Breathe in, Breathe out. Don't forget to breathe. - Mr. Miyagi.
While I didn't intentionally troll with my skill and shaolin threads it seems it has baited a few of you.
Just like I told Teh to get over what the folks at bullshido say, we all got to not take Teh's comments so personally. Sure, he could tone down his approach but his points (when he's not sniping) is valid. In life, you can't hope everyone you meet will have YOUR best interest at heart.
I'm really disappointed that the traditional shaolin thread got locked before I could respond. Teh's response that what the monk was doing is a bubble is why I posted it.
If you look at everything through a UFC/NHB lens, then traditional Chinese martial arts have very little to offer. I've said it before, if you want to win in NHB comps, you need to train for NHB comps.
Outside of a the NHB lens, what the monk was doing was a great beginning. No where in that session did he claim to train his guys for comps. He's making sure their forms have meaning. Most guys are afraid to ask because they don't want to get hit.
That's the difference between modern teaching and old kung fu. When I was in Malaysia, several masters told me that they may not take much money but they may take your teeth. I remember when I was coming up, Subitai and I were always volunteering to be the "subject" Not only does it make Sifu show us things, but as the subject, you feel the energy that is suppose to be there. There is no other way to calibrate what you are doing.
In my not so humble opinion, this is the bubble that kung fu is in. Many students taking Sifu's words without testing. From experience, what I thought he meant and what he really meant are not always the same thing until you feel it.
Grapplers have a great medium to feel and test their ideas. Kung Fu does too but it requires a whole lot more trust in your partner. Teh showed the accident the other grappler had. That's actually pretty rare. In old school kung fu training, it would be common. Subitai even broke a guys arm in the middle of the bone doing sam sing. I've had sprains and cuts all over. Dislocation is easy.
MMAs are in their own bubble too. IF it doesn't work in the ring, they disregard it. For the competitor, it's a wise move. Why train something that won't help you win. Look at the vid Subitai showed of one of the more vocal grapplers on the internet getting chained punched to the ground.
So the point of this post is for everyone to breathe. I tried to show both sides of the coin. everyone has different experiences and I'd like to think this is a good place to come and share them. Your goal should not be to change everyone's mind. Get your point out and let it go. If someone likes it, OK. If someone disagrees, OK. In those rare cases, you get real discourse and you may learn something. I know I do.
Peace.
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