Martial Arts & Fighting Forms | Asian American Poll

MARTIAL ARTS & FIGHTING FORMS
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:12:45 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

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WHAT YOU SAY

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gin-shu,

The Dao movements basically consist of a figure 8 move sideways. once your mastered the figure 8 move you can add more intracate moves. slights variations such as the figure 8 over and around the head. you can also add moves from which you see in the movies.

As for the gim (lets just called it the tai chi sword), basics again start with a figure 8 movement. i think most Chinese weapons start with a basic figure 8 movement.
try to learn this movement then you can add extra wrist movement, this will create a few more moves.
i think the best style of swordary to learn is the Wudan style. if you can get your hands on a Wudan style VCD try getting a tai-chi sword VCD. they are very similar in their movements.

i recommend that the next time you go to these parades, you enquire about learning the art of these weapons.

JTUK (Li Mu-Bai wannabe) Sunday, June 02, 2002 at 06:59:03 (PDT)

gin-shu:

I have wooden gin and daos as well as the real thing.

All I can say is you probably have to go to a Traditional kung-fu school in order to learn these weapons. If not the other way is to buy videos like the Wing Lam series at www.winglam.com and then if you get good at understanding the way the weapons are practised, get weapons books on it and add in your own moves.

The whole idea of weapons training is that you are already good in unarmed forms and combat and you are using weapons as a form of weight-training and to project your chi or energy better through using a weapon so you empty-hand can get even better.

The styles which have great forms for weapons are the Northern Shaolin styles because they are wide and free flowing. The Southern styles tend to be more compact and also more for self-defense.
Internal style sword forms like pa-kua and tai-chi have a calming effect.

Make sure when you do the forms that you practice with both your right as well as left hand. Many sword forms overemphasize one hand only, think of how it would be if you had to use the other hand but can't? Remember Balance! Get back to the Tao. Seen too many imbalanced Martial artist because of overemphasis on one body part or side. What you do physically effects what you do emotionally. There given you more that what an average joe can tell you out there.

Mar-nut Friday, May 31, 2002 at 12:16:44 (PDT)

This is a question on Chinese swords:

Basically there are 2 types.

The gin (or gim in Cantonese). This the the slender double blade verticle sword. The movements are soft and is considered to be feminine (yin). Actually, its movements resemble Western fencing and swordsmanship. The gin sword is the preferred weapon of aristocrats and nobles.

The dao. This is the larger curved blade. Its movements are more forceful and violent than the gin. Mostly slashing type. It is considered masculine (yang). This was the sword preferred by the Chinese troops and armies.

I own 2 sets of both the gin and dao.

Unfortunately, I can only look at the beauty of these swords and kiss them on Chinese New Year. But, I really want to learn how to use them. Watching the Chinese movies are not good enough.

I also want to buy a Chinese spear (the ones used by the troops in war) and learn how to use that too.

I always watch with envy, those people who know how to use these weapons during the Chinatown New Year parade and carnivals.
gin-shu Thursday, May 30, 2002 at 23:36:58 (PDT)

Kung-Fu is the most powerful style of Martial-Arts because it combines speed, agility, power and relaxing flowing movements.

IronClaw dragontimbo@hotmail.com Thursday, May 30, 2002 at 09:52:10 (PDT)

KM, 24,

I know a couple of schools that added a few gups to the promotion process before the 1st dan black belts. I could never figure it out. There are a limited number of standardized forms in either WTF or ITF. That's when they start making up stuff in my opinion.

Althought it is pretty tough to find. One could always ask the master of a TKD school if they plan on seriously competing in state competition for a spot to try out for the national team. At least you know then they are serious about making people into athletes.
AC Dropout Friday, May 24, 2002 at 05:49:38 (PDT)

Now that sounds pretty bad... I�m from Finland and one thing I can tell for sure is that there are no lazy black-belts here!! The spirit is just unbelievable and all the lazy ones are eliminated always on the basic course.. sure there are few indolent individuals , too... but that�s their own problem.. right?
Tribute to respect&spirit vaikeesanoo@suomi24.fi Friday, May 24, 2002 at 04:41:14 (PDT)

AC Dropout,

It goes both ways. There are lazy masters who sit around and let instructors under them do all the teaching and charge lots of money for a black belt. For the higher degrees of black belt in Korea, all you have to do is send in the money when it is time for you to receive your next one. However, America is the place where the proliferation of all those belt colors started. Lots of extra money can be made if you make up extra belt testings. Commercial schools in America make money both ways.
KM, 24 Wednesday, May 22, 2002 at 15:54:07 (PDT)

Gang- Hyun Nahm,

"commercial part comes from American's trying to make money"

That's not true, it comes from S. Korea the commercial aspect of TKD. Why in the world do all black belt need to get a certificate from S. Korea? Because that is how they make money.
AC Dropout ... aka uber-asianman seeking Zarathrusa Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at 13:29:54 (PDT)

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