Sick and tired of people putting down kung fu....

[Kajukenbopr]

to my knowledge, kung fu works better than most other styles, however it is really hard to find a teacher in america that teaches:

1. practical figthing applications- self defense, etc

2. all the aspects of the art

Take a look at the curriculums of the style in China and compare them to the ones in America and you will be surprised.Too much of a lack of material: groundfighing(yes, they have groundfighting in China), applications, fighting drills(which are different from sparring), chin na techniques(or other grppling method)...etc

this is not the case with every teacher, but you do find them often

As for the time it takes for someone to be able to fight well I have to say that its a method of teaching- you teach the art then you teach the fighting, its how they are taught in China, not because it is not a good way to fight, but because they are taught that way.

[mantis.style]

For the most part, Martial Arts in China is not good, unless you are after acrobatics. There a few places where you can find virtually untouched styles but the majority of what is out there, is Modern Chinese State organised Wushu.

[Kajukenbopr]

For the most part, Martial Arts in China is not good, unless you are after acrobatics. There a few places where you can find virtually untouched styles but the majority of what is out there, is Modern Chinese State organised Wushu.

well, thats for the martial arts that are the most flashy. if you go to most tournaments in America, its more centered towards Tae Kwon do or point sparring which for practical martial arts is completely useless.

however, u can find real and practical martial arts in China and America, but they most probably wont go too much into tournaments or competitions

[stonecrusher69]

I hear you kajukempo guys are tuff as nails...I have a friend who trained in that style..

[RealWingChunKuen]

well, thats for the martial arts that are the most flashy. if you go to most tournaments in America, its more centered towards Tae Kwon do or point sparring which for practical martial arts is completely useless.

however, u can find real and practical martial arts in China and America, but they most probably wont go too much into tournaments or competitions

Agreed. The traditionalists keep themselves to themselves in China. Many still distrust the government, because the persecution inflicted upon them by the Maoists/communists is still relatively fresh in their memories.

I have been told that there are many none Shaolin Temple masters who know their kung fu. Also, that there are efforts amongst some masters to preserve the traditional arts, through commisions and societies.

[masterintraining]

aside from what every1 here has already posted Bruce Lee studied wing chun kung-fu and was able to make one of the most practical fighting dojos"the jun fan institute" ever made.( with a lttle american boxing, and tai chi thrown in") and then stripped out some of the inessentuals and made jeet kune do a style made specificly for streetfighting and is also technicaly a chinese style.

[Justin Treadaway]

Yeah our school doesn't compete in tournaments either. We would be disqualified right off the bat in a tournament.

[Sensei Rick]

I study and teach traditional karate styles here in the usa. I am good freinds with master Jeng hung li and sifu teching jerry cook. These men are phenomimal fountains of knowledge and now Jerry and I find ourselves on opposite ends of the same path. the chinese arts are further along in the endevor that we are striving for. that is, the art of healing. I can teach you to destroy a person in a very short time. But I'm am just learning how to heal someone. How to make there life better through the arts. The five animal five elements forms are a perfect example of this. I was one who once put down kung fu styles. Now through these men, I have the utmost respect for KF. I love hung gar. Now there's a combative style. I think most people just don't understand, but pay them no mind. I've taken a bit of a ribbing in my day, but i'm in this for me. Not tfor anyone else. Keep your heart pure, and your intention honorable. Try to have black belt presense. even a tiger wont attack the strongest zebra.

[bushido_man96]

aside from what every1 here has already posted Bruce Lee studied wing chun kung-fu and was able to make one of the most practical fighting dojos"the jun fan institute" ever made.( with a lttle american boxing, and tai chi thrown in") and then stripped out some of the inessentuals and made jeet kune do a style made specificly for streetfighting and is also technicaly a chinese style.

I don't for sure if Bruce Lee would have considered Jeet Kune Do a Chinese style; I think that it may have put some form of boundary on it, and he did not like boundaries. I would definitely agree that the root of JKD does come from Wing Chun principles, though. Therefore, it would have a base in some Chinese fighting principles. So, I guess you could go either way.

[Justin Treadaway]

Yeah the 5 animals is the first unarmed forms we learn. The order and forms teach a lesson. A lot of people dont understand the complexity of it all. How each animal teaches a different aspect of combat and life. How it teaches internal/exteral/circular/linear/long fist/short fist/etc. After we master those, we move on to mantis, monkey etc....Man I love our style. Its such a complete system, it teaches every aspect of fighting, ground/striking/deflections/trapping/locks/throws/falling/defending against knifes/tons of weapons/ etc etc. As for the Bruce Lee stuff, JKD is pretty much 95% wingchun with a few other styles thrown in.