shogeri

I agree that one would have to use a large frame application, subtle pushing, or visible jing while in training. The reason for this is that if we were actually to strike our fellow students, they could be hurt. Especially if we were to emit any excessive amount of jing, that is do fa-jing. So indeed as you say, I and wouldn't want to imply otherwise, is that the closest thing that we can get to realism is to push. Albeit, this is only in training, and never in a real situation. It's a form of showing control, and proper form, as done in Karate and other Kung Fu systems as well.

3rd in what learned as well, since I believe they double up on requirements. I know some schools that do 1 traditional kata (along with a weapon form) per dan up to 5th. I don't recall my 4th dan sensei ever saying that he had more to learn in regards to kata, bunkai, kumite. He did go to the top seminars and to Okinawa, in order to expand his current knowledge. But this was a long time, ago, so I am not recalling of all it right now.

They are pretty much saying what I said. And I agree with the premise that you need to get involved with someone who can be there with you, and guide you, and push you. Always have a spotter... At your weakest, 75% of your body weight on the bench. After you have progressed past a certain point, you should be able to bench your weight. Form is what builds a strong torso, and trunk. To get abs, it's about high cardio 5 to 6 times a week, along with high protein and low fat meals 5 times a day. A million crunches are not the answer. Nor is doing ab resistance training either. Muscle (the more you have the more it) burns fat. So watch your diet, and stay away from starches and sugars. You should be able to see definition (density, shape, veins) the more you get closer 10 percent body fat. Weighting routines can be changed around to fit most backgrounds of health, fitness or genetics. I have bursitis in both shoulders, so have to do things differently than most in just about every activity. Take it easy.

good good...yes yes...

You should never reach your goal easily. 10 reps is the average. 15 for those serious. At the 75 percent market, perhaps just before, you should start to feel resistance, or muscle strain. Basically you should be concentrating on the technique, and connecting your brain to the muscles being worked. Squeeze the whole way, and squeeze a little more at the end of one rep. Holding it for a moment. Don't forget to drink your water. Do chest and back on twice a week, on the same day, and arms and shoulders twice week on the same day. Do legs the same day you do arms. For your fifth day, do 15 of every muscle group, straight through, with about a 30 second gap, using a manageable weight. This brings a little aerobic into the mix. Make it a concentrated effort, don't be sloppy. At least 20 minutes of aerobic everyday. That's what I have done in the past...I am no expert on this. Just someone else who works out.

good luck!

Awesome, and awe-inspiring!

I have the 40 original Go Kyo in front of me, and I only see Koshi-Guruma. The remaining seem to be related to shoulder, waist, leg, arm, or through sacrifice (downward pull/off balancing) as with the Tomoe-nage. The neck is a rather sensitive part of the body in regards to takedowns or throws.

First you have to figure out why you lost. Which means not worrying about how someone beat you. Forgive yourself, first and foremost. Nobody wins every fight. Somehow we lose, even when it seems that we win in the eyes of others. To yourself, know that it's only a real loss or failure if you give up, never trying it again. Crying is normal. It's those people that don't cry that I worry about. First thing - You were not mentally prepared. You lost before you started. Second thing - You expected something. Expect nothing. Just react. Third thing - You confused arrogance with confidence. Confident people know that they have the proper resources in which to get things done. Arrogant people believe that their hard work speaks for itself, and is the only resource needed. Confidence is based upon understanding. While arrogance is based upon feeling. Confidence springs outward and up. Whereas arrogance brings things down and inward. By losing, you step closer to understanding yourself, your weaknesses, and those things that are in within your power to change. You are making the move from being prideful or joyful in success, and into a larger framework of endless opportunities based upon knowing what works, building upon it, and then repeating it. It is a cycle of success, where only the most confident of people reside. It is that place, that champions are born. Take care! Look forward, and reach out!

We've gone over this in other posts. Rather something similar. Wushu, as it is practiced, is nothing more than what you have mentioned as well. However, in regards to practicing Wushu, as a Martial Art, we are actually speaking of a collection of the various Chinese Martial Art Systems. Some common "hard" or external styles of contemporary Wushu are Southern Fist (Nanquan ), Choy Lay Fut, Wing chun, Hung gar, Crane, and Changquan (Long Fist). Common "soft" or internal styles are Taijiquan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan. The primary differences are that Northern styles tend to emphasize kicks, jumps and generally fluid and rapid movement, as the Southern styles focus more on strong arm and hand techniques, and stable, immovable stances and footwork. We find that Taijiquan, Baquazhang, and Northern Shaolinquan are based upon long fist fighting methods which rely upon the person being kept at bay, along with what seems to the untrained eye, pre-emptive striking methods. Whereas with Nanquan, we find hung gar and choy lay fut as the bread winners. It is from Nanquan, that Karate more than likely sprung, due to the obvious connection in deep stances, waist power, less kicks, and less acrobatics. Alot of this stuff overlaps at some point. After reading it. Another way of putting it is this: Tiger - Hung Gar and Taijiquan Crane - White and Fujian Leopard - teaches footwork and moves to the angles when attacking. Snake - Both Wing Chun and Taijiquan are said to use snake and crane. Long and short fist. Dragon - Zig, zag movement, open hand strikes, low kicks, internal power Note that the five animals also correspond to the 5 elements. Choy-lay-fut is more commonly referred to as a Southern external style, but also includes many Northern techniques. It was born in the 1800's. When one learns Choy Lay (Li) Fut, one can expect to learn the following: 1. Stances, and movement training. 2. A multitude of striking methods, such as the 'long fist' and the 'buddhist palm'. 3. Longer sets or forms than most styles. Sets such as: NG LUN MA (Five Wheel Stance Form) - It also helps the student remember stances, and movement within stances (footwork). NG LUN CHUI(Five Wheel Fist Form) - most of the major fist strikes are contained within this form. HUNG SING LONG FIST FORM (Cheong kuen) - This form is sometimes called the 'pulling' or 'stretching-out' form because the techniques used are thrown very long using fully the twist of hips and shoulders. Similar to those of Taijiquan. Some open hand techniques only appear later in more advanced Forms such as Sup Ji Kau Da (Cross Pattern Boxing) and Fut Quan (Buddhist Palm Set). Essentially it is about deep stances, and long movements with the arms. Which means it's very physical. As a wushu practitioner (performer) you have options, since you know yourself in regards to being able to train in what works for you. If you are young, stay with that stuff that keeps you moving. As you get older, stick with the more simple, and yet just as effective. Find something that works for you, and with you. Good luck!

e_and_k reinforces what I was saying. Save for the blurb about MA being ancient. ----------- In sum, most people are clueless as to what the Martial Arts are really about, from where they came, what to expect from a lifelong practitioner, and so on. Later!

Meguro, makes some good points. Also, pay attention to Muay Thai kicks. Quite often they may trap you into spinning them, which in turn they use that back against you. While I practiced TKD, there is moment, when your kick is at it's zenith, that you might find yourself off the ground. Depending on your flexibility, of course. The more flexible you are the more you will use your whole body. This creates more torque. The less flexible, the more you will use just your waist. In goju ryu, the kick was either with a full bent knee, or extended partially, or fully depending on the closeness of the opponent. We didn't leave the ground that much. The core of the kick, as with most kicks is the momentum of the body that propels the leg. In what I teach now, since I am older, I tend to favor the fully bent knee, after a trapping technique to get them close in. The target zone is the lower abdomen just above the groin. In Taijiquan, some hand strikes, deliver such full body power, that the person might be airborn as well. Perhaps it is cultural thing, or something that many (though not all) Karate systems prefer that you be on the ground at all times. Who knows. So far as throwing combos, it depends on whether I am already planted, and on the defensive, or if I am being more proactive and moving in. If I move in, then more than likely the roundhouse will move them back or to my inside, and depending on the momentum, or the timing of the whole movement, along with flexibility, will determine whether I am airborne. I suppose I could make it airborn, but prefer to just let spinning kicks evolve based upon the situation. Anyway, I hope what I say is helpful, and is not too dumb, long winded, or utterly useless. Take care.

As long as they (any school in your area) teach some form of san shou (taijia san shou, not wushu), or pau chi, along with tui shou (push hands), qigon, and either the Yang or Chen long form, for combative purposes, in all respect, they will suit your needs. Taijiquan is a Combative Healing art. It is a striking art designed around both Chinese Boxing (Hao Chuan), acupressure points, and the Meridian Theory. There are no pushing strikes. Some instructors teach silk reeling, as this is also useful for learning to cultivate internal energy. Just some things to think of as you look around. There are other things to consider as well. But that should get you started.

I agree with the article. It was well written, and brought out some important points to remember when teaching or learning along children. --------------------------------- Children go through certain known or accepted levels of development. Sensory Motor Period (0 - 24 months) The Preoperational Period (2-7 years) Period of Concrete Operations (7-11 years) Period of Formal Operations (11-15 years) ------------------ Basically, what this means is that children are not capable of reasoning as an adult, until they reach the age of 15 or so. That summary is based upon information from the work of Jean Piaget. At ages 4 through 7 children have the physical independence, dexterity, and language skills to aid their curiosity in many ways. This means that they are capable of duplicating what you are teaching them, and will be able to go through the motions. This has its advantages. It helps to create a foundation of reflexive behavior. From the age of 7 through 15, one teaches the child of the logical, and social ramifications of what they are learning as they progress cognitively and emotionally. Training becomes even more methodic and focused. Techniques for learning are expanded upon, and the child is given the opportunity to truly broaden what they already know reflexively. ------------------------ Just some thoughts from me...

I agree that many Christians think poorly of the Martial Arts, especially the Internal ones. They want to destroy that which they do not know or want to know, or desire to understand, even if it is of God. As a Christian, I have found it best to not mix anything regarding the Martial Arts or spirituality with the Christian religion. Thanks to the misunderstanding of qi, and it's uses, it is difficult, but not impossible. Life force is a poor term. And reiki practices things that does not follow any Biblical premise. Martial Art is one thing. War and the preservation of life are just a natural part of our human existence. We live in a physical world, and there are physical answers for most things. Parts of the un-used brain are used during sleep. While the body heals itself. By understanding how the many different biological energies have an effect on the condition of our body, we can move forward in medical research, and away (at least partially) from barbaric methods of cutting into people. Pain and suffering might be part of the human experience, but we don't have to add to it. Just some thoughts!

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