Martial Arts

Power, not really. Board breaking is a technique-oriented skill. That technique, however, is only good for breaking boards and brittle objects. The boards are even specially cut so that they can break it. I'd like to see a board breaker break a 2X4 piece of lumber from the hardware store.

Sword fighting isn't about power at all either, it's about cutting and not getting cut. Well, unless you are talking about Claymores and other mid century bashing tools that were called swords.
 
thaiboxerken said:

Sword fighting isn't about power at all either, it's about cutting and not getting cut. Well, unless you are talking about Claymores and other mid century bashing tools that were called swords.
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Now there's a useful self-defense skill. I think I have a better chance of being attacked by a board than someone with a sword. ;)
 
BTox said:
Now there's a useful self-defense skill. I think I have a better chance of being attacked by a board than someone with a sword. ;)
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It's not a self-defence skill; it's to entertain the crowds. That's why board breaking is called bugei (martial entertainment), not bujutsu (arts of combat).
 
BTox said:
Now there's a useful self-defense skill. I think I have a better chance of being attacked by a board than someone with a sword. ;)
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It's not a self-defence skill; it's to entertain the crowds. That's why board breaking is called bugei (martial entertainment), not bujutsu (arts of combat).
 
BTox said:


Now there's a useful self-defense skill. I think I have a better chance of being attacked by a board than someone with a sword. ;)
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Ahh, but in my martial arts, when learning to fight with a sword, one is learning to fight with all melee weapons and anything that could be improvised. Breaking boards is, as Kimpatsu pointed out, for just entertainment..... like mediumship.
 
thaiboxerken said:


Ahh, but in my martial arts, when learning to fight with a sword, one is learning to fight with all melee weapons and anything that could be improvised. Breaking boards is, as Kimpatsu pointed out, for just entertainment..... like mediumship.
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Yeah, I know. Weapons are cool. Still haven't ever seen a street thug toting excalibur, though.
 
Yea, but knives are pretty common. The movements are the same. That's why I like Kali, it teaches movement groups instead of just one weapon at a time.
 
thaiboxerken said:

Ahh, but in my martial arts, when learning to fight with a sword, one is learning to fight with all melee weapons and anything that could be improvised.
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Sooo... why not just learn to fight with pipes, sticks, or whatever will be on "the street" instead of swords?
 
I practice a bit of taijiquan jian (straight sword), but more for exercise and meditation, and only for a little of the self-defense.

I agree, no one will attack me with a sword, and it would be more realistic to learn how to use a staff.
 
T'ai Chi said:


Sooo... why not just learn to fight with pipes, sticks, or whatever will be on "the street" instead of swords?
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We do and we are. We train with sticks, because messing up with a sword would be bad. We also train with dummy knives, scarves, ropes and all sorts of other weapons. Were you reading what I said, when training the sword we are training to us anything as a weapon.
 
Swords are not common, but they do crop up. Machetes are on the increase in street usage too. However, the principle idea in using a sword is to generate the attributes associated with it - timing, reflex, muscle endurance etc..

You wouldn't really expect to jump rope in front of an assailant, but the benefit from the exercise can compliment your fighting ability.
 
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Meditating during the sword form? It's more commonly used to train precision in movement and jing. The sabre (dao) is probably the most useful for "the street"(TM) as it helps you wield or defend against most swing attacks - eg baseball bats. The spear is my all-round favourite though.
 
Yes, the spear is very good for training fa-jing. I have been studying martial arts for 30 years, currently Xingyiquan.
The jings(jinns) are very real and are based on relaxed whole body power, chi has nothing at all to do with fighting.

I have seen many things that seem magical done by students of Hung I Hsiang, but they are all products of proper training of the tendons, ligaments and connective tissue and how to use the whole body during a movement.

For example:

I have had my arm pulled out of socket by an internal master using just his pinkies. (Ouch)
 
I wish I could place the quote but years back someone on a mailing list I was on (neijia) quoted someone from Chenjiagou as saying "when those old guys talked about qi they meant leg strength". Just because it's the same word doesn't mean it's the same thing referred to. "I love my wife", "I love chocolate chip cookies" - anyone who doesn't realise I'm talking about quite different things there, qualitatively different, needs some serious therapy. And, uhhh, I'm not accepting a cookie from them. :eek:
 
Well the first of his "whip" videos looks like the reverse slap using the old shukokai "double hip" technique. The second is....well just deflection really. Seen it many times and never once had to ascribe anything mysterious to it. But then I guess it is less sellable if ANYONE can do it!
 
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