striking_cobra

interesting views, all of you, i'd just like to add a thought. if someone pulls a gun on you and dosn't shoot you imediatly they are probably after something, (cash, your car, ect.) that said, my advice would be to hand over your wallet or your keys and go home without a bullet in you. (i'd favor losing my wallet or keys over my good looks.)

in my opinion humbleness is an important part of any martial art, and not wanting to hurt someone dosn't mean that you're a coward...that said i feel that body hardening does have alot of value in martial arts... rubberizing and "playing arms?" can have a positive impact on a martial artist, phisically and mentally. obviously it will make your body tougher, martial artists have things like this forever, not to mention if you know you can take a hit you'll be less prone to being afraid if you have to defend yourself. so i wouldn't say your friend was dumb. that's just my opinion.

as far as modern sport fencing goes, the epee, but it's still fun to toy around with the old rapier and main gauche...am i right?

rock beats everything, didn't you know that? now on to the subject at hand...it dosn't matter what i say regarding the grappler/stand-up argument, because everyone will keep their own opinions...despite anything anyone else says on this forum. (sometimes i think these threads are just to start arguments.) lol what i will add is, fighting is stupid, and fights are chaotic. let me explain here a second...what i mean is noone knows what's going to happen once a fight goes down, whatever training you have will hopefully help you and may save your butt. ps. grapplers win fights, strikers win fights, is one better than the other? i guess that depends on the day.

so to answer your final question, i'm not an expert in the weapon...the only reason we learn them in my school is to defend against them. i couldn't tell you if that particular pair is any good. have a good one though

i must say, kung ling isn't styled after a dance either, (it's rooted heavily in san soo), i will say kung fu is very fluid, which may be where you got this misconception.

i'm glad you're typing so we know you havn't lost many fingers...i was just handing out my opinion

i strongly disagree...you have to be a weapon before you can pick up a weapon...they really do become an extension of your own body.

yup, courts in this state at least will hammer you bad just for using them in a fight, because if you carry them on the street, they assume you were out looking for a fight...so chances are you won't be carrying them, or you will be sitting in a little cage with no windows. as far as durability, a heavier pair can wear out just as fast, they're heavier, therefore put more stress on your cord.

i have seen them in movies and in kung fu magazine as well, i have no personal experience with them either. good luck finding some. (though you could probably make some fairly easily with a set gourds and escrima sticks.)

what do you mean by real use?

well with tapes, cd's, and books on everything martial these days i can't imagine young (in experience not age), students not wanting to take the quick path, even if they have instruction available from a teacher. it's really a bummer.

grappling is great if you're looking for a sport style, i studied bjj for awhile, if nothing else it'll toughen you up and you'll have alot of fun.

having studied it for awhile, i completely agree with you, bjj is typically only usefull art against one opponent, but then remember, so is wrestling, not to mention a mixed martial artist has the same issues if a fight hits the ground, you better hope he dosn't have any backup as well because mma is designed for one on one competition, just like the other two.

tall people can do well in any art, most martial arts have kicking...just check out the studios near you and talk to the instructors that'd be my advice.