KUNGFU IS NOT JUST COMBAT, IT IS ALSO SPIRITUAL
Felling is an important category of kungfu attacks. The picture shows Steven applying a felling technique on Joe during an Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course in 2005
The following discussion is reproduced from the thread Grappling and Kungfu started in the Shaolin Wahnam Discussion Forum on 18th April 2003
19th April 2003
| Good for you, at least you know people are going to try to take you down...many other martial artists never even consider this a possibility. |
For a period of about 30 years, many mainstream martial arts and martial sports forgot about wrestling and grappling, creating a serious weakness in their arts. This is the main reason for the success of Gracie Jujutsu, UFC, and the Grappling "fad." The "grapplers" pounced on the weakness in the "strikers" and made them look like fools.
However, this does not meant that, during the past 30 years or the 2000 years before that, practitioners of genuine Kungfu had the same weakness. They did not.
| ...arguing over whether the wrestler could get the boxer in a hold or if the boxer would just knock him out when he comes in. |
I wasn't talking about Boxing. Western Boxing is extremely vulnerable to Wrestling.
| Pro boxing and kickboxing champions are lucky if they can land ONE big strike before it goes to the ground |
I have yet to see any high-level Kickboxers fighting in UFC or the other NHB tournaments. In any case, we are talking about internal martial arts here. Landing one strike is more than enough.
Furthermore, there are many other "strikes" that can be landed during the transition from standing to grappling. In Kungfu, there are 4 categories of attack, Da, Ti, Die, Na (Striking, Kicking, Felling, Chin Na). If a grappler gets past my striking, kicking, and felling (easier said than done), then he still has to contend with my Chin Na.
Let's talk about some easy Chin Na. Ears are very easy to rip off. Eyes are easy to gouge from the ground. The larynx is quite easy to rip out of the throat. Interestingly, all of these "strikes" are illegal in UFC and Pride, let alone the more powerful applications of Chin Na. These are the kind of strikes I was talking about when I mentioned that grapplers are vulnerable for several seconds.
| if a striker who has no knowledge of the ground game fights a grappler who has no knowledge of the stand up, all other things equal, the grappler will almost definitely win. |
In my opinion, both of these fighters are incomplete. When talking about incomplete fighters and their arts, it is always a game of Rock, Paper, Scissor. I'm not interested in these games.
| So unless you are a better striker than the Kickboxers that have fought in the UFC |
I am. The strikers I have seen in UFC are a disgrace. None of them can even begin to compare to the Karate and Muay Thai masters I have met, let alone the Kungfu masters with internal force.
| So either you are an incredible grappler or your endurance is superhuman. |
He's both.
Anthony Korahais
Quatro Bajina
Shaolin Wahnam Indonesia
19th April 2003
J.J.Binks:
I am with Antonius on this one. Most of the UFC fighters don't even know how to punch properly. This is the reason why they use gloves right now. They broke their wrist when they punch.
IMO, the only good striker is Chuck Lidell who is the best UFC and PrideFC standup guy.
__________________
Franciskus
"Open Your Chest" Sifu Wong (Intensive Kungfu Course 11/23 -11/29/04)
In Shaolin Wahnam, kungfu is practiced not just for combat, spiritual cultivation is an essential aspect of our training. Here participants of an Intensive Shaolin Kungfu Course enjoy spiritual joy after a vigorous kungfu session.
KungFuJoe
Canada
19th April 2003
This is turning into a great discussion!
| Pro boxing and kickboxing champions are lucky if they can land ONE big strike before it goes to the ground, let alone knock the guy out |
True, but I honestly don't know of many kung-fu exponents that would strike with a closed fist. I certainly wouldn't.
Regarding kung-fu stylists neglecting ground fighting, has anyone ever seen the famous Butterly Palm set? It supposedly has a vast array of ground-fighting techniques.
| I just figured the best guys would come forward and fight, whereas I guess in actuality the best guys stay low while the worst guys come forward to test their skills |
It is interesting that people in the kung-fu community generally have laid low. But I suppose that kung-fu begins and ends as a spiritual journey. Those of us on that journey may love training great arts, even though we may not have ever seen UFC or know what K-1 is. I think we need kung-fu masters the same way we need great violinists, writers and painters. They make an immense gift to the world and help us to develop our spirit. Why focus on ring sports?
Anthony Korahais
USA
20th April 2003
| I just figured the best guys would come forward and fight whereas I guess in actuality the best guys stay low while the worst guys come forward to test their skills |
It's an interesting paradox. The people who are interested in UFC are usually those who have something to prove. The people who aren't interested in UFC are those who have nothing to prove, to themselves, or to the world.
In my experience, it is the man who has nothing to prove who is more powerful. He is further along the path. He has already been through youthful exuberance and the need to test himself. He has confidence in himself and his abilities. He is gentle and compassionate. He would run from a fight rather than hurt an opponent. He has nothing to prove to anyone.
A master of Iron Palm knows that his palm can kill. Wondering whether his Iron Palm can kill is the same as wondering whether a knife can kill. The hand of an Iron Palm master can be deadlier than a knife.
| As for labeling them a "disgrace", I think that is a rather harsh generalization for athletes who are willing to put it all on the line for millions to see by accepting this challenge, regardless of the outcome. |
I stopped watching these fights, so I don't know what is happening recently. Your description sounds like there is some skill these days. Maybe so, but what I saw was not skillful.
In the first 5 or 6 UFCs, I saw black belts who could not throw a proper kick, let alone a powerful kick with proper timing. I saw John Wayne punches. I saw so-called Kungfu fighters who not only didn't use Kungfu, but also used their borrowed arts so poorly that they have given Kungfu a bad reputation. I would call this a disgrace.
| I think we need kung-fu masters the same way we need great violinists, writers and painters. |
I like this sentence a lot, but maybe that's just because I'm also a writer and a violinist.
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