Comments on: My chi protects me! Part 2 http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/08/my-chi-protects-me-part-2/ Wim Demeere's thoughts on Martial Arts and Self Defense Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:39:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Wim http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/08/my-chi-protects-me-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-232 Wim Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:04:40 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=704#comment-232 @Rich: I understand what you mean. I think the biggest problem is a total lack of nuanced debate over the Internet and perhaps society in general. People want sound-bites and short explanations. But to give an accurate answer, you can't do that. You need to explain things in detail and on top of that, explain what you *don't* mean or your words get twisted out of context completely. You know what you mean when you say "expect to get cut" but the other people interpret it differently and then start cadding all sorts of layers to it; all of thme nothing to do with what you meant. Ah, the joys of teaching... :-) @Rich: I understand what you mean. I think the biggest problem is a total lack of nuanced debate over the Internet and perhaps society in general. People want sound-bites and short explanations. But to give an accurate answer, you can’t do that. You need to explain things in detail and on top of that, explain what you *don’t* mean or your words get twisted out of context completely. You know what you mean when you say “expect to get cut” but the other people interpret it differently and then start cadding all sorts of layers to it; all of thme nothing to do with what you meant.
Ah, the joys of teaching… :-)

]]> By: Taijirich http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/08/my-chi-protects-me-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-230 Taijirich Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:12:05 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=704#comment-230 Wim, I happen to be with you here again. I always make the statement that if your are in a fight with a knife, expect to get cut. I never mean that you will always get cut, but that is what the other guy is trying to do. The test comes down to his skill with the knife vs. your skill. If you don't want to get cut, make sure you fight with someone with much less skill or don't fight a guy with the knife. I loved your analagy about the getting punched in the head. I personally train with live blades, it adds a whole different level to form and two person work, I have seen too many sloppy practicioners training with dull blades. That said, I have been cut, but my forearms are not riddled with scars. I have fought against a live blade and not been cut, I have fought against a live blade and have been cut...both times luckily the opponent did not want to kill me. Everyone that I know that has trained with a live blade has been cut at one time or another, that doesn't mean that they are riddled by scars. Wim,

I happen to be with you here again. I always make the statement that if your are in a fight with a knife, expect to get cut. I never mean that you will always get cut, but that is what the other guy is trying to do. The test comes down to his skill with the knife vs. your skill. If you don’t want to get cut, make sure you fight with someone with much less skill or don’t fight a guy with the knife. I loved your analagy about the getting punched in the head.

I personally train with live blades, it adds a whole different level to form and two person work, I have seen too many sloppy practicioners training with dull blades. That said, I have been cut, but my forearms are not riddled with scars. I have fought against a live blade and not been cut, I have fought against a live blade and have been cut…both times luckily the opponent did not want to kill me. Everyone that I know that has trained with a live blade has been cut at one time or another, that doesn’t mean that they are riddled by scars.

]]> By: Wim http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/08/my-chi-protects-me-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-207 Wim Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:55:33 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=704#comment-207 I figure you know that Asian man a whole lot better than most people Tristan. :-) Thanks for stopping by and giving some feedback. Much appreciated. Wim I figure you know that Asian man a whole lot better than most people Tristan. :-) Thanks for stopping by and giving some feedback. Much appreciated.

Wim

]]> By: Tristan http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/08/my-chi-protects-me-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-205 Tristan Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:16:17 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=704#comment-205 This is a very interesting posts, indeed. :) I happened to know what Wim's Asian friend is, he would be 59 very soon. I am very novice in the martial Arts world. But the very reason I learned martial arts at first because "I have no choice" and then it grew on me. In my worthless opinion, we learn martial arts, so we don't get hit or get cut/stub/chop. So the notions that you got to get the scars as a proof that you have learned martial arts, IMHO, is ill advice and a lots of BS. Many people speaks loud and jingo boistering when they or their teacher never been in Indian Country where their life depending on their skills, situations or just lucks to save them from not going to buy the farm. Too many so called martial arts expert proclaimed a lot of things from their safe/control environment without the understanding that in real situations anything can happen. Many rookies got brain freeze the moment he's in the firefights, regardless if he's in a special forces. How to overcomes the fear, panick and uncontroble situartions are learn and tested on the field. This you can't learn it in school or dojo. We can practice dillegently and religiously, we can plan, choreograph movements, but when times come you must react. Last but not least. Martial arts technique is only a tools. You need to learn how to use the tools wisely for righrt purpose and in the right place and on the right times. Remember can't use phillips screwdriver on the flathead screw. I could be wrong to, Tristan This is a very interesting posts, indeed. :)
I happened to know what Wim’s Asian friend is, he would be 59 very soon. I am very novice in the martial Arts world. But the very reason I learned martial arts at first because “I have no choice” and then it grew on me. In my worthless opinion, we learn martial arts, so we don’t get hit or get cut/stub/chop. So the notions that you got to get the scars as a proof that you have learned martial arts, IMHO, is ill advice and a lots of BS. Many people speaks loud and jingo boistering when they or their teacher never been in Indian Country where their life depending on their skills, situations or just lucks to save them from not going to buy the farm. Too many so called martial arts expert proclaimed a lot of things from their safe/control environment without the understanding that in real situations anything can happen. Many rookies got brain freeze the moment he’s in the firefights, regardless if he’s in a special forces. How to overcomes the fear, panick and uncontroble situartions are learn and tested on the field. This you can’t learn it in school or dojo. We can practice dillegently and religiously, we can plan, choreograph movements, but when times come you must react.
Last but not least. Martial arts technique is only a tools. You need to learn how to use the tools wisely for righrt purpose and in the right place and on the right times. Remember can’t use phillips screwdriver on the flathead screw.
I could be wrong to,
Tristan

]]> By: Wim http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/08/my-chi-protects-me-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-201 Wim Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:32:21 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=704#comment-201 @Scott: You might enjoy this one: http://www.amazon.com/White-Teachings-Chinese-Religious-History/dp/0824822188 @Scott:
You might enjoy this one: http://www.amazon.com/White-Teachings-Chinese-Religious-History/dp/0824822188

]]> By: Having a Ball Performing Martial Arts | Weakness With a Twist http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/08/my-chi-protects-me-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-199 Having a Ball Performing Martial Arts | Weakness With a Twist Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:43:31 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=704#comment-199 [...] couldn’t help but comment on this little tiff.  Chris started it over here on Martial Development.  I think it relates to Chiron’s [...] [...] couldn’t help but comment on this little tiff.  Chris started it over here on Martial Development.  I think it relates to Chiron’s [...]

]]> By: Scott http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/08/my-chi-protects-me-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-198 Scott Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:11:47 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=704#comment-198 I say all y'all be skatin' a thin line. Spitting salt water (from the first video), bowing at the dojo door, cracking your knuckles, rolling up your sleeves, what ever it is-- we all practice purification rites before we demonstrate martial prowess. And that's what martial arts are. A demonstration. A performance. Every technique requires a set up! (and every practice, requires rules.) Sgt. Rory Miller wants us to add more risk to our techniques. He suggests a fully committed dojo mate with a fast swinging baseball bat, instead of a knife, but same idea. The din is getting louder...Make It Real!!! In fifty years people may look back at martial artists the way that we now look back at the millions of people who practiced channeling and seances in the 19th Century. They were fooling themselves. A Test, a Test, my Kingdom for a Test! Of course my Kungfu is the best, I have so much Qi I used it to make you read this, and now you are getting sleepy...very sleepy... Seriously people, the guy on TV cutting his arm hasn't made the 20th Century separation between performance and martial arts. The guys in the Video on the roof in Hong Kong are great, but the claim that there was a separate "vagabond" tradition ain't true. Everybody was doing tricks. Now we have these put-it-all-on-the-table Americans claiming that everything they do is pure fighting, no tricks. Hah! Save it for your grand kids. I say all y’all be skatin’ a thin line.
Spitting salt water (from the first video), bowing at the dojo door, cracking your knuckles, rolling up your sleeves, what ever it is– we all practice purification rites before we demonstrate martial prowess.
And that’s what martial arts are.
A demonstration. A performance.
Every technique requires a set up! (and every practice, requires rules.)
Sgt. Rory Miller wants us to add more risk to our techniques. He suggests a fully committed dojo mate with a fast swinging baseball bat, instead of a knife, but same idea.
The din is getting louder…Make It Real!!!
In fifty years people may look back at martial artists the way that we now look back at the millions of people who practiced channeling and seances in the 19th Century. They were fooling themselves.

A Test, a Test, my Kingdom for a Test!

Of course my Kungfu is the best, I have so much Qi I used it to make you read this, and now you are getting sleepy…very sleepy…

Seriously people, the guy on TV cutting his arm hasn’t made the 20th Century separation between performance and martial arts. The guys in the Video on the roof in Hong Kong are great, but the claim that there was a separate “vagabond” tradition ain’t true. Everybody was doing tricks. Now we have these put-it-all-on-the-table Americans claiming that everything they do is pure fighting, no tricks. Hah! Save it for your grand kids.

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