Human Technology
Topic: Martial Arts
 

I am of the opinion that there is no technological innovation created by man that is not somehow surpassed in nature. With that said I find it ironic that we are so fascinated with gadgetry and technology but are not so turned on by the genius of our own design. I think one of the best things about martial arts training is that it allows us to see the potential of our combined mental and physical abilities and also gives us a method for mastering and expanding that potential.

venom - morality - compromise
Now Playing: silence
Topic: Martial Arts
Is it morally acceptable to teach martial arts without teaching proper moral conduct, in addition to that, is it acceptable to teach fighting skills to those who might use them in a manner that is detrimental to society, if you are someone who teaches martial arts, how responsible are you for whom you chose to teach and what your students utilize their training for.  In the Shaw Brothers classic The Five Deadly Venoms, a dying kung fu master asks his last disciple to go out and find his si-hings (older kung fu brothers) and if they were using their skills for evil he was to kill them, thus restoring the good name of his clan. This may be a bit of an extreme solution, especially now in 2007. In an era when one is not necessarily becoming part of a “clan” when learning a martial art, he is paying money for a commodity, that commodity being martial arts instruction. As such the student feels, I now own this commodity and can do with it whatever I please. This is pretty much an American/western way of thinking and I feel it is a result of eastern martial arts being taught without its cultural context. Given, we are in America, and unless you are Asian, or grew up immersed in Asian culture you may not feel it is particularly relevant to your training. But I think there is definitely something to be gained by maintaining the cultural integrity of the eastern martial arts. This can be difficult to do if you are teaching westerners and trying to make a profit especially since the modern image of martial arts is the UFC, which has its own gladiatorial, bad boy, edgy subculture. Most of today’s youth are not interested in learning traditional martial arts in a traditional manner. Sadly what often happen is you have a guy trying to make a buck, teaching a guy who just wants to learn how to scrap. There may not be anything inherently wrong with that, but you have to ask yourself, what compromises is that teacher going to make just to attract students, because he is after all trying to make a buck, and the guy who just wants to scrap, what do you think he’s going to do once he gets a little bit of skill, or what he thinks is skill…..

Ving Tsun
Mood:  sharp
Now Playing: silence
Topic: Ving Tsun

How Ving Tsun Works

 

Optimum Line Of Attack

“The Shortest distance between two points is a straight line” The shortest distance between you and your opponent.It is important to control this line.

 Center Line (sagittal plane)

The imaginary plane that divides your body vertically into two equal halves. By protecting this line/plane you can protect your entire body.

 

Facing

Making it such that your center line/sagittal plane and the optimum line of attack are the same line.With this condition met, both hands can reach the same point in space at the same time. Which allows simultaneous attack and defense and Phon Sao (continuous / follow up attacks).

 

Hand Replacement

In attacking and defending both hands alternately occupy the same space making it such that your opponent can never reclaim that space once it is occupied by you.

 

Forward Energy

Using sensitivity, superior positioning, and proper body mechanics to keep your opponent constantly off balance , moving backwards, and on the defensive.

Topic: Martial Arts
In teaching martial arts, and being an advocate for physical fitness, I have found that many may have a desire to learn how to defend themselves, get in better shape, etc. Unfortunately not many people have the tenacity and commitment necessary to see their desires fulfilled. I have had several friends and acquaintances that have come to me to be trained. They will train for one session maybe even two; wake up to sore muscles the next day, and are never seen again. Mind you, I am not a drill sergeant nor am I abusive I try to make the sessions fun and engaging but at the same time functional & practical. Yet time and time again I find few people see it through to the end when it comes to meeting their goals for their own personal fitness and or self-defense training. I think this is indicative of our culture and it’s obsession with instant gratification, “I want what I want now, with little or no effort if at all possible”…. Anything worth having requires effort. If you start something, commit to seeing it through, otherwise you are wasting your time.

Sometimes you just have to go for it!

if someone wants your life , make them fight for it!!!

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/14353337/detail.html

Ving Tsun
Now Playing: silence

all chum-kiu / chi-sao level and above students please be advised of the following event taking place at the Chinatown HQ

Dear Moy Yat Kung Fu Family,

The students of the Chinatown Mokwoon are organizing a sparring session on Saturday, October 27th after our regular class hours. It will be more like a study than an actual competition. One person will represent Ving Tsun, whil the other will be a street fighter. The Ving Tsun practitioner will be the one being trained.

An example of our exploration may include "how does Ving Tsun deal with a hook or a kick." We may discover that we need further training in a particular area. This will be an opportunity to learn and discuss Ving Tsun theory applied to sparring.

We recommend bringing a mouthguard and cup for safety, but we will some have for sale that day just in case.

Also, we ask that each person bring some fruit to share, in order to stay energized after regular class.

Lastly, we will also be arranging a sparring session with students from Sifu Jay's school in Hatboro later in the year. If you are interested, there will be a sign-up sheet in the Mokwoon.

Sandy...

Moy Yat Ving Tsun

Martial Intelligence

Chinatown-Philadelphia

215-238-9066

www.vingtsun-usa.org

The Essence Of Combat
Topic: Martial Arts

How many martials arts are there?

probably thousands of styles

of those thosands of styles how many of them are principle oriented as opposed to technique oriented?

is there a way to teach martial arts that focuses on unleashing the unique potential of the practicioner , as opposed to rewiring your nervous system to express a particular style

although we vary in size, shape, attributes , and attitude

we all have two arms and two legs

and there are only three categories of things

that can be done in unarmed combat

Striking (with any part of the body)

Grappling (grabbing someone to control them or cause pain or both)

Throwing (causing someone to land forcefully on the ground)

is there a way to impart the essence of these methods

so that techniques can be discovered and applied spontanoeusly

without being restricted by style

many teachers have tried to find a teaching method

that allows this, yet when the teacher passes

his students turn his method into a style

it happens this way without fail

time and time again...

someone points the way

and when they are gone

we become lost

 

Completion
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: Silence
Topic: Ving Tsun
Today my two senior students Rolando & John have completed the entire VingTsun System. I Take great pride in their accomplishment. I started teaching Ving Tsun in 2000 and they are my first students to complete the entire system. I hope to teach at least 8 more people the entire Ving Tsun system within the next 10 years. We'll see what happens...