kung fu http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for kung fu Copyright 2008 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:27:05 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/kung+fu The Most Essential Techniques Of Shaolin Kung Fu. http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-most-essential-techniques-of-shaolin-kung-fu http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-most-essential-techniques-of-shaolin-kung-fu#comments Wed, 09 May 2007 05:29:54 +0000 shaolin kung fushaolin trainingthis means thatstanceweapons trainingrealistic applicationssecond nature http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-most-essential-techniques-of-shaolin-kung-fu Shaolin Kung Fu is one of the most popular and respected martial arts because of its history and . However, Shaolin Kung Fu is very complicated and has a lot of moves to learn. Using a DVD can help a practicing martial artist learn the moves and techniques in their own home and have the movements captured on video to be seen again and again. It is hard to pick up moves from only a few demonstrations, and a teacher rarely has enough free time to live with you and show you techniques any time you wish. With a Shaolin training DVD you can review techniques and movements until you have them down.

Shaolin Kung Fu is an External form of Chinese Kung Fu. it deals with the hands, the feet, the body, the eyes, and the s. It is practical, and physical. The Internal forms of Chinese Kung Fu deal with the mind, heart, and spirit. Shaolin Kung Fu pays special attention to stretching and using stretching to develop speed, range of motion, and defensive tactics. The different advantages of each stance are also very important. Using a Shaolin training DVD you can review the different stances, pause the DVD, and make sure you have the stance in your muscle memory like it is .

Different forms can be used in different situations and used to react to the movements of the opponent or attacker. With so many difference stances and forms, many students find that there is a lot to remember mentally, and a lot for the muscles to have to remember as well. This is why a Shaolin training DVD can be such a big help. It allows you to go back and review any stances or information that your body has trouble remembering, or your mind has trouble recalling quickly.

There are many slight variations of Shaolin Kung Fu and they can contain everything from punching, kicking, throws, joint locks, grappling, and . Having a teacher to go over the moves with you is a huge help. Sometimes it is impossible for a student to know if they are doing a motion correctly without a teacher to help them and explain what they are doing wrong. But when your teacher is not there, a Shaolin training DVD can be the next best thing and can allow you to review movements as much as you want.

I really like the Kung Fu: Shaolin Kung Fu Foundation Form DVD because it breaks the moves down so they are easy to understand and replicate. The DVD explains the reasoning behind the movements so that I can make sure I am doing a move functionally correct. The Kung Fu: Shaolin Kung Fu Foundation Form DVD can help a beginner, or an experienced martial artist. Yoshi I Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on shaolin training dvd, please visit his blog at: http://www.martialarts3000.com/shaolinkungfuforms.html ]]> Understand Why Many Kung Fu Practitioners Today Have Knee Problems. http://www.artwoo.com/article/understand-why-many-kung-fu-practitioners-today-have-knee-problems http://www.artwoo.com/article/understand-why-many-kung-fu-practitioners-today-have-knee-problems#comments Mon, 07 May 2007 08:24:59 +0000 kung fuself defense situationfootworkmartial arts studentskneesstresstrain movements http://www.artwoo.com/article/understand-why-many-kung-fu-practitioners-today-have-knee-problems Kung Fu students have knee problems later in life. This is not because the Kung Fu is poorly designed, or that Kung Fu should not be trained. This is because many Kung Fu students jump around too much, put too much on their , and do not use flowing . Using flowing footwork allows a Kung Fu student to move around quickly, but minimize the stress put on their knees.

Training in martial arts and self-defense is important because it allows someone to defend themselves against an attacker. Martial arts are a matter of self-preservation and self-protection. But to be able to defend yourself in a stressful real life self-defense situation you have to train for many hours. Simply knowing the moves will not help in a real self-defense situation because you will be very stressed out and very excited. It is very easy to forget the things you learned in such situations. This is why train for so many hours and repeat each move and motion so many times. The goal is for the movements to be committed to muscle memory so that the student can do the moves without having to think about them.

The downside of all of this training is that it can take a toll on a body. This is especially true if the moves are practiced wrong or performed without proper preparation. Kung Fu puts a lot of emphasis on stretching for a reason. While stretching may not be as fun or interesting as lifting weights or practicing strikes it is an important part of training. Many Kung Fu students do not stretch enough and this takes a toll on their body when they over and over for hours.

Kung Fu also places a lot of importance on footwork. Fast footwork is very important to performing moves and defending against attacks. But Kung Fu is not about jumping around or trying to show off. Kung Fu requires flowing footwork that allows for speed and change of direction to be accomplished without putting too much stress on the knees. Your body should give to each step and react like a spring, not a stuff board. This does not just help protect your knees during hours of training, but actually helps you move faster and change direction sooner.

It is possible to learn Kung Fu by yourself, but getting a teacher can be a great way to make sure you are doing the movements correctly and that you will not end up hurting your joints in the long run. Sometimes it takes another set of trained eyes to watch what you are doing and tell if you are doing the correct movements or not. It is a shame when a martial arts student, who is seeking to defend their body and health, ends up hurting their body by training in self-defense incorrectly. Yoshi I Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on flowing footwork, please visit his blog at: http://www.martialarts3000.com/baguazhangfootwork.html ]]> The Origin Of The Earliest Extant Manual On Shaolin Kung Fu. http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-origin-of-the-earliest-extant-manual-on-shaolin-kung-fu http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-origin-of-the-earliest-extant-manual-on-shaolin-kung-fu#comments Thu, 21 Jun 2007 07:19:52 +0000 shaolin monasteryshaolin kung fukung fu historyzen meditationmonkschinese martial artschou dynasty http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-origin-of-the-earliest-extant-manual-on-shaolin-kung-fu Chinese martial arts were first mentioned in literature dating back to the from 1122-255BC and but the history begins with the building of the in 495AD. This monastery which was built on the Sung Mountain in the Honen Province housed up to 2000 at one time and is noted as China's most famous monastery. Due to the fact that Shaolin Kung Fu was taught and passed down orally much of the story of its beginnings are a mixture of historical fact intermingled with legend.

Considered to be the father of Shaolin Kung Fu and to Buddhists the founder of Zen, a lively monk named Tamo left his home in India in the 6th century AD and trekked eastward then north until he reached the Shaolin Monastery where he stopped and taught . Tamo realized that most of the monks were unable to handle the rigorous regime of the Zen mediation discipline so he created a series of exercises to build up their health and increase their stamina. Being very much like yoga in that these exercises were both psychological and physical, they are believed to have formed the beginnings of Shaolin Kung Fu.

It was during holy pilgrimages that martial arts really developed basically out of necessity as the monks were often robbed of their religious treasures by the many "pirates" or "bandits" of the time. Using the exercises and postures taught to them by Tamo and refining them into fighting movements, combined with the influence of Zen, a deadly form of martial art was born and they were well equipped to protect themselves and their treasures. Over the centuries this form of self-defense and spiritual lifestyle became legendary.

In 1736, the monastery was attacked by Manchu's battled troops and the monks were all but annihilated by the huge number of troops and the monastery was burnt to the ground. Thankfully, there were survivors who fled and this ensured that Shaolin would be taught and indeed flourish. The monastery has been rebuilt several times and is always remembered as the birth place of Shaolin Kung Fu.

Although remnant writings have been found, one of the earliest extant references to Shaolin Kung Fu History was published in 1784 in the Boxing Classic: Essential Boxing Methods. The reference gives the first written documentation of the Monastery of Shaolin and the monks being the originators of Shaolin Kung Fu.

Today, Kung Fu has a worldwide appeal and there are many forms practiced, one such style being Hung, which is named after Hung Hei Guen who was one of the Ten Tigers of Shaolin. He was taught by Gee Sin who was the abbot of Shaolin who escaped the fire and went on to teach and pass on the Shaolin Kung Fu History and methods throughout China, as it has been passed down to the famous art we still use today all around the world. Yoshi E Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on, shaolin kung fu history, visit his blog: http://blog.martialarts3000.com ]]> Utilize The Body's Most Natural Movements In The Most Powerful Way From The Bottom Up. http://www.artwoo.com/article/utilize-the-bodys-most-natural-movements-in-the-most-powerful-way-from-the-bottom-up http://www.artwoo.com/article/utilize-the-bodys-most-natural-movements-in-the-most-powerful-way-from-the-bottom-up#comments Sun, 08 Jul 2007 01:30:01 +0000 shaolin kung fukung fu stancesside stancehorse stancemartial arts studentsmuscle memoryposture http://www.artwoo.com/article/utilize-the-bodys-most-natural-movements-in-the-most-powerful-way-from-the-bottom-up
I give the same talk every class to new , about how the key to good martial arts comes from your stances.

It's hard to get into good , because they are so different from what normally passes for in our world.

Good kung fu stances keep your weight centered over the balls of your feet, to give you maximum range of motion in the full circle engagement area. You have to be able to shift weight from one foot to the other quickly, so you need to learn to keep your stance balanced.

Something I learned in the Science of the Punch, and which makes a lot of sense, is that the force of a punch starts from your feet and is transferred through your abdomen and core. Major direction comes from the upper torso, but most of the force comes from moving your entire body behind the strike. I've discovered, since watching that show on National Geographic, that I'm focusing a lot more on my stances, kung fu in particular.

Because I'm a multi-stylist, sometimes it's hard to keep stances 'pure' =96 for example, the more upright stance tends to mingle with the lower, more fluid Wing Chun stances, and my dabbling in Tae Kwon Do means that when I step in a certain way, takes over, and what should end a form with a ends up in a , ready to kick someone's kidneys out their back. This makes it difficult to teach at times, because I have to tell my students "Do as I say, not as I do=85"

So, since I've got a Wing Chun influenced Kung Fu class coming up that I'll be teaching, I've been spending a lot of time with Kung Fu instructional DVDs, and working in front of a mirror. I watch the video, stepping through it at 1/16th speed, and try to hold each posture, checking my own posture in the mirror as I do it, just so I can re-train my muscle memory to do it the way it needs to be taught. It's a humbling experience at times, let me tell you. Even minor little things like how my feet get placed get examined for this =96 are they exactly shoulder width apart, or are they going wider than they should? Am I exactly at three quarters profile, or have I slipped into a sloppy "T" stance with my lead toe pointed at the bag, as if I'm aiming for a kick? When I come out of a form and I edge on to the bag, so that I have the minimum surface area to cover with a parry or block?

Getting good form down for Kung Fu takes practice, as I'm slowly relearning in order to teach my next class. Yoshi I Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on kung fu stances, please visit his blog at: http://blog.martialarts3000.com ]]> Shaolin Kung Fu Exercises Which Promotes Agile Footwork And Intricate Hand Techniques. http://www.artwoo.com/article/shaolin-kung-fu-exercises-which-promotes-agile-footwork-and-intricate-hand-techniques http://www.artwoo.com/article/shaolin-kung-fu-exercises-which-promotes-agile-footwork-and-intricate-hand-techniques#comments Fri, 22 Jun 2007 08:20:01 +0000 shaolin kung futhis means thattargetchinese martial artspunchmoving targetsmany people think http://www.artwoo.com/article/shaolin-kung-fu-exercises-which-promotes-agile-footwork-and-intricate-hand-techniques many people think of they think of meditation and chi. While it is true that Shaolin Kung Fu does stress meditation and the use of inner energy, it is actually an external form of . it is more involved in the external powers and forces. There are many styles of Shaolin Kung Fu which can include many types of attacks and defenses including joint locks, ing, kicking, throws, straight blocking, force direction, and many more. However, the two things that most types of schools of Shaolin Kung Fu all stress is fast handwork and quick footwork. Many Shaolin Kung Fu exercises promote these skills.

When practicing Shaolin Kung Fu, striking it is important to keep the feet moving as you punch. If your feet are planted like roots you will not be able to adjust to the next attack or set up another attack. Your moves must flow from one to another and you must be ready to change your motions in mid-movement in case an opponent launches an attack. You should practice staying light on your feet and moving your weight around. Each attack must leave the door open for another quick attack, or a sudden defense. Your Shaolin Kung Fu exercises should strive for agile footwork while striking, rather than training both aspects independently.

When practicing Shaolin Kung Fu punching you should also have s that help improve your accuracy and speed. A strong punch is meaningless if it does not hit the target, or is so slow that it is easily blocked or countered. Your punches must also be fast so that you can quickly move into another attack, or react defensively. After a punch is thrown it should be retracted quickly so that arm can defend if needed. Many martial arts shops sell pads that can be mounted on a human body in many places such as the hands, ribs, and legs. Your training partner should wear these pads so that you can practice at full speed and have . While striking the pads at full speed your training partner should be moving around so that you have a moving target. Hand mounted pads are great because they can be moved very quickly to aid in the training of fast combos. You and your Shaolin Kung Fu training partner can develop a routine in which you strike at the left side of the face, and then the chest. Your partner can move the pad from one location to the next quickly, which forces you to strike two targets as fast as possible.

If your hands are fast and precise, and your footwork is light and agile, you will have quick attacks that cannot be blocked and will be able to react to any defense of offense. Too many people hit a punching bag target with their feet flat. Punching bags do not challenge your precision like a smaller moving target does. Yoshi E Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on shaolin kung fu exercises, visit his blog: http://blog.martialarts3000.com ]]> You Won't Be Seeing These Tiger Claws In Any Nature Show. http://www.artwoo.com/article/you-wont-be-seeing-these-tiger-claws-in-any-nature-show http://www.artwoo.com/article/you-wont-be-seeing-these-tiger-claws-in-any-nature-show#comments Tue, 01 May 2007 15:15:00 +0000 tiger claw kung futiger systemblack tigerfu jow paichinese martial artsshaolin monkbil http://www.artwoo.com/article/you-wont-be-seeing-these-tiger-claws-in-any-nature-show Tiger System, or Fu Jaw Pai was renamed by First Generation Grand Master, Wong Hong in honour of his master, believed to be a . At the time, there was Manchurian persecution of the Shaolin order so the name of his master was never revealed. Wong Bil Hong was not eager to share the knowledge he had learned and during his lifetime only ever took on two students. One of which was his nephew Wong Moon Toy who began his training in 1927. After the death of Wong Bil Hong in 1934, Wong Moon Toy moved to the US and taught Tiger Claw King Fu and then in 1957 he opened his school called the Chinese Youth Athletic Club. He passed away in 1960 after having named his successor, Grand Master Wai Hong. Wai Hong has expanded to teaching of Tiger Claw Kung Fu (Fu-Jow Pai Kung Fu) to become one of the most popular forms of Kung Fu in the world today.

There are five animals of the Southern and the tiger is the one on which this system is based. Developing the very yang qualities of aggression and fearlessness is an important aspect of the training and learning to attack like the tiger that attacks in a straight line and hardly ever retreats is a principal of Tiger Claw Kung Fu. Combined with fitness and agility which are always important, the speed and power of the blows make this an explosive system but, the main emphasis is on the hands and the rotating of the wrist. The Tiger Claw is when the wrist is drawn back, fingers spread with the tips locked and pointing forward to strike a blow while grabbing and twisting with the strength of a tiger. Apart from the rigorous physical training and the obvious health benefits, the spiritual discipline is vital and helps develop self confidence and a better more adjusted personality.

In 1974, a movie was made called Tiger's Claw and starred martial arts stars Cliff Lok and Sek Kin. The fight scenes in the movie show the use of Tiger Claw Kung Fu and interestingly Sek Kin can be best remembered for his role as Mr Han in Enter the Dragon starring Bruce Lee. Tiger Claw was also featured in a TV series called "Vanishing Son" starring Russell Wong who was a student of Master Tak Wah Eng who often appeared on the show and has written several books on Tiger Claw Kung Fu.

Over the last few years martial arts has gained popularity in the west as never before and people of all ages are learning Tiger Claw Kung Fu as self defence and or fitness. Yoshi I Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on Tiger Claw Kung Fu, visit his blog at: http://www.martialarts3000.com/crouchingtigerwarrior.html ]]> Coming To America - Jow Ga Kung Fu http://www.artwoo.com/article/coming-to-america-jow-ga-kung-fu http://www.artwoo.com/article/coming-to-america-jow-ga-kung-fu#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2007 09:12:05 +0000 jow gakung fushao linchinachinese stylesmartial arts styleskuala lampur http://www.artwoo.com/article/coming-to-america-jow-ga-kung-fu Jow Ga . Now, I like learning new Kung Fu styles, and have mostly focused on the Northern , which tend to be more holistic than the styles from the south. Since it's discourteous to show up at a school as a "know it all" about your own style, without learning the style they use to highlight points of similarity, I asked if I could come in for a couple of private workouts first. Their sensei, Pete Schildt, was kind enough to let me observe a couple of classes.

First, like I'd suspected from watching the class work out, Jow Ga is an amalgamation of a couple of different Southern styles -- the Southern style punches are a dead giveaway, as they're less fluid, and faster than the Northern styles I'm used to. The stance is a bit lower than is typical for Shao Lin styles, and the footwork is a bit more defensive, and much more familiar to me than I was expecting it to be. The defenses, like most of the Southern , are more rudimentary than those taught in the North.

Anyway, Jow Ga Kung Fu got its start in in the first part of the 20th century, when its founder, Jow Lung learned Hung Ga Kung Fu from his uncle, who died of an old illness. Jow Lung then followed master Choy Kau in learning Choy Ga Kung Fu. According to students of Jow Ga, Jow Lung learned the new style with a great deal of rapidity due to the foundation taught to him by his Uncle.



Unable to find work, Jow Lung left his village (and China entirely) at the age of 18, eventually getting to in what is now Malaysia, where he worked as a tin miner. The cartel running the mine tended to treat miners badly, beating them up, stiffing them for their pay, and similar abuses. Jow Lung, in defending another miner from getting beaten, killed a foreman, and fled. After three days of climbing the mountains, he found a temple called Gi Leu. Starving, he asked for sanctuary. In return for doing chores around the monastery he was taken in as a pupil, where he learned Wudang techniques from Northern China, including medicinal techniques. His master, Chian Yi, said that he had a natural talent for Kung Fu, and, when his training was complete, sent him out into the world.

Jow Lung walked back to Kuala Lampur, and from there, got transportation back to his home village in China. During the entire process, he started thinking about integrating the three unique styles of Kung Fu that he had learned, and Jow Ga Kung Fu was founded. Its first school was his home town, and its first students were his younger brothers. Before long, his brothers went on to found other schools, having not only mastered the techniques, but the methods of teaching them effectively. In 1911, the Chinese government held a competition for the person to teach unarmed combat to the Chinese Army, and Jow Lung won, going undefeated in a 10 round competition; he and his brothers taught the style to the Chinese army, and it's about this time that he and his brothers got dubbed the Five Tigers of Jow Ga. Jow Lung died of pneumonia in 1930, but by then, he and his brothers had established over 80 schools in mainland China.

Jow Ga Kung Fu came to the US in 1966, five years after the last of the original Jow Brothers died. The first teachers in the US were Hoy K Lee and Dean Chin, who set up their school in Washington DC. Since then, it has become one of the most popular styles of Kung Fu in the United States, because of its integration of both the Northern and Southern influences into one complete style.



I'm liking it a lot, from the classes I've seen, and I'm looking forward to learning from it.. Yoshi I Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on jow ga kung fu, visit his blog at http://www.martialarts3000.com/introtokarate.html ]]> Iron Palm Part 9 http://www.artwoo.com/article/iron-palm-part-9 http://www.artwoo.com/article/iron-palm-part-9#comments Mon, 23 Jul 2007 23:34:58 +0000 iron palm trainingpentjak silatgungmartial arts backgroundkung fu magazinechi kungtai chi http://www.artwoo.com/article/iron-palm-part-9 gung Richard Clear Part 8





We used this liniment for any bruises we got and also for . When we practiced the Indirect method and Internal Iron Palm Tyrone would have us put a few drops on our hands and massage it in to cause the energy to flow to our hands.

In years since I have used a number of products including Oriental Herb Company products. For a lot of the specialty palms no jow or special herbal treatment is required and what is lot more important is training and practice which includes taking care of yourself, getting proper rest, eating nutritious foods and taking vitamins etc. to take care of your body and mind.









Q. Briefly give an overview of your .

A. Si-Gung Richard Clear has studied in the U.S. and China. He has over 30 years of continuous study in the martial arts, psychology, philosophy, Chinese medicine and physiology. Si-Gung Clear is the Creator of a unique program of 1 Touch KnockoutsTM. He began teaching in 1983. In 1990, he opened his first martial arts school in Tampa, Florida. In November 2001 he relocated Clear's Silat National Headquarters to the Smoky Mountains in Maryville Tennessee.





Si-Gung Clear and his highly successful schools have been featured in Inside , Fox National News, World Net News Daily, as well as other local television and media all over the U.S.

Si-Gung Clear's training includes over ten styles of Silat and Kung Fu, as well as intensive knowledge of and Chi Kung.

His certifications include a Master level (Si-Gung) in internal Kung Fu including Tai Chi from Tyrone Jackson, a Guru (senior teacher) level in and lineage disciple under Willem de Thouars, and an Instructor certification in Systema from Mikhail Ryabko and Vladimir Vasiliev.

To be continued in "Iron Palm Part 10" Sigung Richard Clear has over 30 years of experience in Chinese Kun Tao and Indonesian Silat. http://www.clearsilat.com ]]> How Observing A Tiger's Strength, Courage, And Power Gave Birth To The Tiger Style Of Kung Fu. http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-observing-a-tigers-strength-courage-and-power-gave-birth-to-the-tiger-style-of-kung-fu http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-observing-a-tigers-strength-courage-and-power-gave-birth-to-the-tiger-style-of-kung-fu#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2007 09:08:00 +0000 tiger styletiger strikeschinese martial artstigersno fearkung fuprey http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-observing-a-tigers-strength-courage-and-power-gave-birth-to-the-tiger-style-of-kung-fu tigers and their hunting habits. It seems these guys are super aggressive when it comes to hunting their . First off, this animal is the biggest feline in the world. I was surprised when I heard that fact. I always thought that lions were the biggest cat out there, you know? Boy was I wrong! These tigers are huge. The Siberian variety can be up to twelve feet long and up to seven hundred pounds of pure muscle. Scary. And so is .

So how does a tiger kill its victim? By going straight for the throat, my friend. That is right. A tiger will stalk its prey until the time to pounce has come and then it will jump right on its back if it can, latching onto its throat from behind. Once it has it locked on, the tiger will use its powerful forearms to bring the victim down to the ground and begin squeezing with its jaws. I saw some of these take downs on this show about them and I can tell you it was quite impressive the way the tiger operates. They have and take no chances. They go out there and get what they want. I want to be that way when I do kung fu, don't you?

And believe it or not, you can be that way. This style of fighting is called tiger style. Of course it is. What better way to illustrate an aggressive, hunter style fighting than to name it after this great cat? In the early days of its training and use in the martial arts, the tiger style was developed to imitate the fearlessness and aggression of the animal. The tiger is one of the five animals so named in . The "tiger's claw" has to do with the position of the fingers when attempting to strike an opponent. It is really cool to see it done right.



In the practice of the style, I have found it to be very similar to the attacking nature of the cat in the wild. The straight ahead and almost never, ever retreats or backs up. You see, you can't do that in a fight. You have to go forward, over and over again attacking and pushing until you win. Think of the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The characters in that movie rarely back up. They pounce on their enemies, jumping around all over the place until they can strike. When they do strike, they take the enemy down.



I think that tiger style Kung Fu is the most excited to watch and to practice. It is so natural and instinctual. Once you start practicing, it comes very easy. Real fighting is all about being aggressive and keeping your opponent off balance. That is exactly how a tiger fights. Yoshi I Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on tiger style kung fu, visit his blog at http://www.martialarts3000.com/introtokarate.html ]]> I Don't Know Much About Martial Arts Except... http://www.artwoo.com/article/i-dont-know-much-about-martial-arts-except http://www.artwoo.com/article/i-dont-know-much-about-martial-arts-except#comments Sun, 23 Apr 2006 07:50:03 +0000 martial arts roomunfortunatelykung fuproceededfriendsguessincense sticks http://www.artwoo.com/article/i-dont-know-much-about-martial-arts-except kung fu. I went to the class to see what it was like and to learn about the thing that took many of my captive on every Tuesday and Thursday night. I cautiously entered the Chinese restaurant with my friends and into the basement where the class was held. I was not fond of the huge mirrors lining the longest wall, but I didn't mind the that burned in little holders around all four edges of the room. It didn't take me long, however, to learn that martial arts wasn't for me.

My little bout with martial arts taught me a lot about myself and a lot about martial arts. In all honesty, I expected to arrive at kung fu class and find it to be easy and mindless. I would soon learn that kung fu, like all of the martial arts, requires a level of strength and discipline that I could only dream of possessing. Each person in our class came prepared to work hard and to do this they left the troubles of their lives at the door. Entering the meant entering a new world for them. A world that required everything and more that they had to give.

Martial arts isn't for the physically weak, that is for sure. I left feeling pretty confident after attending my first class. It wasn't until the next morning when each step I took sent shooting pain in every direction of my body that I realized the level of torture I had done to my body. My kung fu friends said that this level of pain was normal and that eventually my body would get used to the hard workouts and it wouldn't hurt so badly. , my three weeks of staggering pain were enough for me and I never made it beyond the pain stage. Sure, I had experienced pain from sports or tough workouts before, but no pain that compared to the pain I received from an hour of martial arts.

Everyone I know who sticks with the martial arts really loves it. I bodies begin to crave the strength and discipline that the martial arts require and so the workouts become something to anticipate rather than dread. My friends who have continued with the martial arts have developed this amazing sense of mental fortitude as well. They are able to make it through not only the hardness that the martial arts bring but also through any hardship life presents. Their classes are a training ground that teaches them to press on and endure all that happens in life.

So, while I never stuck with the martial arts long enough to fully understand them, the things I took away from my three weeks of kung fu are lessons I will continue to ponder for a long time. Kirstine Pallette, while not an expert in marital arts, is a strong advocate for the benefits of the arts for other people's lives. Check out http://www.martialartsgroup.info to learn more for yourself. ]]> Discover The Ancient Art Of Shaolin Kung Fu http://www.artwoo.com/article/discover-the-ancient-art-of-shaolin-kung-fu http://www.artwoo.com/article/discover-the-ancient-art-of-shaolin-kung-fu#comments Fri, 23 Feb 2007 14:27:02 +0000 shaolin kung fukung fu techniquesmartial artswarrior monksmartial artcombat artive http://www.artwoo.com/article/discover-the-ancient-art-of-shaolin-kung-fu Shaolin Kung fu techniques was while watching a s movie. I loved the style of martial arts so much, that I watched the second movie and fell totally in love. There was something so rting about watching the punches, kicks and jumps. Even though it was Hong Kong Hollywood, it looked so much more real than most martial arts you see. I've watched a lot of martial arts movies in my day. In fact, they're actually my favorite type of movie. Recently I saw Jet Li in Fearless. Though his style in that movie was wing chun.

Why is kung fu my favorite form of martial art? Probably because of the exotic origin. It's a style practiced by monks. You wouldn't think monks would know a fighting style, especially when they stand for peace and nonviolence but they do practice it every day, for the entirety of their lives. It's like their way of finding enlightenment and it's a viable . Most kung fu you see in movies or during shows, or exhibitions are stylized sport martial arts. But not the shaolin. There are historical references of it being used in defensive battle as far back as 728 B.C. Normally, when you see a martial artist, it's usually big muscles, lots of noise, a show, right? Not this one. This art trains practitioners with the purpose of nature. I'm sure you've heard references to it in the movies, where someone engaged in kung fu took a tiger stance or that of the crane.

Each one of these has a purpose behind it attached to the meanings of the animals, not to mention that the types of Shaolin have really cool names like 'Jiao long nu kong', which means the /coiling dragon growls in wrath', or 'Qian jintui' the 'leg weighing one thousand jins'. compare that to boxing. Jab. Cross. How dull!

You can't help but admire the training and dedication, the grace, and fluidity of movement that accompanies this martial art. Out of all of the ones I've read, seen or done research on, I keep coming back to this one. even won battles and were honored using these techniques. It boggles my mind when I think of it. Weapon use, boxing, spins, kicks - all of it at lightening fast speeds and almost inhuman precision. I find myself sitting on the edge of my seat waiting eagerly for the next bad guy to come along or the next move in the exhibition.

It's amazing how they can do all those moves - flying through various forms, blocks, kicks, jumps, punches - and then stop give their bow and not even be breathing hard. They don't just use any weapon, either. A popular one is the long spear. I've held one before. They aren't light and they're long. To use one takes a lot of skill, and they make it seem so easy.

It doesn't matter what form or practice of Shaolin are being used, I love it! Yoshi I. Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on http://www.martialarts3000.com/shaolinkungfu.html visit his blog. ]]> Iron Palm Part 1 http://www.artwoo.com/article/iron-palm-part-1 http://www.artwoo.com/article/iron-palm-part-1#comments Thu, 24 May 2007 03:14:52 +0000 iron palm trainingdim makmartial arts associationkung fudoctor of chiropracticdisciplehong kong http://www.artwoo.com/article/iron-palm-part-1
Q. What is the history of your ?

A. My Original instructor was Tyrone Jackson who was the senior of Dr Fred Wu. Dr Wu was a senior disciple under Lee Ying-Arng. Lee Ying-Arng was an amazing and great Master from the last generation who eventually lived in . There he was the President of the Inner System , President of the Hong Kong Acupuncture Research Centre, and Vice President of the Hong Kong Chinese Martial Arts Association. He was a and Acupuncture and studied Wu Tang Kung Fu, Internal Arts and including Dian-hsuhe (Delayed death touch) from many famous Masters. He was a senior disciple under Yang Chen Fu and studied Mind Fist (Yee Chuan/I-Chuan) from Professor Wang Shian-Jie the Founder of I-Chuan. He studied Dim Mak and Dian-hsuhe for over 10 years.



In 1968 Lee wrote the book "Iron Palm in 100 Days" that was reprinted about half a dozen times. In that book Lee refers to numerous variations and schools of Iron Palm training and other specialty internal palm methods that he taught and Lee explains how to train several methods of Iron Palm. In his book Lee shows a section of the "Yi Chin Ching or Sinew Changing" classic temple manuscript and he explains that the classic has a section which explains an Iron Palm training method similar to the "straight forward" or Direct method.







=



I began training in Kung Fu in 1979 and I began training with Tyrone Jackson in 1984. One of the first things that Tyrone did was to help me modify the Kung Fu forms I already had and make them much more applicable for Dim Mak striking methods and placement. This included learning the points and meridians and Iron Palm.





....To be continued in "Iron Palm Part 2" Sigung Richard Clear has over 30 years of experience in Chinese Kun Tao and Indonesian Silat. http://www.clearsilat.com ]]> The Fundamental Hand Skills And Stances That Make Up The Core Of Southern Boxing. http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-fundamental-hand-skills-and-stances-that-make-up-the-core-of-southern-boxing http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-fundamental-hand-skills-and-stances-that-make-up-the-core-of-southern-boxing#comments Tue, 19 Jun 2007 03:54:56 +0000 shaolin kung futae kwon domartial arts instructionmartial arts stylesbody motionshorse stanceboxing martial http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-fundamental-hand-skills-and-stances-that-make-up-the-core-of-southern-boxing Tae Kwon do on the hard side, and work out with Wing Chun and Tai Chi Chuan with my father, and teach a couple of jujitsu classes for extra income.

However, I take a deep interest in nearly any style of martial arts, hard or soft, so long as it gives a solid workout and lots of motions. An interesting trend in is "syncretic" or contemporary styles; one of the ones I've recently been exposed to is Nan Quan Kung Fu, or "southern boxing". have generations, where they're founded, the founder founds schools, the schools then spread, and regional variations build up, and the styles seem to ossify, then someone starts up a new tradition or style, and the process repeats itself again. Southern Boxing is an outgrowth of , and shares many of the same basic techniques and styles.

The core stance is best described as a wide rooted "horse" stance; it's designed for transmission of the strength of the punch from the core of the body through to the fist; this is a significant change from the styles I'm used to, and it feels a lot like it overcommits on the . Punches and blocks tend to be straight from elbow height, and tend to be "minimum force redirection" blocks rather than sweeping redirections. As a predominantly punching style, it doesn't try to lead the practitioner into joint locks or throws, though it does have an array of kicks. Most of the blocks are "straightened" versions of their Shaolin Kung Fu counterparts, which isn't surprising given the emphasis on the art and its practitioners, and where it came from

My own experience, with moving along with a local practitioner, is that it's got a lot of similarities to Tae Kwon Do in overall feel, even though the motions are different, and the focus is built on punching over kicks as the primary offensive maneuver.

Like Tae Kwon Do, it's a pared down style; it's designed for rough and ready efficiency of motion. Also like Tae Kwon Do, it's built around heavily scripted routines, which, when executed, string a bunch of very large whole body motions into a blinding, energetic series of attacks. It's very flashy looking, but like I mentioned above, compared to jujitsu and the Northern styles of Kung Fu I do, it feels very much like it overcommits on the body motion. Yoshi I Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on southern boxing, please visit his blog at : http://blog.martialarts3000.com ]]> How Watching TV As A Boy Made Me A More Disciplined Adult http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-watching-tv-as-a-boy-made-me-a-more-disciplined-adult http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-watching-tv-as-a-boy-made-me-a-more-disciplined-adult#comments Tue, 20 Mar 2007 20:28:01 +0000 everyday herodavid carradineincredible hulklittle kidkung fumartial artistoutcast http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-watching-tv-as-a-boy-made-me-a-more-disciplined-adult
The superhero - guys like Batman who could kick butt despite looking pretty dodgy in their day-glo outfits

The anti-hero - like the who tried to do good but still got treated like an

the - normal people like you and me who could do superhero things, with just a little bit of training

Although the first two kinds were cool enough, you never felt like you could be just like them. I mean, how many times would an overdose of gamma personally hit you? But the third kind... Anybody could be like them, even a scrawny like me, and nowhere was this more true than with the '' TV series.

Maybe it was because it was so normal that I liked it so much. The hero didn't look like the Hulk on steroids, and he didn't have need to wear a mask to hide who he was -- he'd take on everyone and be proud to show who he was. All I knew was that between 1972 and 1975, at exactly 6.00pm in the evening, I'd be in front of the TV, hunched just like a meditating Chinese myself.

It was also the first thing to introduce me to one of my favorite actors as well, , who played the main character, Kwai Chang Cain. Okay, so he may not be the greatest actor on the planet, but you show me someone who is as laid-back cool as him and I'd bet David Carradine could lay the smack down on them. The fact that he was actually a trained martial artist made 'Kung Fu' an even better TV series, since he was just as scrawny as I was!

Born of an American father and Chinese mother, Cain is orphaned and becomes an outcast, and maybe I related to that, as my father died when I was very young, too. Taken in by Shaolin monks, they turn this scrawny little kid into the guy that even Bruce Lee would respect. Discovering he has a half-brother called Danny, Cain (as an adult) sets out on a journey across America to find him.

Although no specific episodes stood out for me as a kid, I always remembered the little sayings in every episode -- the philosophy of why I should strive to become a better person through discipline and honor. It must have worked, because 30 years later, I'm one belt away from achieving my black belt in karate.

When I found out that you could get the complete 'Kung Fu' TV series, I almost peed my pants (my strong karate discipline stopped me, of course!), since I never enjoyed the newer version of the series (which also starred Carradine as a descendent of Cain, and was shown in the nineties). Now all I need is my own little brood in my dojo, so I can share with them what made me the man I am today. Yoshi I Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on the kung fu tv series, visit his blog: http://www.martialarts3000.com/martialartsfitnesstraining.html ]]> Makeup For Your Lack Of Size With Hyperspeed Fisticuffs. http://www.artwoo.com/article/makeup-for-your-lack-of-size-with-hyperspeed-fisticuffs http://www.artwoo.com/article/makeup-for-your-lack-of-size-with-hyperspeed-fisticuffs#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2007 23:40:02 +0000 jet liwushu teamwhite house lawnkung fustyles of martial artsmartial arts schoolmonkey boxing http://www.artwoo.com/article/makeup-for-your-lack-of-size-with-hyperspeed-fisticuffs kung fu, would undoubtedly be high on the list. What might surprise you is how much of a struggle it has been for the forty-four year old to become the household name that he is today. I know that I had always thought that Jet Li was naturally graceful and powerful from way back when I first saw his amazing talent for melding numerous martial arts in the 1982 remake of Shaolin Temple. However, I discovered that this was far from the case. He was actually worked extremely hard by his mentor, the Wushu master Wu Bin, from the age of 8 at Beijing's Amateur .

At one point, there was some doubt that he would ever develop powerful enough kicks and punches to become a champion in kung fu; Jet Li appeared weak. I was amazed to discover that Jet actually suffered from a serious protein deficiency as a child. This was largely due to the fact that his grandmother had been advised to give up eating meat on health grounds and the entire family had also become vegetarians. Once Wu Bin discovered this and introduced protein back into his diet, Jet Li began to develop rapidly.

By the age of 11 he had won his first gold at the Chinese National Wushu Championships and he went on to win it a further 4 times. He joined the professional in Beijing. This is where he first gained international exposure and toured the globe, even performing for President Nixon on the . It was now that he was truly being appreciated for his intelligent combination of many including , chanquan, taichiquan, gun boxing, tongbeiquan. Not only adept in kung fu; Jet Li was also superb with both sword and spear.

Rocky Law filmed a documentary, Dragons Of The Orient, showed the 11-year-old Jet Li on the White House lawn. However, I most enjoyed the more informative side of the film, especially how it revealed some of Jet Li's innovative training techniques. One that particularly stuck in my mind and I have used ever since, if slightly modified, is one exercise where he hangs numerous footballs from a tree then wheels and spins to strike each as it swings towards him.

You can probably name a number of Jet Li's films, so I will not bore you by doing the same. However, the most impressive for me has to be `Hero', or `Ying xiong' to give it its Chinese title. Although it had been made in 2002, it wasn't an International hit for another 2 years. If you haven't seen it then I recommend you buy a copy =96 you won't want to take a rental one back! It is a stunning Chinese martial arts epic and shows exquisite pieces of kung fu; Jet Li being outstanding. The film took a lot of time and hard work to make, especially as the director, Yimou Zhang, was a perfectionist. You will find it hard not to love this classic movie, I promise you. Yoshi G Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on kung fu jet li, visit his blog at: http://www.martialarts3000.com/xingyihsingitwelvefists.html ]]> Essential Tai Chi http://www.artwoo.com/article/essential-tai-chi http://www.artwoo.com/article/essential-tai-chi#comments Mon, 14 May 2007 03:45:01 +0000 tai chi chuanyang style tai chicrouching tiger hidden dragonmuscular sclerosisgrand ultimatechi kungultimate energy http://www.artwoo.com/article/essential-tai-chi Grand Ultimate Energy

Tai can be translated as Grand Ultimate. So, Tai Chi translates as Grand . The full name of this Internal based martial art in Chinese is . Chuan translates as fist. Hence the real translated name of the style is Grand Ultimate Energy Fist. Yang style is the most popular Tai Chi style taught in the world today. Most of the time in the West the art is taught as Tai Chi without the Chuan. Also, more often than not the moves and choreography that make up the basics of the system are taught in a tranquil and slow moving pattern of 24, 48, 88 or 108 moves. There are at least 4 popular styles of Tai Chi and there are many other styles of Tai Chi including Family styles, modified styles and styles from specific parts of the country such as Wu Tang Mountain (the area of China and monks referenced in the movie ""). In Clear's Modified there is an 8, 13, 18, 48 and 108 movement pattern available. Any of the sets will provide benefit as long as the energy and proper body mechanics are present.

In this text and in all of our Tai Chi programs we are interested in the Chi aspect of the Tai Chi and submit that the moves without the Activation and Cultivation of the Chi are simply choreography and are like a pretty car without any fuel or spark and hence although the car can be pushed around it is at an expense of energy as opposed to building energy. If the Chi was not important then slow ballroom dancing could be used to accomplish the same benefits. It is our purpose in this text to illustrate how to activate, build and circulate the energy for health and vitality.

Tai Chi is still being academically researched and studied in the West and has already been proven to help and provide relief for a broad range of health problems including but not limited to arthritis, hypertension, high blood pressure, migraines, , balance and immune system deficiencies. It is the Chi part of the Tai Chi being activated, built and circulated that has this effect. You can practice Chi Kung by itself. However, once you can activate the Chi and understand how the energy feels while it is being built, accumulated and circulated you can practice your Chi Kung while doing Tai Chi. Then, you can really begin to get the more remarkable effects that have caused Tai Chi to become well known as an excellent alternative healing practice. If you are already a student of Tai Chi then after practicing the Wu Chi and 3 Dan Tiens Linear practice (presented on page 31 and 71 in this book) for awhile try to do the Tai Chi with these same body mechanics and energies flowing. The movements are secondary to the energy. Once again, it is working with the Chi in Tai Chi that provides the majority of the publicized benefits. Sigung Richard Clear has over 30 years of continuous study in Tai Chi and Chi Kung both in the U.S. and China. http://www.clearstaichi.com ]]> The Chi Debate Part 1 http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-chi-debate-part-1 http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-chi-debate-part-1#comments Tue, 20 Mar 2007 17:16:00 +0000 life force energychi kungimpossible featsillusionmagic trickschi energyenergy work http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-chi-debate-part-1 life force energy. Often, these skills are seen demonstrated by advanced masters during cultural events, festivals or demonstrations etc.

Unfortunately, to the average person these skills then appear to be along the lines of a circus sideshow or where trickery or and sleight of hand are involved. Also, many of the techniques of activation and cultivation have been kept secret so little explanation for the seemingly of skill are offered and this adds to the idea that some kind of illusion is behind the skills being presented and/or demonstrated. Much of the secrecy is due to specific groups (religious or trade guilds) or families having a history and tradition of skills and practice that is supposed to be kept within the group or family and not revealed to outsiders. This is a part of the heritage and cultural phenomenon of the Chinese people and only in very recent years have these practices begun to come into the modern world of scientific exploration, methodology and measurement.

Most modern Masters of the arts agree that all chi phenomena can be explained and fits well within the realm of modern physics. So, after many years of study and teaching it is my personal feeling that really it is the idea of mind over matter that is at the heart of the debate.

There are other factors that compound the problem of understanding the reality of Chi activation, cultivation and flow. The first problem to be addressed is a language barrier. There are words that describe specific aspects of Chi and () practice for which there is simply no direct translation into English and often Chinese teachers of Chi Kung aren't proficiently fluent in English like a native speaker so although they may know some English there is still a communication barrier...

Continued in andquot;The Chi Debate Part 2andquot; Sigung Richard Clear has over 30 years of continuous study in Tai Chi and Chi Kung both in the U.S. and China. http://www.clearstaichi.comandquot; ]]> Shaolin Philosophy Takes Its Guiding Principle Of Enlightenment Through Meditation. http://www.artwoo.com/article/shaolin-philosophy-takes-its-guiding-principle-of-enlightenment-through-meditation http://www.artwoo.com/article/shaolin-philosophy-takes-its-guiding-principle-of-enlightenment-through-meditation#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2007 06:04:59 +0000 shaolin martial artsshaolin kung fushaolin monkszen meditationbodhidharmamartial arts trainingmartial arts system http://www.artwoo.com/article/shaolin-philosophy-takes-its-guiding-principle-of-enlightenment-through-meditation Shaolin kung fu is not just about defending yourself against an attacker or inflicting bodily harm. also stress discipline, respect for yourself and others, patience, and being humble even in victory. The mental training of Shaolin martial arts helps prepare the student for any events that may come. Being physically prepared for an altercation is good, but if you are not mentally prepared you will not be focused enough to use the tools that your body has. This is why Shaolin meditation is such an important part of the Shaolin . Meditation may not be literally practicing your physical tools, but it allows your mind to make better use of those tools.

Keeping cool in a self defense situation is one of the best ways to ensure you will survive. Tough mental preparedness allows the body to be pushed beyond its physical limits. Out bodies can only do so much, but our minds allow for much greater feats. I am sure you have heard of "mind over matter" and the truth is that it works. When the Shaolin added mental training to their physical training the result was that their obviously surpassed all others in application and practical results.

One form of Shaolin meditation is called "Chan" or "Zen". The Shaolin received the concept of from an Indian priest named . What Bodhidharma did that was so unique was to introduce breathing patterns into the meditation. You see Bodhidharma would find that the were falling asleep during their meditation, so he added the breathing exercises to help keep them focus on increase their mental development. To this day Shoalin Kung Fu practitioners still use Chan meditation and it has formed the basis of the Shaolin mental preparation and development.

The Shaolin monks would prepare their minds to withstand the most terrible conditions so that when faces with those conditions in the real world, they would be prepared instead of shocked. Knowing that you have the mental toughness and readiness instills a confidence that allows you to go into any situation ready to act without hesitating. Self doubt is the number one way to be defeated before the enemy has even thrown a punch.

Meditation also allows one to focus his inner energy into his actions. The Japanese call this Chi, and many Westerners have heard of it. The Chinese, however, call it Kiai. Kiai allows a Kung Fu student to do things their physical body alone cannot do. Developing control over your Kiai is a matter of intense mental strength and conditioning. While some people may scoff at the idea of Kiai, and it is true that it might be more of a mind over matter application than an actual force, but Chinese Kung Fu masters has demonstrated their control over their Kiai by doing physical feats that would otherwise be impossible. Yoshi I Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on Shaolin meditation, please visit his blog at: http://www.martialarts3000.com/strikesmeditationmartialarts.html ]]> Traditional Chinese Medicine (tcm Part 1) http://www.artwoo.com/article/traditional-chinese-medicine-tcm-part-1 http://www.artwoo.com/article/traditional-chinese-medicine-tcm-part-1#comments Sat, 28 Apr 2007 20:34:56 +0000 tcm traditional chinese medicineacupuncture meridianspolar oppositestuina massageyin and yangmeridian linesherbology http://www.artwoo.com/article/traditional-chinese-medicine-tcm-part-1 herbology, Chi Kung, bone setting and . Each of these methods has many subcategories, methods and different schools of thought.



BALANCE = UNITY OF

TCM utilizes Chi and Yin and Yang theory. The basic idea as applied to Chinese Medicine is that balance is the proper state of health. Yin and Yang are polar opposites that are partly defined by each other such as big and small, fast and slow, hot and cold, action and stillness, light and dark, up and down, wet and dry etc.. If there is imbalance in the body, mind or spirit such as to much heat or to much cold then it is unhealthy and sickness will result. The goal of healing with TCM and healing Chi Kung is to restore, regulate and maintain Chi balance to the mind, body and spirit.

Yin and Yang theory is one of the least understood aspects of TCM by most Westerners because it is variable and not fixed. For example: Earth is Yang and Water is Yin. However, either can be yang/hot or yin/cold. Compared to hot water steam is Yin or light even though it is in a hotter (more yang) temperature state than the liquid hot water. Ice is more yang than cold water because it is harder than liquid water even though by virtue of the temperature it is in a colder (more yin) state. Fifty degree air temperature is yin compared to 100 degrees but is yang compared to 10 degrees.

AND POINTS

The largest and most common school of thought in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) utilizes meridian and pressure point theory. Meridians are invisible pathways in the body much like the nervous system that carries electrical pulses and stimuli except the meridians are thought to be channels or pathways that Chi energy flows through. Where the can easily be accessed from the body surface is where most of the pressure points are located. Quite often pressure points are located in the same vicinity of the body where a blood artery or large vein and large nerves or nerve bundles are near the surface of the body.

Continued in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM Part 2) Sigung Richard Clear has over 30 years of continuous study in Tai Chi and Chi Kung both in the U.S. and China. http://www.clearstaichi.com ]]> Iron Palm Part 3 http://www.artwoo.com/article/iron-palm-part-3 http://www.artwoo.com/article/iron-palm-part-3#comments Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:24:53 +0000 iron palmclass matesdim makkung fu traininghave been fortunatesupport blocksdr wu http://www.artwoo.com/article/iron-palm-part-3 Iron Palm QandA With Sigung Richard Clear Part 2

I started studying 's system of Kung Fu in 1982 from one of Dr Wu's other senior students and then I began studying from Tyrone in 1984. As a result I began training Iron Palm in 1984.

I was not really seeking out Iron Palm. I had not heard enough about it to actively seek it. Iron Palm and were simply a part of the we received. Once I began training I was hooked on it for awhile and then when I saw the other skills that could be acquired I began to get more interested in Internal energy training and development and I have not looked back since.







Q. 4. From whom did you learn?

A. Over the years I and blessed to learn from quite a few teachers. However, my original and primary teacher for Iron Palm was Tyrone.



Q. 5. What kinds of advice did your iron palm sifu give you?

A. One of the interesting things about training with Tyrone was that he almost never had us break materials. About 1986 I decided on my own to break a center block. So, I put this patio block on top of two other strong and sturdy center blocks and proceeded to try to break it. I hit it multiple times and got nowhere. It felt like my hits were penetrating all of the way through but no break. Finally, after a few days of this I became very frustrated. One of my comes over to my house and looks at the 2 support bricks and moves the top brick off of them. Both of the had fractures lines running through them and when picked up they fell apart with a very light slap while we were holding them.

To be continued in "Iron Palm Part 4" Sigung Richard Clear has over 30 years of experience in Chinese Kun Tao and Indonesian Silat. http://www.clearsilat.com ]]>