Digital Martial Arts Connection
NO. 1 IN ARENA or NO. 1 IN COMBAT
As a humble learner of martial arts for over 10 years, thing has never change and I’m still not a master of any disciple. So, what really makes me continue of learning? The answer is always there.
Recently, I watched the well-known HK Block Buster – IP Man. It is tremendously assuring me that the mystery in behind of the words of ‘KungFu’ is infinite which worth for us to set sail the voyage into it. However, it suddenly comes to my mind that if I can execute WingChun on the stage of arena, how wonderful the fight will look like! Can you imagine when WingChun come across other martial arts like Taekwon-do, Jujitsu, Hapkido, Malay Silat, or even the fatal Muay Thai, how will the martial artists deliver their fists, kicks, or secret moves to overcome the attacks of others? Who will finally standing in ring?
Honestly, no one will able to get into the ring without wearing the safety gauges. I mean the least you still need to wear a pair of 12 oz gloves, gum shield, and groin protector. Then, you will see IP Man with this sissy look. Do you think he still can do the ‘Machine Gun Punches’ right into the face with the bulky boxing gloves? Do you think he still can break those Japs limps with little twist and turns? And definitely, you will not see him playing with the ‘Wooden Dummy’.
This is the point I would like to highlight here. I have come across with a lot of KungFu fanatics who is losing their faith on KungFu. The craze that started might be due to the peers effect or impulsive interest to know-how. But time has been testing their faithfulness over the arts. They will start to wonder what else they can harvest from this art, should they trade off the time with other more monetarily beneficial activity. What I call this is the ‘post KungFulongevism’ symptom. They have forgotten the reason of their existence in the martial art class, the goal for achievement during entrance after a long taxing period. So, here comes back the primary question. What is your reason of attending the Martial Art class? Are they testing the art or is the art testing them?
Just learn for fun? Learn to excel? Or learn to be the best? Most of us will say “I learn for my own goods and I can protect myself or even others when critical moment is there.” To me, this is a quite lame reason. This will never ever make anyone of us get to the point of success. In the end, you still can’t protect anyone. (Truthfully and honestly to swear to the God) You might walk away like the other losers with tons of repentant saying that nothing much you can learn after spending so much money and time.
So, if you have made up your mind to be elite. You should ask yourselves this question:
Do I want to be the best in combat fighting? Or perhaps the best fighter in the Arena rings?
If your answer is the former, then you should look for inspiration from this idol. (Bruce Lee) As when you follow the path of a real hero, you will know that the art is way beyond the fact of what you are looking for.
Otherwise, if you just wish to win more matches, tournament, more golden belt or hall of fame. Probably you will fall into this category. Learn and practice hard while you are still young and with hope. Next, live it up the way of a warrior, walk into the ring and win all the moneys home together with chicks and glory.
(Yodsaenklai-2005 Lumpinee Stadium Champion, Thailand)
The far most you can outstand from the history is create more miracle than those who had made as the great boxer in the chronicle of America Boxing Federation Championship. (Muhammad Ali,1964)
Somehow, we should think BIG in order to urge ourselves to accomplish more than expected.
Then, what next? The next thing you should consider is which disciple you love to go into. When the eastern art pumped into western art, in fact, it had started a new era of martial arts back in years ago around 1960 after World War 2. The communication and interaction of these arts grow and glow by its own through out the years. Plenty of the hidden martial arts have been revealed and displayed for the public especially Chinese KungFus.
I have cross trained a few types of martial arts. Firstly, I was begun with Chinese style arts from Chin Woo, the Chinese Martial Art Association. Then, went into MuayThai for some reason … I like violence. Later on, it was getting more mixed up with part of Judo, Taekwon-do, Karate-do, Akido, Six-inches Fist, etc. Moreover, I did made social visit to other training center to learn some San Sou Grapples. On top of that, a few of weapons also part of my learning objects like Sai, Arnis, Tonfa, Nunchaku, Kamas, etc. Now, you probably think that I’m kind of look like this. (Mr. Smiley Face)
Nevertheless, I discover the essential differences in between of these trainings. While I was learning Wushu, there are a lot of katas or forms training like Tan Tui, Kung Li Chuan, Hard Fist, Big Fighting, etc. and even the weaponry lessons were also structured into the set with the name of Pa Qua Dao (Broadsword), Shepard Pole, etc. It was a big time for my peers to grasp every single set of these moves. Anyhow, it left nothing in my mind of those sets. Now, can I fight with those moves? No, of course. These have been named as fancy moves from my current Sifu which was designed for demonstration sport. But, you still can earn trophy with these moves if you want. Then, I dropped Wushu. One aspect I appreciated is the Tan Tui set. Undeniably, it is one of the most effective fundamental exercises that can train up the physical ability and set the root for further advanced moves.
Currently, I’m training under my Sifu instruction. (What does he teaches?) Sometimes, I slipped out to other training centers to make social visit. (indeed, is a benchmarking analysis) I have been to a kickboxing training center mixed with some Wushu and San Sou. Thus, I made 1 or 2 courses of training over there. It was quite a well equipped and comfort zone for me. All the hanging sandbags were not sandbags. It’s soft like my home sweet home hugging pillow. Anyhow, all the students were kicking and fisting it robustly with a 12oz boxing glove. To me, it’s sissy. Irrefutably, the grappling technique from the San Sou was great. Notwithstanding it can be very fatal, I still find it impractical in using it for a real fight.
Later on, I visited another friend’s Muay Thai training center, fully equipped with the same training gadgets. However, I’m still also hitting the same ‘soft sponge’ with bouncing gloves. It was really a disappointment for me as how can a Muay Thai fighter been trained in such a lame way. It has been explained that to avoid sprain on the wrist for the beginners. Alright, allied with righteousness but contradict with my training principle. After the session ended, I can say that it’s the same. Now, one thing flashed to my mind. Is this a commercial franchising? How come the training method forms the similar picture? Now, I know how the society packages it to present to the front door of all kind of demands.
In fact, there is a little tiny element which may be thought supplementary but, to me, this is the crucial essence of Chinese KungFu - The Sifu-Discipleship. We all can simply carry the word Sifu around our talk, chit chatting about the good or bad of each other Sifu. We can even name anyone Sifu as long as the person teaches us something. However, the definition of the word Sifu has been fading in existing society. There is a proverb says:” One day of Sifuship, will be whole life of fatherhood.” Sifu has a great responsibility not just only inherit the martial arts to us, but also downloading the ethics and morals to the disciples. Ensure them to be at least an ethical person. This is the missing part in the current commercial competition of promoting all kinds of martial arts. Maybe there are people who still embedding it but what I can say here is it getting lesser and lesser.
Overall, all you need to do is determine which No.1 you are looking for. If you go for arena to get trophies, then, hoop into the reputable training center which used to train fighters for tournament. The chances to expose you for valuable experience are worth for the pay. On the hand, what if, you just want to be factual and realistic which learn to be able protect yourselves in any critical moment. I believe you need a truly honorable Sifu, master of its kind, and I’m having this kind of Sifu now. Techniques used in the ring will never be practical in the actual fight. However, if you have not thought so much, I bet you just wish to establish a healthy life through martial arts. Then, I probably can recommend you go for Chi Gong class, don’t waste time in practicing the techniques or sparring.
Take into your mind, choose your goal before choosing your Sifu.
Recently, I watched the well-known HK Block Buster – IP Man. It is tremendously assuring me that the mystery in behind of the words of ‘KungFu’ is infinite which worth for us to set sail the voyage into it. However, it suddenly comes to my mind that if I can execute WingChun on the stage of arena, how wonderful the fight will look like! Can you imagine when WingChun come across other martial arts like Taekwon-do, Jujitsu, Hapkido, Malay Silat, or even the fatal Muay Thai, how will the martial artists deliver their fists, kicks, or secret moves to overcome the attacks of others? Who will finally standing in ring?
Honestly, no one will able to get into the ring without wearing the safety gauges. I mean the least you still need to wear a pair of 12 oz gloves, gum shield, and groin protector. Then, you will see IP Man with this sissy look. Do you think he still can do the ‘Machine Gun Punches’ right into the face with the bulky boxing gloves? Do you think he still can break those Japs limps with little twist and turns? And definitely, you will not see him playing with the ‘Wooden Dummy’.
This is the point I would like to highlight here. I have come across with a lot of KungFu fanatics who is losing their faith on KungFu. The craze that started might be due to the peers effect or impulsive interest to know-how. But time has been testing their faithfulness over the arts. They will start to wonder what else they can harvest from this art, should they trade off the time with other more monetarily beneficial activity. What I call this is the ‘post KungFulongevism’ symptom. They have forgotten the reason of their existence in the martial art class, the goal for achievement during entrance after a long taxing period. So, here comes back the primary question. What is your reason of attending the Martial Art class? Are they testing the art or is the art testing them?
Just learn for fun? Learn to excel? Or learn to be the best? Most of us will say “I learn for my own goods and I can protect myself or even others when critical moment is there.” To me, this is a quite lame reason. This will never ever make anyone of us get to the point of success. In the end, you still can’t protect anyone. (Truthfully and honestly to swear to the God) You might walk away like the other losers with tons of repentant saying that nothing much you can learn after spending so much money and time.
So, if you have made up your mind to be elite. You should ask yourselves this question:
Do I want to be the best in combat fighting? Or perhaps the best fighter in the Arena rings?
If your answer is the former, then you should look for inspiration from this idol. (Bruce Lee) As when you follow the path of a real hero, you will know that the art is way beyond the fact of what you are looking for.
Otherwise, if you just wish to win more matches, tournament, more golden belt or hall of fame. Probably you will fall into this category. Learn and practice hard while you are still young and with hope. Next, live it up the way of a warrior, walk into the ring and win all the moneys home together with chicks and glory.
(Yodsaenklai-2005 Lumpinee Stadium Champion, Thailand)
The far most you can outstand from the history is create more miracle than those who had made as the great boxer in the chronicle of America Boxing Federation Championship. (Muhammad Ali,1964)
Somehow, we should think BIG in order to urge ourselves to accomplish more than expected.
Then, what next? The next thing you should consider is which disciple you love to go into. When the eastern art pumped into western art, in fact, it had started a new era of martial arts back in years ago around 1960 after World War 2. The communication and interaction of these arts grow and glow by its own through out the years. Plenty of the hidden martial arts have been revealed and displayed for the public especially Chinese KungFus.
I have cross trained a few types of martial arts. Firstly, I was begun with Chinese style arts from Chin Woo, the Chinese Martial Art Association. Then, went into MuayThai for some reason … I like violence. Later on, it was getting more mixed up with part of Judo, Taekwon-do, Karate-do, Akido, Six-inches Fist, etc. Moreover, I did made social visit to other training center to learn some San Sou Grapples. On top of that, a few of weapons also part of my learning objects like Sai, Arnis, Tonfa, Nunchaku, Kamas, etc. Now, you probably think that I’m kind of look like this. (Mr. Smiley Face)
Nevertheless, I discover the essential differences in between of these trainings. While I was learning Wushu, there are a lot of katas or forms training like Tan Tui, Kung Li Chuan, Hard Fist, Big Fighting, etc. and even the weaponry lessons were also structured into the set with the name of Pa Qua Dao (Broadsword), Shepard Pole, etc. It was a big time for my peers to grasp every single set of these moves. Anyhow, it left nothing in my mind of those sets. Now, can I fight with those moves? No, of course. These have been named as fancy moves from my current Sifu which was designed for demonstration sport. But, you still can earn trophy with these moves if you want. Then, I dropped Wushu. One aspect I appreciated is the Tan Tui set. Undeniably, it is one of the most effective fundamental exercises that can train up the physical ability and set the root for further advanced moves.
Currently, I’m training under my Sifu instruction. (What does he teaches?) Sometimes, I slipped out to other training centers to make social visit. (indeed, is a benchmarking analysis) I have been to a kickboxing training center mixed with some Wushu and San Sou. Thus, I made 1 or 2 courses of training over there. It was quite a well equipped and comfort zone for me. All the hanging sandbags were not sandbags. It’s soft like my home sweet home hugging pillow. Anyhow, all the students were kicking and fisting it robustly with a 12oz boxing glove. To me, it’s sissy. Irrefutably, the grappling technique from the San Sou was great. Notwithstanding it can be very fatal, I still find it impractical in using it for a real fight.
Later on, I visited another friend’s Muay Thai training center, fully equipped with the same training gadgets. However, I’m still also hitting the same ‘soft sponge’ with bouncing gloves. It was really a disappointment for me as how can a Muay Thai fighter been trained in such a lame way. It has been explained that to avoid sprain on the wrist for the beginners. Alright, allied with righteousness but contradict with my training principle. After the session ended, I can say that it’s the same. Now, one thing flashed to my mind. Is this a commercial franchising? How come the training method forms the similar picture? Now, I know how the society packages it to present to the front door of all kind of demands.
In fact, there is a little tiny element which may be thought supplementary but, to me, this is the crucial essence of Chinese KungFu - The Sifu-Discipleship. We all can simply carry the word Sifu around our talk, chit chatting about the good or bad of each other Sifu. We can even name anyone Sifu as long as the person teaches us something. However, the definition of the word Sifu has been fading in existing society. There is a proverb says:” One day of Sifuship, will be whole life of fatherhood.” Sifu has a great responsibility not just only inherit the martial arts to us, but also downloading the ethics and morals to the disciples. Ensure them to be at least an ethical person. This is the missing part in the current commercial competition of promoting all kinds of martial arts. Maybe there are people who still embedding it but what I can say here is it getting lesser and lesser.
Overall, all you need to do is determine which No.1 you are looking for. If you go for arena to get trophies, then, hoop into the reputable training center which used to train fighters for tournament. The chances to expose you for valuable experience are worth for the pay. On the hand, what if, you just want to be factual and realistic which learn to be able protect yourselves in any critical moment. I believe you need a truly honorable Sifu, master of its kind, and I’m having this kind of Sifu now. Techniques used in the ring will never be practical in the actual fight. However, if you have not thought so much, I bet you just wish to establish a healthy life through martial arts. Then, I probably can recommend you go for Chi Gong class, don’t waste time in practicing the techniques or sparring.
Take into your mind, choose your goal before choosing your Sifu.
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