ANY BROWNCOATS KNOW KUNG FU? by chrisisall

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

ANY BROWNCOATS KNOW KUNG FU?

POSTED BY: CHRISISALL
UPDATED: Sunday, July 10, 2005 07:15
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Thursday, July 7, 2005 7:44 AM

I've been meaning to learn Wing-Chun for many years now, but I have neither the money nor the proximity nor the time right now. I have been doing kendo for five years, so I'm beginning to manage a stick pretty well. Some iaido on the side. Bits of Tai Chi interspersed throughout my upbringing because it was a cultural thing to do every morning.

I used to get picked on in junior high and high school a lot, which was weird in some ways. Since I was a little Chinese nerd girl, the school administration never came down on me if I fought back. It was a weird position to be in. The rougher crowd knew not to pick on me because for one, if they got caught, they'd be in a lot of trouble ("don't harm the school's poster brain"), and two, if we were safe from being caught, they'd most likely get pretty darn hurt and not be able to do anything about it ("you got beat up by the little nerd girl?!?" - laughed out by friends and adminstration alike).

Plus the administration was happy to talk freely about bringing in dogs to sniff lockers and things when I was around to hear them. Some critical information passed on to the right ears can buy you a lot of safety and weird respect.

Strangely enough, I have found that the thing that has helped me most in situations where it does become physical has been my gymnastics and dance training. I've got more of that than most other things. The balance and flexibility is apparently pretty key. Not too surprising after watching Summer in the Serenity trailer, I guess...

Of course, as many have said already, the best way to manage seems to be to step away from an altercation with no physical involvement. That has saved the day more times than I can count. Especially since when the scrapping was going on in my life, I was 75 pounds.

I'm really not one for violence, but I do think it is worth knowing how to protect yourself and your loved ones. And how to be confident enough to be able to avoid the fight. And to quote a character from an obscure teen flick, "Every girl should know how to throw a good punch."

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Thursday, July 7, 2005 8:23 AM

CHRISISALL

Reka, thanks for the interesting story.
Nice to meet a fellow Wing Chun person.
BTW, have you ever seen 'Wing Chun' with Michelle Yeoh? Some excellent real moves amongst all the wire-fu!

Chrisisall

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Thursday, July 7, 2005 8:38 AM

BLEYDDYN

Quote:
Originally posted by Reka:
And to quote a character from an obscure teen flick, "Every girl should know how to throw a good punch."

Too obscure for me, apparently. What movie was it?

As for training, three years of Seidokan (an Okinawan karate), two years of Shitoryu (very similar style). Both of those were over 15 years ago, however.

Plus two days of Traditional American Karate a couple of years ago. Also a very similar style to Seidokan. The reason it was only two days is because after the second class my back started hurting and kept getting worse and worse. I ended up missing a weeks worth of work and haven't had the courage to try again

I really need to practice on my own until I feel more comfortable, then try again, because I very much enjoyed the two classes I went to.

--Bleyddyn

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Thursday, July 7, 2005 9:21 AM

HKCAVALIER

Hey Chrisisall, never noticed this thread until now, glad you revived it. Interesting stories all around.

I studied Oom Yung Do/Chung Moo for five years. I was a couple months away from black belt when I discovered that all my instructors were in debt up to their eye-balls to the school and our self-proclaimed grandmaster and all the higher belts had been to jail in the 90's for tax evasion (The FBI was investigating them as a cult in Chicago, so when they got out of jail they moved out to Seattle where nobody knew them). I was devastated, never had I been so commited to something one day and leaving in shock the next. It wouldn't have been quite so devastating if the training were just a scam but I was learning real stuff from these folks.

I don't exactly agree with the idea that if you pull punches in practice you'll necessarily pull 'em in a scrape, though I've never had to punch anybody in ernest. At my school, if a student put too much into their punches (I'm not saying it was me

) the instructors would have them practice for the next few weeks as if it were tai chi. Our school emphasised open-hand and "chi" attacks (never got to the pressure point stuff myself, but I had it demonstrated on me--fun) and that stuff is all about control and nothing to do with wailing on somebody. Without precise control you could really do some damage that you never expected. When higher belts would practice that stuff in the school they'd do it behind screens so as to keep the rest of us from getting any ideas. Once one of the higher belts palmed me in the abdomen and I was fine for about 45 seconds and then it felt like my stumach and my liver were trading places and I didn't quite faint but I had to slump down to the ground. The blow felt like the gentle caress of a mac truck. Of course it just looked like the guy shrugged in front of me.

Since being in the school I haven't had to actually hit anyone on the street; readiness and the calm of knowing I've got nothing to worry about has been enough to scare off the few drunks and others who've tried to get into it with me.

The training does give you some strange reflexes, that's for sure. One time, at the height of my training, I was crossing the street and a van was coming straight at me and rather than run out of the way like any sane creature, I reflexively turned on the thing and barked out a "HEY." (I'm laughing just thinking about it.) The driver threw on the breaks and opened the door and I suddenly thought, uh-oh, where's this heading...but when he showed his face he was just so abashed and apologetic I felt really sorry.

And to the other bagwa walker above, yes, no eating or drinking after walking and absolutely no sparring.

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Friday, July 8, 2005 12:38 AM

BLUEBOMBER

I've always had good reflexes, even before training. I can catch and dodge blows pretty well.

I did Tae Kwon Do off and on for eight years, but I'm so out of practice it ain't funny.

Been in my share of fights as a kid. Lost almost all of 'em. Guess I'm not all that great (I got picked on a lot). I fought mostly with my older brother. The last time, I gave him a hell of a fight. Still got whupped, but he left me alone after that.

Nowadays the extent of my fighting experience is choreography for stage and screen fighting. I'm definitely not a master, but I understand it enough to make it look realistic.

"Mwah ha ha ha...mine is an evil laugh. Now die."

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Friday, July 8, 2005 2:33 AM

CHRISISALL

It does seem to make sense that so many Browncoats have had martial trainin', and quite a few in weapons also (the bang kind).
I like this thread, 'cause it humbles me a bit.

Jackie Chrisisall

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Friday, July 8, 2005 5:15 AM

ZOID

Chrisisall:

To answer the thread topic: "ANY BROWNCOATS KNOW KUNG FU?"

I thought David Carradine was great in that series. Didn't care much for the spinoff movies; but the original TV series was groundbreaking entertainment.

And, yeah, I know D. Carradine was actually a practioner of Tàijíquán, not gōngfu; but I'm an Occidental, so it's all the same to me...

Glibly,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." -Han Solo, Star Wars
a.k.a.:
Adventures of the Starkiller: Episode 1 - The Star Wars (USA) (original script title)
Guerra de las estrellas, La (USA: Spanish title)
Star Wars IV: A New Hope (USA) (video box title)
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (USA) (reissue title (new title)

"So uncivilized..." -Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, tossing his just-used blaster pistol to the ground, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
a.k.a.:
Star Wars: Episode III (USA) (working title)
Star Wars: Episode III - Rise of the Empire (USA) (working title)

"[The Bible is] Quite specific [in its prohibition of killing]. It is, however, somewhat fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps." -Shepherd Book, "War Stories", Firefly

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Friday, July 8, 2005 2:28 PM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by zoid:
And, yeah, I know D. Carradine was actually a practioner of Tàijíquán, not gōngfu; but I'm an Occidental, so it's all the same to me...

Zoid, your spelling of the styles names is unusual, did you get them from Hong Kong books? That's the only place I ever see them spelled that way.
Oh, and Tai Chi Chuan (my spelling) is gung-fu (a generic term that covers not only all Chinese martial art but anything that requires persistance and dedication to achieve), you'd know this if you weren't a gwilow.

like me Chrisisall

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Friday, July 8, 2005 8:58 PM

ZOID

Chrisisall wrote:

Quote:
Zoid, your spelling of the styles names is unusual, did you get them from Hong Kong books? That's the only place I ever see them spelled that way.
Oh, and Tai Chi Chuan (my spelling) is gung-fu (a generic term that covers not only all Chinese martial art but anything that requires persistance and dedication to achieve), you'd know this if you weren't a gwilow.

Hmmm... Where to begin? Well, I saw your ALL CAPS title asking if we knew KUNG FU, and I figured you had a question about the TV show. Realizing my error upon reading your lead-in, I answered anyway, trying to slip a little humor in between the warlike tales of high school ass-whuppins. I thought my facetious treatment would be a tongue-in-cheek tip-off that I know nothing about Asian martial arts, except where to look them up on the Internet.

Specifically, the same place I look up just about everything else: Wikipedia. More specifically, here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_Chi_Chuan
-and-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_fu

Those articles include the correct Pinyin spelling, and since I'm a practioner of the tao of Windows, I can double-click, CTRL + C and CTRL + V faster than you can snatch a fly from the air...

Defenselessly,

zoid,
"The White Ghost"
_________________________________________________

"If you sit long enough by the river bank, the body of your enemy may float by." -Ancient Chinese proverb

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Friday, July 8, 2005 9:12 PM

CANTON

Pencak silat is my primary focus, Silat Harimau “Tiger style.” Is my strongest aspect.

No really it's Pukulan Pencak Silat, and since I studied in Indonesia. . .it has to be one of the best styles I've ever learned. I've also participated in Judo and Jeet Kune Do and I found it lacking (interesting tech. but hard to apply in a real world situation). But that is my opinion and anyone is welcome to say their piece. Had to speak my mind, message me if you have a valid point.

Check out the Browncoat Online Photoalbum. Thank Fray101. http://clik.to/photoverse

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Friday, July 8, 2005 10:06 PM

HKCAVALIER

Hey Zoid,

I got the joke

I think we finally may have found a subject Chrisisall takes a little too seriously

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Saturday, July 9, 2005 4:04 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by zoid:
"The White Ghost"

Oh elusive White Ghost, I was confused by your levity concerning David Carradine, yet your book-perfect spellin' of the styles, I suspected goofieness was afoot, that's why I called you gwilow (a term for white people that is less than positive).

"Quickly as you can, snatch the pebble from my hand."
"Master, can we not try this exercise with valuable coins instead?"

Hong Kong Fooey Chrisisall

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Saturday, July 9, 2005 4:16 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by HKCavalier:
I think we finally may have found a subject Chrisisall takes a little too seriously

Them's fightin' words!!!
Next time I see your butt in the RWE, it's gonna git kicked! I'll team up with Lynchaj, and it'll be clobberin' time!!
wait...Lynchaj only knows Bush-Fu, that's a made up style, and doesn't work for real...

Oh well, I guess you're safe...for now.

Seriously Chrisisall

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Saturday, July 9, 2005 7:55 AM

ZOID

Chrisisall:

Yes, and the literal interpretation of 'gwilow' is 'white ghost', hence the signature. Sounds pretty good to me; but, you're right, the intent is a racial slur, similar to the true intent of 'gaijin'...

Respectfully,

zoid,
"The Lowly Mongrel Yank White Ghost" (and fiercely proud of it)
_________________________________________________

"Sure as I know anything, I know this: I aim to misbehave." -Capt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity, a.k.a. 'the BDM'

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Sunday, July 10, 2005 7:15 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by zoid:

the literal interpretation of 'gwilow' is 'white ghost',

You got me. I didn't know the literal translation, it is known to me as 'foreign white devil'.

Learn something new everyday.

And I was Chinese in a past life! Chrisisall

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