Show Me Yo Moves?

[china]

So you want to be a Kung-Fu master, I assume?

Anyway, I was researching some of the ye-old scripts in the back of my Buddhism book and found something called Shaolin. The only thing I knew about it was that Cartoon a long time ago.

Went on google, which then led to youtube. Awesomeness ensued.

I feel like an idiot now for NEVER NOTICING that Yao is WEARING Shaolin leg wraps and arm bindings in most of his Hetalia appearances...

For those of you that find any sort of martial art (hand-to-hand that is) as interesting as moi, here are two videos for your entertainment.



For some reason, the narrator is British. BT What?
Punching a wall. For two hours. Everyday.



This one is just honestly for the luls and Koreas here. Since Korea’s version is Tae Kwon Do, at least to my knowledge. I don’t think they’re attempting to actually hurt one another. Just show off their dodge-skills and attacks.

The one that comes after this, if you are still interested.. is also quite interesting to watch.

//Note: Derp, forgot to warn you all that the second one is horrible quality.

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[France]

That first video is scary. I have no idea how anyone could punch a wall for hours, or beat their heads for so long on sandbags. These men are amazing! And apparently slightly masochistic as well...

The second video was awesome too. I would hate to end up in a fight with any of these guys.

If Yao could fight like this, I would seriously hate to be his enemy.

[china]

Feb 28, 2011 22:43:02 GMT -5 France said:

That first video is scary. I have no idea how anyone could punch a wall for hours, or beat their heads for so long on sandbags. These men are amazing! And apparently slightly masochistic as well...

The second video was awesome too. I would hate to end up in a fight with any of these guys.

If Yao could fight like this, I would seriously hate to be his enemy.

I know right?

I mean, the hitting each other on the head seemed painful enough. But-- knocking your heads into sandbags for an hour seems so extreme. Not to mention the neck exercise made me cringe slightly.

Mm, I actually think Shaolin is more like sped-up Taichi, which is passive motions for the body and flexibility training. Basically, harmless until the person decides to speed up the movement and kick yo butt.

But yeah, against guns it might not be so awesome--but still pretty intimidating.

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[North Korea]

Omg, those shaolin guys are like, my human superhero idols. ;A; I used to watch stuff on Discovery channel about them a lot and was like whoaaaaa.

And I used to watch those "this martial art vs. that martial art" things a lot too, but I haven't seen this one! Pretty cool~

[china]

Mar 1, 2011 18:36:39 GMT -5 North Korea said:

Omg, those shaolin guys are like, my human superhero idols. ;A; I used to watch stuff on Discovery channel about them a lot and was like whoaaaaa.

And I used to watch those "this martial art vs. that martial art" things a lot too, but I haven't seen this one! Pretty cool~

I know, man. It's so freaky. They're like--crazy superhuman. BI When they put spears in that guys neck and he pushed down I was all-- "FFFF WHAT." And the needle thing amazed me too. I watched the whole thing on National Geographic last weekend.

Glad to know I'm not the only person who finds them amusing. x3

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[Germany]

Wow, those shaolin guys are amazing! Some of that stuff, you really do have to see to believe. They must literally have nerves of steel ( and lots of time on their hands ) to be doing things like punching brick walls — papers covering them or not — for 2 hours straight. And the spears, and the trident, and everything else...it's mind-blowing.

I think I've found some new idols/role-models to look up to. <3

[china]

Mar 2, 2011 0:41:53 GMT -5 Germany said:

Wow, those shaolin guys are amazing! Some of that stuff, you really do have to see to believe. They must literally have nerves of steel ( and lots of time on their hands ) to be doing things like punching brick walls — papers covering them or not — for 2 hours straight. And the spears, and the trident, and everything else...it's mind-blowing.

I think I've found some new idols/role-models to look up to. <3

Haha, I know right? I'm surprised that even I didn't know about them! It's like they're just chilling up in the mountains somewhere. I think they should make them train parts of the Chinese Army, or something. Although monks aren't supposed to be violent. :T Weird. Mm, but I totally agree. Their minds and bodies are like steel.

I'm glad you think so too~ xD I just thought I was easily amused~ <3

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[juni]

But, training someone else to be violent isn't violent in itself, is it? Maybe? I don't know, you could probably make all kinds of philosophical arguements on that point. I guess the Chinese army could just incorporate that into their training without the need for monks. Maybe.

Anyway, I always felt those old eastern martial arts were always incredible. Personally, I'm a huge fan of tai chi chaun. Well, actually, I've been mystified by taoist doctrine and thought for a long while, and that led me to discover the awesomeness that is tai chi...(which, as I've come to understand it is opposite most westerners, it seems) I don't know, it must be something about a practice that's so calm and peaceful until, as you said, they decide speed-up the movements and leave you covered in dust and lying on the ground, wondering what the heck just happened.

And then that Shaolin. Mm...you know, I don't think I'd even bother learning anything about how to fight. I'd probably be there just to learn how to make my body neigh-invulnverable. So many uses for that. xD

[china]

Mm--you make a good point. I just think the monks only teach the Shaolin style to other monks as self-defense and disciple training, though. Although I think teaching the Chinese Army would make them have quite the advantage. Specifically PoWs or those that are stuck on the ground. I'm not sure though, it might go against their code to actually teach anyone who is going to use it for war or violent means. Tsk, it's a shame. It is an amazing technique.

I always thought of 'old' eastern martial arts as something interesting, it's been a mix of spirituality with physical strength. While others, like the self-defense they teach here in America, is just to 'defend' or kick someone's poor butt.

I actually knew about Taichi before Shaolin, which is weird, I know. They seem to be interwoven; though I never noticed this until later. Taichi is about knowing one's self, right? I've only witnessed Taichi while in Japan, but it's surprisingly strenuous and difficult. Although it looks very slow, pretty, and elegant; the leg strength and balance it takes is insane.

Recalling that moment, though, I think I was told that if one did speed the moves up it would become deadly. But that's not the point of Taichi, which is more internal (peaceful, as you said too). So I suppose if you wanted to get technical--Shaolin = more vigorous/sped up Taichi?

x3 ~ You seem to know your stuff! -impressed-

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[juni]

Heh, oh, I don't know...I don't think I'm so impressive. ^^;

I guess I know a little bit. I only know what I've read and seen. It helps to be a huge fan of ancient Chinese culture. Specifically around the Han and Three Kingdoms era. Seriously, I'm such a hopeless fanboy... I've read the Art of War and Ts'ao Ts'ao's notes thereon, Zhuge Liang's essays on leadership and crisis management (I think it's called "The Way of the General?") and of course the San Guo Yan Yi (which, to be honest, is the first and only book in which I've actually made my own notations. I feel so accomplished). I still haven't been able to get my hands on the San Guo Zhi (I think?), and I want to read Shuih Hu Zhuan for not better reason than because it's one of the great four...even if it has nothing to do with my chosen era of fanboyishness. Yeah.

((Also, excuse me as I flip between using Yale and Wade-Giles romanizations. I'm a dink; I can't stick with one over the other.))

*sighs* But that has absolutely nothing to do with the thread topic, and I apologize. D:

Anywho, back on topic? xD

You're probably right. However, I'm sure some monks aren't monks their whole lives, and that some shaolin instruction must take place outside of monaster-...monastar-...those places, thought I'm sure the number is very few. Or maybe they all decide to never teach anyone those things when they leave those places, who knows. I just figure someone has to know and has to be teaching, because you see shaolin pop-up in so many places outside its natural element.

But you're probably right about shaolin doctrine not allowing for the teaching of thsoe practices who would use those practices for war.

Yeah. As far as I'm aware, most martial arts like shaolin and taiji are meant primarily as a means of personal discipline. Not discipline as in punishment, mind, but...you know, mastery over oneself. getting to control your body and its various movements and states. Both styles take absolutely superhuman quantities of muscle strength and control to execute those lovely, slow, flowing movements, and it must take them years on end of constant everyday practice to get anywhere near that point, and then years more for it to become relaxed and second nature.

But yeah, I think the differences between Shaolin and Taiji become apparent once you speed-up the movements to actual combat speeds. From what I've seen, Shaolin seems to be more about incapacitation, and Taiji seems to be more about simply rendering everything your opponent does as useless. Granted I'm generalizing, but yeah...

Haha, your comment about them being interwoven made me think of some line from some Steven Chow movie. Shaolin Soccer, I think (hilarious and awesome, btw). Something about all kung-fu being descended from Shaolin, during which he gives an outlandish example of Wu Dang sword. ;D

Ah, I feel like I'm rambling probably from both the wine and the late hour so I'll end it here, and leave us with two of the more popular examples of Taiji.

Yang-style:


Wu-style:


I used to have some really awesome videos saved, but I don't know where I've saved them. >_>

[china]

I—you..I…You amaze me. ;A; No, seriously, I think you just blew my mind tenfold with your awesomeness. Here I thought that I was weird for actually finding this stuff interesting. FFfffff—I love you platonically now, kthx.

Yes! We actually have an entire class here meant to go in depth for the Three Kingdoms book, as well as China’s era of The Six Dynasties. It’s so interesting, and although I loathed the characters in the book—it helped in explaining how much China went through during civil wars. I mean, normally we think one civil war is horrendous; I think with as many parts China has been divided into over the years (before reforming that is) is rather telling. I'm more of a Tang-Wai Dynasty person myself. That was when sparks of Modern China began to seep though, but they also still clung to their ancient culture. Ahgishgks. xD You even romanticize Taiji~

And the word you are thinking of is monastery~ That’s where they train, or just simply a Buddhist shrine. The one that is actually dedicated to Shaolin near the Hiei mountains is a shrine, not exactly a monastery. Although, I suppose you could call it that too. Normally monasteries simple study the Lotus Sutra, least to my knowledge. They do not learn Shaolin style techniques.

I wish that their passive doctrine was used in other means, but I understand that Taiji and Shaolin are more spiritual then physical. In the documentary on National Geographic, they stated that it was also used for defense since they were so isolated and prone to bandit attacks. There are many theories, but in the end they are still promoting passivism.

Mmhm, Taiji to my extent of knowledge is all about being in flow with the world around you. You aren’t supposed to disrupt the air, or earth—you move with it instead. I’ve just finished those videos, lawd, they are good. Did you, by any chance, take Taiji? Or were you simply interested? As I said, while I was in Japan I took a few classes on it. Limber as I was, I was far too ‘stiff’ in my movements and the strength it took drained me like crazy. I’ll always be impressed at how simple, graceful, and tender it looks—yet I know if someone who is experienced in Taiji kicks you—you are going to be in a world of pain.

Ffff—I love that move. Love. It. Shaolin Soccer is the best. Even the dubbed version in English.

Heh, as for their relation to one another, I completely agree. I’ve actually never seen any Shaolin teachers outside of China, so I can’t say that I’ve had any chance to see people being taught that were not Buddhist monks/worshipers.

I totally was not expecting this. Thanks for making my day~ <3

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[latvia]

That is just....it's simply astounding!

IwishIcoulddothat....