Purple Cloud

http://www.ycgf.org/WPS_Eulogy/WPS_Eulogy.html You Guys check out this cool web article, there is an interesting story of the fight between a famous wu taichi chinese master and the Japanese Shorinji ryu Team. Look at the bottom of the article (nevertheless the whole article is worth reading!!) -- or search for the "shorinji" word (ctrl + f ).

There are three well known basic kung fu families in China (that I know of): 1) the shaolin style, which had three temples,north, south and don't remember where was the third. Shaolin styles were influenced by Buddhism. (Most Asian martial arts, like Okinawan/Japanese karate for example, have come from the shaolin family) 2) the Wudang style or styles (not wu-tang which I guess means something else) were influenced by Taoism. This family of styles was developed at the Wudang mountainous region of China.Tai Chi Chuan is said to have come from Wudang.I think Wudang is somehow antagonistic(but not hostile) to shaolin. 3) And last, is Emei style (or styles) coming also from a mountainous region called Emei in China.That is also Taoist I think.

I slightly prefer Pepsi (especially Pepsi Max) to Coke. In Europe we don't have so many soda types (like mountain dew,root beer,grape coke etc.) like they have in the States. Anyway, DID YOU KNOW? I was reading in a magazine about the "Secret Recipe of Coca - Cola" where it stated that in the beginning (back in the 1900's or something) it was a mix of natural cocaine leaves, cola plant extract, and california wine. Now the recipe is different but there are still tiny (acceptable by law) traces of cocaine included. And "Pepsi" comes from the greek word for digestion.

A Rascal sifu guy hired this poor rugged Chinese fellah who had been living at a deserted train cabin (supposedly he was a tourist who run out of money or something) dressed him up with golden belt and uniform and told him to sit, shut up, and just watch the class, while the phony sifu performed and introduced the chinese fellah as his great Grandmaster who just came from China... that was his plan to attract new students Gee!! So beware of appearances, just because somebody is asian doesn't make him a Master.

If you where to choose between a school where the teacher seemed sympathetic to you (at first sight) but the style taught didn't appeal to you AND a school where you didn't get along with the personality of the teacher (at a few visits) but the style or styles taught there seemed awesome WHAT would you choose?

Ki is what the Japanese call the *life energy* it has nothing to do with spirits and stuff like that. there have been experiments about ki or bioenergy at major U.S. universities. Now Morihei is another story .... he was a very spiritual person in his country (like a saint) and there are lots of stories about him and i've heard he wouldn't heart a fly.