Posts
(newest first)
Monday, April 11, 2005
Practice? For what?
Why do you practice martial arts? The generalised answer is Self-Improvement
I have seen Hung Kuen practised in the traditional way, and have trained with my cousin who learnt it in my home village, and I know it is completely different. In defence of Eastern teachers in the West, I would say that they might lean towards teaching a form of martial art which could be used to compete in British/Euro comps. Consequently, it loses some of its genuine, Oriental flavour.
Of course you could argue one shouldn't teach a lot of stuff to ppl who don't deserve to learn it. Should there be a retention of knowledge amongst master and student, or should a master teach everything he knows? I think a Master should teach with the aim of making the student surpass himself...
One shouldn't measure one's ability against others, because there is always someone better. I've met some of those ppl!!! I know I'm a fair hand at sparring amongst my immediate peers
and training partners, and I can turn on some skill in a form, but, as I've said before, ten years of training, and I would not pit myself against someone who had trained an equal length of time in China, learning traditional Southern Style Shaolin Fists. The depth of learning compared with what is available here is a different concept, as far as I can tell.
I still go by my original definition though, martial arts are a form of defence and offence, and in the classes, I focus on these two concepts, and pass on what little I know to those who know even less!
TOM: Ok ok, this is just me here and you might say that perhaps I'm just a spaz that didn't pick up what Master Ang was trying to teach me all those years, but I don't think thats it. Even now after 3 and a half years here, I understand a lot more than I can actually do, so I know that I can't even do the basics well now. This is what frustrates me because master ang could have got me over this basic beginning stage a lot earlier if he had wanted.
ME: Hmmmm, perhaps you don't realise that a punch is a punch is a punch?
Yet one martial art will teach you to punch differently than another, I cite Karate and Wing Chun for example, if you look at the discrepancies of their basic punches... However, I also agree and disagree... Is it better to know that you do not know, or better to not know you do not know? If you know something beforehand, you can and will create preconceptions. Perhaps it can be wiser to learn things you know nothing about, than to learn something you think you already know? Do you know what I am talking about? Perhaps it doesn't apply, but again, I find your judgement of master Ang a bit harsh, afterall, training and self-improvement begins with self, and you can't fob off your lacking on others. Not trying to dis you, what I
mean is, if, as you say, you cannot perform basics even now, perhaps you have reached a plateau which you cannot surpass with your current teacher? (you're crap :D ) It has been said by others before that Master Ang is not a great teacher, although I do not entirely disagree. there's no question he is a master of his style, but had I some of his ability, I know I could teach it well, which comes from being a teacher for several years, and having an innate sense of seeing things which are wrong, and showing others how to make it right. I am not critical enough, and sometimes I feel I should be because, when instructing the class, I am wearing a hat which says I am an expert (although, I do not believe I am in any way), so my criticism of
someone's effort is often taken seriously and worked on. I know I am not crititative enough and I would put it that Master Ang is even less so. There is a line where critique turns into pedantery, and pettiness, but in a class I expect the teaching body to point out mistakes and so allow the student to rectify it, correct me if I'm wrong (geddit!!!!).
I've sparred and trained with ppl who I have thought as very good, and who don't necessarily do HungKuen, guys like Danny and Kam who are TKD and Ben and Kieron who are now more boxing/ground fighters, as well as guys like Andy Ten, who is just super dedicated and quite nails. I have a pattern in my mind and muscle memory of what is effective and what is not in a confrontation, and I have used my arsenal of *weapons* in order to overcome opposition in sparring and often to good advantage. I have a great lacking in ground techniques, having only had several lessons in Budo. My point is, it doesn't matter what you do, as long as you are effective at it. I love watching the Capoeira guys when they perform, and I probably could learn a lot their moves and crazy kicks (modest!!) but I cannot see if such techniques would be applicable in a confrontation and I would resort to a simple lock or kick to the groin, given the provocation. So I return to my question, what is a Martial Art?
J
Wanna know more about improving your punches whatever skill you practice?
Check out The Punch Papers in the products section here.
I have seen Hung Kuen practised in the traditional way, and have trained with my cousin who learnt it in my home village, and I know it is completely different. In defence of Eastern teachers in the West, I would say that they might lean towards teaching a form of martial art which could be used to compete in British/Euro comps. Consequently, it loses some of its genuine, Oriental flavour.
Of course you could argue one shouldn't teach a lot of stuff to ppl who don't deserve to learn it. Should there be a retention of knowledge amongst master and student, or should a master teach everything he knows? I think a Master should teach with the aim of making the student surpass himself...
One shouldn't measure one's ability against others, because there is always someone better. I've met some of those ppl!!! I know I'm a fair hand at sparring amongst my immediate peers
and training partners, and I can turn on some skill in a form, but, as I've said before, ten years of training, and I would not pit myself against someone who had trained an equal length of time in China, learning traditional Southern Style Shaolin Fists. The depth of learning compared with what is available here is a different concept, as far as I can tell.
I still go by my original definition though, martial arts are a form of defence and offence, and in the classes, I focus on these two concepts, and pass on what little I know to those who know even less!
TOM: Ok ok, this is just me here and you might say that perhaps I'm just a spaz that didn't pick up what Master Ang was trying to teach me all those years, but I don't think thats it. Even now after 3 and a half years here, I understand a lot more than I can actually do, so I know that I can't even do the basics well now. This is what frustrates me because master ang could have got me over this basic beginning stage a lot earlier if he had wanted.
ME: Hmmmm, perhaps you don't realise that a punch is a punch is a punch?
Yet one martial art will teach you to punch differently than another, I cite Karate and Wing Chun for example, if you look at the discrepancies of their basic punches... However, I also agree and disagree... Is it better to know that you do not know, or better to not know you do not know? If you know something beforehand, you can and will create preconceptions. Perhaps it can be wiser to learn things you know nothing about, than to learn something you think you already know? Do you know what I am talking about? Perhaps it doesn't apply, but again, I find your judgement of master Ang a bit harsh, afterall, training and self-improvement begins with self, and you can't fob off your lacking on others. Not trying to dis you, what I
mean is, if, as you say, you cannot perform basics even now, perhaps you have reached a plateau which you cannot surpass with your current teacher? (you're crap :D ) It has been said by others before that Master Ang is not a great teacher, although I do not entirely disagree. there's no question he is a master of his style, but had I some of his ability, I know I could teach it well, which comes from being a teacher for several years, and having an innate sense of seeing things which are wrong, and showing others how to make it right. I am not critical enough, and sometimes I feel I should be because, when instructing the class, I am wearing a hat which says I am an expert (although, I do not believe I am in any way), so my criticism of
someone's effort is often taken seriously and worked on. I know I am not crititative enough and I would put it that Master Ang is even less so. There is a line where critique turns into pedantery, and pettiness, but in a class I expect the teaching body to point out mistakes and so allow the student to rectify it, correct me if I'm wrong (geddit!!!!).
I've sparred and trained with ppl who I have thought as very good, and who don't necessarily do HungKuen, guys like Danny and Kam who are TKD and Ben and Kieron who are now more boxing/ground fighters, as well as guys like Andy Ten, who is just super dedicated and quite nails. I have a pattern in my mind and muscle memory of what is effective and what is not in a confrontation, and I have used my arsenal of *weapons* in order to overcome opposition in sparring and often to good advantage. I have a great lacking in ground techniques, having only had several lessons in Budo. My point is, it doesn't matter what you do, as long as you are effective at it. I love watching the Capoeira guys when they perform, and I probably could learn a lot their moves and crazy kicks (modest!!) but I cannot see if such techniques would be applicable in a confrontation and I would resort to a simple lock or kick to the groin, given the provocation. So I return to my question, what is a Martial Art?
J
Wanna know more about improving your punches whatever skill you practice?
Check out The Punch Papers in the products section here.
