[TigerPaw]

I blame the public school system..

[bamboo]

Does Shaolin use the 8 directions as outlined in taoism at all?

-bamboo

[Wilhelm von Wankenstein]

Bamboo: The Four Sides and Eight Directions are common to every major Chinese martial art, since they are all based on derivations from Taoist meta-science as delineated in the Book of Changes, be they Buddhist or Taoist. They may couch them in slightly different terms, depending on the art, but they are there.

[bamboo]

Hammerhead,

Thankyou. I really know nothing of the chinese arts technically speaking. I am fairly familiar with the philisophical aspects but not in with their direct relations to each art itself. The book of changes is especially interesting to me at the moment.

Are such classics as the I-Ching or the Tao teh Ching considered mandatory reading to people studying the chinese arts? I would imagine a basic understanding would be essential for the internal arts at least.

BTW, thanks to all who patiently answer my questions, I am learning quite abit.

-bamboo

[Wilhelm von Wankenstein]

bamboo: No worries, buddy. The thing with the theory of Changes is that it's pretty much built into every aspect of native Chinese thought and life. Reading it would certainly benefit one's understanding of the art, but it's not necessary. The concepts are built into the martial arts influenced by them and, in fact, many excellent Chinese martial artists throughout history were illiterate. Of course, the ones with a scholarly bent all studied the Changes extensively and wrote their own treatises on it as it related to their arts - one of the best examples in this regard is Chen Xin's work on Chen-style Taijiquan, in which he derives the rationale of the art from first principles. I have the book in the original text sitting on my table right now and it's HEAVY going The works of Sun Lutang, who influenced all of the Big Three internal arts, are another good example of a scholarly take on Chinese martial arts.

[bamboo]

The thing with the theory of Changes is that it's pretty much built into every aspect of native Chinese thought and life.

This makes complete sense. I was shortsighted in asking the question because I saw it only from a western perpective.

The concepts are built into the martial arts influenced by them and, in fact, many excellent Chinese martial artists throughout history were illiterate.

"Feeling" the art, knowing it in a way that is beyond words to me is the highest level of understanding. No book can at all teach you the truth behind the arts. Good reminder!

The works of Sun Lutang, who influenced all of the Big Three internal arts, are another good example of a scholarly take on Chinese martial arts.

Looks like I have a book search or three to do.

Great post Hammerhead!

cheers,

-bamboo

[Wilhelm von Wankenstein]

Always glad to be of help, bamboo! If you ever have any questions on this matter, don't hesitate to ask. If I don't actually know the answer or have a book that has the answer, I'm sure I could find someone who does to harrass for the answer...if they don't up and hit me for being annoying, that is

[FHATODude]

Originally Posted by BLACK PANTA

I would say the most common misconception that people have about Kung Fu is that all we do is high flying acrobats (Wushu) or very slow moving techniques (ala asshole Carradine in Kung Fu the legend continues) These misconceptions derive from too many people watching too many kung fu movies on television. Hollywood and other entertainment industries "hollywoodise" kung fu. You know they make it good for the cameras. Because of this people dont see kung fu as effective or just a "wow look what he can do" type of thing.

there are people who actually think kungfu is slow? dun tell me they haven't watched ne jackie chan movies lol.

[Gong||Jau]

Don't tell me you think the Kung Fu in Jackie Chan movies is real

[Wilhelm von Wankenstein]

Oh yes - just like how Jet Li really can fly and stick to walls with his awesome kungfu skill. Wish my teacher taught me neat shite like that.