Funniest Musical Kata

[monkeygirl]

In my school's demonstrations, I do a kata to "Kung Fu Fighting". No special outfits, though.

 

My instructor wants me to do a kata in a Red White & Blue gi to some kind of patriotic song, like "God Bless America" or something like that.

 

 

[--]

Please do the civilized world a favor and beat your instructor over the head with a 2x4.

 

Hehe, just kiddin', muscial kata is sad but funny. Carry on.

 

 

[Taikudo-ka]

Hehe I flipped on the TV late the other night and saw a beaming black guy promising that I could get ripped for a low, low price.

 

I soon realized that I was not seeing the results of some new, amazingly liberal changes to our state's cannabis laws, but instead the master of all things related to "musical martial arts" - Billy Blanks, and his infamous Tae Bo.

 

"Punch, Punch, Clap, Clap, Kick, Starjump, Clap, Clap"...

 

My question is - why do something like this when you can do a "real" martial art, get the same fitness benefits, and learn SO much more on top? Why do a silly "musical" kata full of dance moves when there are plenty of "real" kata with combat-effective moves. Both will give you a similar physical workout if performed strenuously. But a real kata is so much more interesting and meaningful.

[--]

Because people are not quite as smart as psychologists would have us believe. They see punches, kicks, and pretty flashing lights, they'll go for it. Hook, line, and sinker.

 

 

[flash]

-:

 

 

 

You may want to eduacte yourself on the practice of Shaolin Wushu. There is much more to it than fancy forms. I for one have been involved with MA for almost 30 years practicing TKD, Kali/Escrima, Kenpo, and Seido. As of this moment I am training in Shaolin Wushu. If you think the art has no combat applicability I would suggest next time you are in the states you may want to stop by our studio.

 

 

[Iron Arahat]

I personally think that the "modern" wushu style paterns are flashy, and are more for a standardized judging of a persons form.

 

The more traditional Shaolin has a lot better combat application

[Don Gwinn]

Tai Kwon Leap, it might be more accurate to say that most "warriors" in the U.S. prefer not to train in schools where things like "musical kata" and "weapons forms competitions" are the norm. I didn't know there was such a thing as "musical kata" until I saw this thread, but if you pick up this month's "Black Belt" magazine, you'll see that the cover article (!) is a how-to guide on weapons routines. I thought that might be interesting, so I looked at it. It has NOTHING to do with fighting. It's a guide to choosing costumes that suit your style, weapons that look good with your body type, ways to impress judges, etc. Apparently these weapons forms are performed like little shows and have nothing to do with combat at all?

 

There are a LOT of people in the U.S. who consider themselves warriors. However, most of them spend most of their time on firearms, batons, knives, pepper spray, and if they study unarmed combat it's usually "combatives" or other mixed or modern styles. Most are not interested in learning how to bow or do kata.

 

I've just begun TKD after studying "Gun Foo" for quite awhile and I have to admit that it's a little irritating at times to be so bound by tradition. Last night my instructor told me that my stance is probably the best for fighting (45-degree angle from opponent) but he wants me to start with the "traditional" stance instead--body totally bladed to the enemy, like a handgun "dueling" stance. An old shoulder injury makes this difficult for me, but more importantly, why am I learning to use it if I'm not going to use it?

 

I just tell myself that I'm there to learn his ways, not to teach an art before I understand it myself, and there's probably a good reason.

 

There is certainly a lack of "warrior spirit" in America today, but that's not uncommon. In Japan, for instance, I know of one man who trained with knives and had to carry a knife hidden in a duffel bag because Japanese law forbids the carrying of weapons right down to screwdrivers and pliars! That's not exactly conducive to "Warrior Spirit."