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Post by Suhana LIM on Sept 22, 2004 8:12:10 GMT -5
Da jia hao In today's world, everyone wants to do everything instantly. Martial arts unfortunately can't escape this "instant "mentality practice. One can easily bragging that he is the master, expert, and other self-praised titles. Martial arts is something that need time, patient and hard works to achieved and mastered. One can not absorbs the arts in forthnight. So if someone thinks and feels that he can "advanced" his skill to the highest level by attending seminars, watching videos is something hilarious ;D We can have instant food but unfortunately we can not apply it in learning the arts. What is your opinion about this matter? Cheers.
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Post by nothingness on Sept 22, 2004 11:46:41 GMT -5
Aside from that, people often forget that MA training is about the journey and not about the destination.
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Post by pakhok on Sept 22, 2004 19:39:44 GMT -5
Nothingness wrote:
So true.
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Post by Eric Ling on Sept 22, 2004 19:59:15 GMT -5
Hi Suhana Nin Hao, I agree with most of your comments. I see this as a general decline of traditional kung fu and conventions. Traditional practices are sadly, an exception rather than the rule these days. During my Sifu’s day, one is always asked “What pai do your come from and who is your Sifu?” This is to establish lineage, your credentials are tied to your lineage!!! Sticking to a style and a Sifu for a long time was a virtue. Today, like you described, “instant mentality”, is prevalent. Many self-styled “experts and authorities” are no more than books and videos collector. When you watch these folks in action, you see very little roots or foundations. But they do alright in their countries because, generally, folks there cannot tell the difference. When you have these “experts” all dressed up in traditional kung fu costumes and doing exotic movements, it is easy to pass off as “the real thing”. Better still, if you speak a little Chinese and deliver some philosophical mumbo-jumbo, you’re unquestionably “the one”. This situation is particularly acute in my style of Kung Fu – White Crane. There are so many frauds and charlatans that it is really baffling! Why is White Crane singled out – I have absolutely no clue. But they couldn’t have picked a more complex art to mimic. Quite unlike other kung fu, it is relatively simple to tell a White Crane fake or a self-taught practitioner. Fukien White Crane exponents spent much time training their “Geng” and this oozes from every technique they do. Fuzhou Cranes, straddling both internal and external ideals, have a very singular manner of physical expression that only materializes after many years of polishing under proper guidance!!! You could say that we are an ultra-traditional form of Kung Fu – without a Sifu, it is really quite impossible to reach anything meaningful. I knew this a long time ago and that is the reason I stuck to my Sifu for so many years in order to receive the art. I don’t mind doing seminars/workshops to give folks snapshots of what we do. Even circulating “documentary” type videos is still ok. But you’re right; there will be those who will turn “instant experts” after getting these. And really, if you look across the entire spectrum of traditional kung fu styles, this issue is slowly eroding the standards and status of many CMA. Which is why I appreciate folks like you – not motivated by fame of fortune. Doing it to safeguard the old ways. I got a very good friend in the US with 40 some years in martial art training and we talked plenty about the old and new “improved” ways of training. He likes to say: - Folk make changes only when they don’t get it. I think that is so true. My friend is “oldragon” in this forum. ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Suhana LIM on Sept 23, 2004 7:01:35 GMT -5
Da jia hao Modern technologies make our lives much easier. We can't denied that fact. We can do almost everything in seconds. Communicating become so handy, thanks to internet. But technologies can not replacing the task of a sifu/teacher. One can learn forms or styles by reading books or watching videos. But at the end of the day, he can only imitating the movements. He will miss a far more important aspects of the arts. The tips and tricks, martial morality, spirit of the arts, they are something that one can not absorb by learning from books or films. Books and films are no substitute for the instruction from a sifu. Cheers.
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Post by CStephens on Sept 23, 2004 15:55:41 GMT -5
Books and films are no substitute for the instruction from a sifu. Cheers. Indeed. I very much enjoy picking up videos and books of other styles. It's like watching a documentary. Interesting, but it's not going to make the the "Invincible Kung Fu (or Karate) Fighter." Unfortunately. I did, however, go through an "I wanna learn from a book!" phase when I was a gimp.
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Post by brad pitbull on Sept 23, 2004 18:40:17 GMT -5
learning kungfu is a way of life...its all about brotherhood,sometimes the rivalry between styles,its also about being a better person..through practice of the arts and contact training. up until now...Konghan ONLY receives students via patrons/sponsors/recomendations...u name it...never if not seldom we accept walk in students. this will help safeguard our brand of ngo chor kun. even at the cost of extinction. this art has been a tresure handed down to us and must be kept safe. its actually a pain in my heart to see people just coming to learn our forms and not the essence and doing the forms properly. i cant see the dedication. im no martial arts genius.i am sloppy and i have poor coordination...but through practice and hardwork i got myself closer to being a kungfu-a skilled man. its all hard work...its not kungfu for nothing...
as for the fastfood mentality...i think this is the reason why people think kungfu is fake/useless...u see people prcticing poorly. and then got into a fight and does things wrong...who will take the blame? the style and the shifu...tsktsktsk...kungfu/Ngochorkun is very street worthy and it did save my lifemoe than 2x on the streets..the latest and worst being last april 12 where i got the chance to fight 4 robbers inside a smal jeepney (like a tuktuk,only 4x bigger)...
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Post by Suhana LIM on Sept 24, 2004 19:36:08 GMT -5
learning kungfu is a way of life...its all about brotherhood,sometimes the rivalry between styles,its also about being a better person..through practice of the arts and contact training. up until now...Konghan ONLY receives students via patrons/sponsors/recomendations...u name it...never if not seldom we accept walk in students. this will help safeguard our brand of ngo chor kun. even at the cost of extinction. this art has been a tresure handed down to us and must be kept safe. its actually a pain in my heart to see people just coming to learn our forms and not the essence and doing the forms properly. i cant see the dedication. im no martial arts genius.i am sloppy and i have poor coordination...but through practice and hardwork i got myself closer to being a kungfu-a skilled man. its all hard work...its not kungfu for nothing... as for the fastfood mentality...i think this is the reason why people think kungfu is fake/useless...u see people prcticing poorly. and then got into a fight and does things wrong...who will take the blame? the style and the shifu...tsktsktsk...kungfu/Ngochorkun is very street worthy and it did save my lifemoe than 2x on the streets..the latest and worst being last april 12 where i got the chance to fight 4 robbers inside a smal jeepney (like a tuktuk,only 4x bigger)... Pitbull ni hao I agree with you. It's better to have few students but they are in good quality than have a big bukoan but slack students. Most important also the characters of the students. Because if they do something bad it will not only dishonor themselves but bring shame to the lineage. Cheers.
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Post by brad pitbull on Sept 24, 2004 20:28:31 GMT -5
thats exactly it. thats why masters are reluctant to teach students unfamiliar to them...
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Post by Suhana LIM on Sept 24, 2004 21:46:01 GMT -5
Pitbull ni hao For some people who don't understand, they will your sifu is "exclusive". But personally, I prefer to pass on my knowledge and arts to the individual that I can fully trust. Of course it's nice and proud and not to mention the money we can get if we have many students. But we also have to consider the responsibility of look after the goodwill of our lineage. GOOD NAME IS IMPORTANT. Cheers.
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Wanderer
Full Member
Practice, practice and practice
Posts: 143
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Post by Wanderer on Sept 29, 2004 23:55:41 GMT -5
LOL;
On school and students;
The class may enroll 25 or more students.
After 1 week of Ma Bu Zhuang, there will be 10 left.
After another week of Ma Bu plus San Ti Shi, there will be 5 left.
On the third week of Ma Bu, San Ti Shi and 5 elements punches, there will be 2 left.
On the last day of 4 weeks' class, only me show up.
Me is the teacher.
This is reality of students in any modern Wushu club or schools.
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Post by Suhana LIM on Sept 30, 2004 6:06:23 GMT -5
Wanderer ni hao It's sad sometimes to see how different the youngsters today. Or maybe it's completely "different" era than we used to have? Cheers.
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Post by nothingness on Oct 2, 2004 1:50:34 GMT -5
In a country well protected by the system (police, law, etc.), there is no need for someone to be strong. Just dial 911.
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Post by Suhana LIM on Oct 3, 2004 0:10:48 GMT -5
In a country well protected by the system (police, law, etc.), there is no need for someone to be strong. Just dial 911. Da jia ni men hao It maybe one of the reasons why younger people don't think it's is important to train. But even if the systems already work well, there will be time when one must be able to defend himself before the "help" arrive. Cheers.
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Post by nothingness on Oct 4, 2004 16:49:30 GMT -5
A few anti-minority riots will help them to develop that sense
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