To simply practice forms and techniques, the physical aspects of martial art is to be but a mere brute. To solely read martial books without doing any physical training is to be but a weak scholar. Thus, for a real martial artist, he or she must do both.
In terms of martial arts, it is better to think of it as being analogous to religion. Every martial discipline is a different religion; the martial schools are the temples or church, and the Masters are the foremost authority within such an institution. However, despite the Masters being the foremost authority in a martial school, they are by no means the sole authority of a martial style because they are but one Master and they can only offer their own perspective pertaining to the discipline. There are hundreds and thousands of other Masters of the same discipline; everyone is able to perceive an aspect of the martial style but no one is able to comprehend it in its entirety. Thus, in order for a martial artist to perceive more and gain a better understanding of their Art, they must become a voracious reader. They must read as many martial books as possible.
Once a martial artist has gained a proficient understanding of their respective martial style, they should also read martial books of other martial disciplines. The reason being, if you'll excuse me for being polytheistic, focusing on a particular martial style is analogous to worshipping only one deity; one must be exposed and understand the nature of other deities in order to gain a greater understanding of religion.
Thinking from a larger scope perspective, initially one should treat their martial discipline as their personal religion but as they progress as a martial artist, they must step out of that limited mentality and regard martial art in general as a single religion.
The martial books, even if they be diverse, different on the surface for belonging to different martial disciplines, they are all different routes towards the same eventual goal: the understanding of martial art.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Kung fu weapons
In terms of weapons in martial arts, unlike the days of old, Kung fu weapons are no longer used as a means of self defense or survival. In California, an individual can at the most, carry a knife that is four inches in length. However, Kung fu weapons are still used these days in wushu and traditional martial training regimens for respective reasons. Primarily for contemporary Wushu practitioners, they utilize Kung fu weapons in their forms during performances in competitions.
For traditional martial artists, they incorporate Kung fu weapons in their training because by practicing with Kung fu weapons, their upper body becomes much stronger than a normal traditional martial artist who does not train with Kung fu weapons. In a fighting situation, the weapon user will be able to deliver a much stronger punches, forearm techniques etc. than a normal martial artist. In short, Kung fu weapon wielders, overtime will be able to have a higher base damage behind their attacks due to their working with weapons.
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For traditional martial artists, they incorporate Kung fu weapons in their training because by practicing with Kung fu weapons, their upper body becomes much stronger than a normal traditional martial artist who does not train with Kung fu weapons. In a fighting situation, the weapon user will be able to deliver a much stronger punches, forearm techniques etc. than a normal martial artist. In short, Kung fu weapon wielders, overtime will be able to have a higher base damage behind their attacks due to their working with weapons.
Martial Arts MartMartial dvds
Martial dvds are useful when a martial practitioner is under the guidance of a traditional master or if one is a student of a discipline that requires the performances of various forms in order to rise up in ranks such as that of Karate. With the various activities and schedules one has in his or her life it is common for a martial artist to forget a segment of a particular form. However, in terms of traditional Masters, they want their student/disciples to ask them insightful questions pertaining to their art instead of frequently asking them how to perform a certain segment of a form. With martial dvds, a martial practitioner will be able to spare themselves the potential forgetfulness and embarrassment by reviewing their martial discipline's forms at their own private leisure. In addition, depending on the martial dvds one decides to get, individuals might also discover new applications towards the forms because certain Masters include a variety of applications in their martial dvds.
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Martial Arts MartMartial Art equipment
Martial artists employ Martial art equipments in their training regimen for primarily two reasons: correct method of training and avoiding negative consequences while reaping the same result.
In terms of correct method of training for instance, say if a martial practitioner wishes to train in the Iron Palm skill. Online and within certain books, there are erroneous conditioning methods that states one should cover layers of bricks with a simple cloth and keep on hitting it for a period of 90 days or six months and voila, there you have it, iron palm within such a limited time span. Such training is without a doubt, wrong. If one were to follow through with such a conditioning, the practitioner will simply be killing the nerves and joints in their hands during the course of their foolhardy training. Conventionally, a practitioner of Iron Palm first starts off hitting bags that are filled with green bean for a period of over six months before moving on to bags filled with gravel. Then after a practitioner is used to hitting the gravel bag, they will move on to bags filled with steel shots. As one will see, martial artists often turn to martial art equipments such as the mentioned green bean, gravel and steel shot bags to ensure that their body is conditioned and trained properly during the course of their marital career. In doing so, they are eliminating any potential risks and unnecessary injuries towards their body.
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Also, instead of performing traditional conditionings, martial artists can utilize martial equipments to reap the same result without bringing harm to their bodies. For instance, if one wishes to enhance their finger strength, there is a traditional method in which an individual assumes a push-up position while letting their fingers support the majority of their body weight. As they age, their fingers will undergo severe damage as a result. However, in utilizing a martial equipment such as a gyro ball for instance, one can obtain the same benefits offered by the traditional conditioning without bringing harm to their fingers.
In terms of correct method of training for instance, say if a martial practitioner wishes to train in the Iron Palm skill. Online and within certain books, there are erroneous conditioning methods that states one should cover layers of bricks with a simple cloth and keep on hitting it for a period of 90 days or six months and voila, there you have it, iron palm within such a limited time span. Such training is without a doubt, wrong. If one were to follow through with such a conditioning, the practitioner will simply be killing the nerves and joints in their hands during the course of their foolhardy training. Conventionally, a practitioner of Iron Palm first starts off hitting bags that are filled with green bean for a period of over six months before moving on to bags filled with gravel. Then after a practitioner is used to hitting the gravel bag, they will move on to bags filled with steel shots. As one will see, martial artists often turn to martial art equipments such as the mentioned green bean, gravel and steel shot bags to ensure that their body is conditioned and trained properly during the course of their marital career. In doing so, they are eliminating any potential risks and unnecessary injuries towards their body.
Martial Arts MartAlso, instead of performing traditional conditionings, martial artists can utilize martial equipments to reap the same result without bringing harm to their bodies. For instance, if one wishes to enhance their finger strength, there is a traditional method in which an individual assumes a push-up position while letting their fingers support the majority of their body weight. As they age, their fingers will undergo severe damage as a result. However, in utilizing a martial equipment such as a gyro ball for instance, one can obtain the same benefits offered by the traditional conditioning without bringing harm to their fingers.
Martial Art Uniforms
Normal clothing, depending on the fabric, will often compromise a martial artist's action. For instance, if a martial artist were to wear a pair of jeans during practice, the individual will not be able to punch, kick or stretch as well. Martial art uniforms are worn during practice to ensure a martial artist's maximum performance and movement capability.
Besides physical performance, martial art uniforms are worn for a variety of other reasons. Often martial artists will wear martial art uniforms as a means of conveying their sense of loyalty towards the school of their respective discipline. A secondary reason martial artists wear martial art uniforms during practice is to be able to better enhance their spirit as they practice. Colloquially it can be seen as "getting them into the mood" as they perform their techniques and forms. By wearing martial art uniforms, a practitioner's fervor and sense of diligence are strengthened during practice.
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Besides physical performance, martial art uniforms are worn for a variety of other reasons. Often martial artists will wear martial art uniforms as a means of conveying their sense of loyalty towards the school of their respective discipline. A secondary reason martial artists wear martial art uniforms during practice is to be able to better enhance their spirit as they practice. Colloquially it can be seen as "getting them into the mood" as they perform their techniques and forms. By wearing martial art uniforms, a practitioner's fervor and sense of diligence are strengthened during practice.
Martial Arts MartMartial Art Shoes
One of the fundamental necessity of all traditional martial artists are martial art shoes. Some will think "it's okay, I'll just wear my normal everyday shoes for practice." Unfortunately that is an erroneous thinking; many martial artists of old wear martial art shoes in order to have a better connection with the ground and thereby establishing a firmer root. Once the rooting is easily established, the martial artist(s) in question will be able to generate power far more efficiently.
Traditionally, going back hundreds of years ago, martial artists all used cotton-soled martial art shoes. Granted such shoes at the time, provided a firm grasp to the ground and were the ideal shoes for martial arts in its day. However, as many martial artists nowadays will agree, such shoes requires, on average, be replaced within a time span of few months if not mere weeks depending on how diligent the martial artist is in his/her training. Reason being the cotton soles tend to wear away easily from martial conditioning, regimen, stance and form work.
Thus contemporary martial artists tend to wear martial art shoes like the ones seen in the second picture below. Such martial shoes are made of durable, lightweight fabric with padded soles instead of being made of cotton. The padded soles will not compromise a martial artist's ability to establish a firm rooting to the ground instead, the padded soles serve to enhance the shoes' overall durability, remidiating a significant shortcoming of its predecessors. These modern martial art shoes cost generally around $30-50 dollars a pair however, it is better to think of it as a form of investment. With the traditional martial shoes, martial artists often spend $8 or so every few weeks or months due to the low durability of the cotton soles. The modern martial art shoes, however, although a pair starts off in the $30-50 range, it will stay with a martial artist from anywhere between 2 to 3 years.
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Traditionally, going back hundreds of years ago, martial artists all used cotton-soled martial art shoes. Granted such shoes at the time, provided a firm grasp to the ground and were the ideal shoes for martial arts in its day. However, as many martial artists nowadays will agree, such shoes requires, on average, be replaced within a time span of few months if not mere weeks depending on how diligent the martial artist is in his/her training. Reason being the cotton soles tend to wear away easily from martial conditioning, regimen, stance and form work.
Thus contemporary martial artists tend to wear martial art shoes like the ones seen in the second picture below. Such martial shoes are made of durable, lightweight fabric with padded soles instead of being made of cotton. The padded soles will not compromise a martial artist's ability to establish a firm rooting to the ground instead, the padded soles serve to enhance the shoes' overall durability, remidiating a significant shortcoming of its predecessors. These modern martial art shoes cost generally around $30-50 dollars a pair however, it is better to think of it as a form of investment. With the traditional martial shoes, martial artists often spend $8 or so every few weeks or months due to the low durability of the cotton soles. The modern martial art shoes, however, although a pair starts off in the $30-50 range, it will stay with a martial artist from anywhere between 2 to 3 years.
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