21
votes
Accepted
Could a non-Buddhist person become a monk/master at Shao-lin temple?
Short answer: Yes, they teach foreigners. No, it wouldn't be possible for an outsider to become a monk there. You can, however become a disciple under a monk. And you can become a sifu of your own ...
- 18.8k
15
votes
Is Kung fu useful for self defense?
Stances
Like squats or push-ups, stance training is often not directly about fighting, but in acquiring strength, flexibility, and coordination.
Acrobatics
Modern wushu is closer to gymnastics, a ...
- 14.1k
14
votes
Which will be the best style for kung fu for self defense for a weak person?
Protecting yourself from bullying has more to do about confidence than about martial arts. Learning martial arts will raise your confidence, but coming across as unsure and uncertain, even if you're a ...
- 796
14
votes
Is Kung fu useful for self defense?
I don't think it's possible to give an answer to such a broad question, other than to say something along the lines of
It can be, to the extent that...
It trains on realistic, damage-inflicting ...
- 1,437
13
votes
Which will be the best style for kung fu for self defense for a weak person?
Source: Black Belt in Ju Jitsu
First, I completely agree that learning to fight won't fix your problem; it'll probably just get you into trouble. However, learning a martial art is a great way to ...
- 229
11
votes
Accepted
How do you call a practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan (or Kung Fu in general)?
It depends on context, skill and time spent training.
If they just start training they're a student 学生(xué'shēng), when they become an official disciple they'll be called 徒弟(tú'dì).
Then when they ...
- 226
10
votes
Accepted
Does Kung-Fu come from Kalaripayattu?
NO, or at least not until about 900 years after both Buddhabhadra and Bodhidharma died.
In Meir Shahar's The Shaolin Monastery: History, Religion, and the Chinese Martial Arts, there is a whole ...
- 7,540
9
votes
Accepted
Training two martial arts at the same time, on the same days of the week?
Well the short answer is: Why not try it for a month and see whether or not it's something you're capable of doing? Because you won't know until you try.
One of the main concerns of practicing more ...
- 18.8k
8
votes
Translators at the Shaolin Temple
When I went to train at Shaolin temple (Songshan mountain), I was with a group of English speakers. Our monk grew up in the temple and had moved to the U.S. to teach there, so he understood English. ...
- 18.8k
8
votes
How does one "become like water"?
Bruce Lee's training partner, Dan Inosanto, gives some insight in an interview for the book The Masters Speak in regards to forms (emphasis mine):
Q: What do you think about forms?
A: I have ...
- 241
7
votes
Accepted
What to do with a grabbed leg?
Catching a kick is a common technique in Muay Thai and a major part of san da/san shou (Chinese kickboxing).
In Muay Thai, I've seen lots of kicking out or sweeping the other leg. This clip teaches ...
- 20.8k
7
votes
Accepted
How to condition the head/skull in order to break bricks with it?
I just want to point out that a lot of martial arts demonstrations like these are actually illusions. Bricks used for breaking are often chemically treated and baked longer to become more brittle. ...
- 18.8k
7
votes
Accepted
What is the purpose of slow movements in poomsae / kata / taolu for?
The answer to this question entirely depends on the form and the history behind it.
Most forms have changed in small and often big ways since they were first created. Sometimes movements are repeated ...
- 18.8k
7
votes
How to make knuckles bigger like Bruce Lee's knuckles?
I suggest you do not actually want big knuckles. The enlargement of the knuckles may be osteoarthritis, a painful, degenerative condition where your hands will stiffen over time. Although it may serve ...
- 14.1k
6
votes
How do martial artists make stronger fingers via hot sand?
This is a traditional toughening exercise in some martial arts, sometimes referred to in Japanese martial arts as Jari Bako. The long and short of it is that it works by traumatizing your hands, ...
- 11.8k
6
votes
What do Chinese Kung Fu Instructors Look for in a Good Display?
There is good kung-fu and bad kung-fu. The same is true with all martial arts. You can spot the difference when you have enough experience.
I disagree that kung-fu in general is messy or sloppy. If ...
- 18.8k
6
votes
Is there any relation between IQ and martial arts?
Why would you want to convince students of something you don't know to be true? There are so many other known benefits to learning martial arts and claiming an increase in IQ specifically caused by ...
- 956
5
votes
Accepted
Is it common and expected that shifus give theory classes about stuff like TCM, meridians and joints?
Joints
This one is easy. Yes, your martial arts instruction should cover joints extensively. This includes things like the use of joints, the training of joints, striking with joints, striking at ...
- 14.1k
5
votes
Accepted
How effective is Tai Chi as a martial art in street fights?
Taiji (Tai Chi) can be very effective for fighting. Historically speaking, taiji masters like Yang Luchan were among the most skilled fighters in China. In his time, taiji was known for fighting, and ...
- 14.1k
5
votes
Martial Arts Technique Against Knife Attack
There's no one "technique" here, there's a lot of techniques and principles and all of them are absolutely dependent on the situation and specific.
Run
Being outnumbered, and against knives, escape ...
- 8,343
5
votes
Which will be the best style for kung fu for self defense for a weak person?
Fighting will not solve your problem
Learning how to fight will not help. It will take too long, land you in trouble with the law/school, and even if you succeed at becoming a fighter, all you ...
5
votes
Which will be the best style for kung fu for self defense for a weak person?
Wing Chun/Jeet Kun Do. It originated (according to legend) as a style for women and has a focus on efficiency rather than strength.
That answers the question, but the solution, I think .. is to gain ...
- 151
5
votes
Which will be the best style for kung fu for self defense for a weak person?
Let's keep in mind that your goal is safety. Depending on what kind of danger you are facing, martial arts may, or may not help.
First, consider if there are any adults who you can turn to for help....
- 8,343
5
votes
How do you call a practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan (or Kung Fu in general)?
It is complicated in Chinese, and often depends on who is referring to whom, and what dialect is being used. In Japan, the term "-ka" is added (and in Korean "-in") to denote a "practitioner of". ...
- 4,047
5
votes
How do you call a practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan (or Kung Fu in general)?
There are several good answers here. I'll only add that there are specific names practitoners call other practitioners depending on relationship.
Very commonly utilized are the terms:
Si Hing ( ...
- 3,061
5
votes
Why is wrestling considered an Olympic sport whereas karate and kung fu are just considered martial arts?
TL; DR: It has to do with the fact that they have separate international governing bodies (see breakdown below).
The Olympics have a tiered classification system, that can be a bit confusing if you ...
- 4,649
5
votes
Accepted
Has a trained martial artist ever used their hair to gain advantage or attack opponents?
Your question reminded me of a Chinese Buddhist Nun, who is also a Kung Fu Master. She pulled eight (8) cars with her hair. True story! It was reported by both BBCNews and The Telegraph.
"Zhang ...
- 692
4
votes
Accepted
What are the corrects words to greet our shifu?
In Mandarin, "hao" means "good", and is used as a greeting. (As in "ni hao". "Ni" means "you", but can also be replaced by a title, in this case Shifu.)
The end of class phrase is probably "shi fu ...
- 86
4
votes
Accepted
Martial Arts Technique Against Knife Attack
Yes. Dozens. Probably hundreds.
Tomiki Aikido regularly practices defense against knife attack; students are required to defend against knife attack at every test. Students are also required to ...
- 3,261
4
votes
Accepted
Repetition or new exercises while leading a Martial Arts club in a University?
Ok, what I think you need cannot be expressed purely in comments, so I have to write an answer...
Regarding the main question
First of all, both is important. As long as you have the feeling they (or ...
- 7,540
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