an internet virus that turns people into mind controlled zombies. Sometimes, a movie can be so bad it's funny. This one is so bad, it's beyond funny and into unwatchable. We turned it off after 45 minutes of its almost 2 hour length.

Happy holidays to you too, and everyone else!

As I answer to everyone who complains of boredom, take up origami.

It would actually sound more like "mung" I think, based on my Mandarin studies. Also, our bow seems similar but more...distinct? We start out at "attention". Hand at our sides, feet together. We bring left hand up open and right hand clenched, and bring them together almost like holding a knife in a reversed grip and stabbing your own palm. Then we twist our hands so that the part of the hand that "stabbed" the palm is facing the direction you are bowing, and the open hand folds over your knuckles. The forearms should form the top of a triangle. Simultaneously, we go into a right cat stance. ...Or maybe it's the same bow, and I went into more detail?

Haha, I already assumed everyone performed lip-synced concerts to their adoring fans. I knew I wasn't the only one! I also catch myself wondering if people can read my thoughts. Not all the time, just when I was thinking something about a person I'm with, and they do something I can read as reacting to my thoughts. Idunno, hard to explain. It makes sense at the time though, I swear! And mirrors....I wonder what it is about them that they make so many people nervous. I personally don't even like having my back to one...

I'm guilty of the mirror and shower ones too...I always laughed at myself wondering what was wrong with me. I especially hate mirrors...*shudder* Glad to hear I'm not the only one.

Krav Maga is supposed to be Iraeli, so I'd say it counts as Middle Eastern. Also, White Warlock is absent from the boards for awhile. So no luck there for a bit. Unless he snuck back when I fell asleep...

Techniques and form were the first part of the test. This part was to make sure I'm getting into shape as well as knowing my stuff, I think. Health is a secondary reason for my martial arts training, but it's still a strong reason. I've lost 40 pounds since I started one year ago. I'm glad my sifu has high expectations. My yellow sash would not mean as much if I hadn't had to work so hard to get it.

My teacher is big on endurance. If you can dodge and defend against your opponent until he's way too tired to keep fighting, then you can take him out if you're still fresh. Thus the 10 3-minute rounds. He knows it's hard, but what is the fun of accomplishing something easy? Also, you just can't throw up during. Afterwords is ok.

Success! Almost puked half way through, but then there was a 2 minute break, and I gathered myself up before the second half. I was fighting way too hard the first 15 minutes. For the last part, I basically closed up my gaurd and made them come at me, only taking enough shots to show I was still alive. I am so glad I passed. I was sparring one of my teachers for the final part of the first 15 minutes, and I must have looked pretty bad, (I certainly felt bad!), and he seemed pretty worried. He kept telling me not to throw up. (That is an automatic fail.) But what matters is I made it! Now to go sew my yellow tags on my sash, and tomorrow I get to buy the dragon patch to go on it!