The Karate...I mean, Kung-fu Kid

[crashhelmet]

Excuse me? Karate is not the same as Shaolin Kung-fu. The styles are radically different. They may be the closest rooted fighting styles, but they're not the same. It would be the same as saying iaido is the same as taijijian. Yes they both have a sword, but that's pretty much where it ends.

I don't remember saying they were the same. Earlier in this thread I related what Mr. Miyagi taught to the Shaolin style based completely on the fact that it was Shaolin monks that taught the martial arts that grew into that particular style of Te, or what I referred to as Okinawan Kempo.

What I said was that Karate is not a style of martial arts. It is a generalized term to describe Martial Arts. In Japan, the term is Karate. In China the term is Kung Fu. Here in the US, it's quickly becoming "MMA."

Now, if you really want to get technical, there are VERY FEW differences between Shaolin Chuan'Fa and Goju-Ryu. Chuan'Fa and Shotokan? Yeah, huge differences, but Mr. Miyagi didn't teach Shotokan.

CH

[Hobbs]

I'll have to see your certification before I believe you

[crashhelmet]

I'll have to see your certification before I believe you

And which certifications will it take for you to believe me? Which certifications do you have to dispute what it is that I've brought forth thus far?

CH

[Hobbs]

And which certifications will it take for you to believe me? Which certifications do you have to dispute what it is that I've brought forth thus far?

CH

I'd like to see what makes you an expert in comparative martial arts.

[crashhelmet]

I've been training in Martial Arts since August of 1981. My father is a retired Marine (if there is such a thing) and my God Father is retired Navy. They had a grand idea to train me to be the "ultimate soldier." Unfortunately for us all, I was classified 4-F at MEPS in Tampa after shattering my ankle.

With the help of their connections and growing up all over the world, I had the distinct privilege of training with some of the best instructors available in multiple styles. I continued that training after I turned 18. I turn 35 in approximately 5 and a half weeks. So if you've done the math so far, that's almost 29 years of training since starting at the age of 6.

The first 19 years of my training had been wrapped around a core training in Shotokan. The 10 years since has been a core of Shaolin Chuan'Fa.

Being a military family, we spent 2 years in Iwakuni, Japan; a little over 18 months in Subic Bay, Phillippines, 6 months in Incheon, South Korea, and 2 years in Bitburg, Germany. In addition to multiple cities across the US.

6 years ago, I had the Honor and Privilege of travelling to China and training at the Shaolin Temple for 2 weeks. I'm hoping to go back again soon.

What styles have I trained in?

Japanese
Shotokan
Iaido / Kendo
Chugoku Kempo
Judo

Filipino
Eskrima

Korean
Tae Kwon Do

Thai
Krabi Krabang
Muay Thai

American
LINE
MCMAP

Chinese
Shaolin Chuan'Fa
Wing Chun

Brasilian
Jiu Jitsu

The greatest thing about training in the Shaolin style is it has helped me blend all of these styles together so much easier due to their roots all coming from some portion of the Shaolin arts.

CH

[Boozy]

6 years ago, I had the Honor and Privilege of travelling to China and training at the Shaolin Temple for 2 weeks.

That's really cool.

Pardon my ignorance, but what martial art do the Shaolin monks practice? I've seen them perform on TV before, and thought it looked very beautiful. And possibly deadly. But mostly beautiful.

[crashhelmet]

That's really cool.

Pardon my ignorance, but what martial art do the Shaolin monks practice? I've seen them perform on TV before, and thought it looked very beautiful. And possibly deadly. But mostly beautiful.

They practice Shaolin Chuan Fa, or what is commonly referred to as Shaolin Kung Fu or Shaolin Kempo depending on who you're talking to.

You're right it is very beautiful to watch and can be very deadly as well. The style itself is a combination of techniques largely based on various animals and insects. This is where the "Tiger," "Monkey," "Crane, " and "Praying Mantis" styles come from. Watching disciples spar each other is like an epic "Rock, Paper, Scissors" game as they adjust and change to counter their opponent.

CH

[Hobbs]

My brother's Tang Soo Do instructor loathed Chinese martial arts, mentioning that, "You're fighting someone, not dancing."

[BlaqueKatt]

from what I've seen in interviews with Jackie Chan-J Smith moves to China with his mother and gets harassed/beat up, he already KNOWS karate(so he IS the karate kid-it's what the bullies call him), but since the kids in China know kung-fu it's ineffective, so Jackie Chan, his school janitor steps in to help him.

It's like the "remake" of Dawn of the dead-enough similarities in the stories that people would bitch "oh this just ripped off the other movie" so it's not called a direct remake it's a "re-imagining"

Heck the only similarities between the two "dawn of the dead" movies are zombies(after a fashion-I personally don't consider running zombies as zombies), and a shopping mall, but because of those two things, the directors asked and were given permission by Romero to use the title-they were not going to, until fans started complaining about "the blatant rip off of Romero" even though Romero had read the script and didn't think it was even close(they didn't even ask until they were in post production IIRC)-so they can't really win.

Make a movie similar to older movie=fans screaming rip off of old movie!
Make a movie with same title different storyline=fans screaming OMG it's not the same!

They can't win

[crashhelmet]

My brother's Tang Soo Do instructor loathed Chinese martial arts, mentioning that, "You're fighting someone, not dancing."

Tang Soo Do is the Korean version of the Shaolin style. It literally means "Way of Chinese Hands." However, similar to the Japanese adaptations, it stresses more linear and rigid movements.

However, the Chinese styles are not all dance. As I mentioned earlier, it's like a rock, paper, scissors game.

Tiger Style uses straight ahead attacks, ripping and tearing as it moves, always pressing and NEVER retreats. It's very linear, rigid, and powerful. Examples of Tiger styles are Shotokan and Muay Thai.

Dragon Style teaches you to "Ride The Wind." it uses rising and falling motions as well as twisting and turning movements to overcome its adversaries. The Dragon Style uses a lot of spinning moves to overcome the Tiger's linear moves. This is why you always see the Tiger fighting the Dragon in artwork. To be honest, I can't think of a foreign art that matches the Dragon Style. Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, and Judo come close, but lack enough in different areas.

Leopard Style is all about timing and agility. The Leopard is patient and will move in, get its shots in, and move out. It also uses some of the spinning and stepping moves of the Dragon to dodge attacks. it also uses traps and breaks. it's a "standing grappling" art. It doesn't have the size or strength to fight like a Tiger, so it hits vital soft spots and works on taking the opponent down while it remains standing. They say that if a Leopard was the same size as a Tiger, it would be the deadliest of them all. Krav Maga could be considered a Leopard Style.

Crane Style is all about balance, gracefulness, agility, and explosiveness. Its movements are soft, relaxed, and circular until the time comes for the kill shot. You could say it's another defense style, concentrating more on getting out of the way or at least deflecting or trapping the attacks. Looks dance-like with all of the jumping around and arm movements. Tae Kwon Do is a Crane Style.

Snake Style uses coils, zig zags, and rapid twisting motions to compensate for his lack of limbs. Like the Crane, it's very explosive hitting "soft" targets to incapacitate their enemy. The art of Wing Chun is a Snake Style.

Those are the 5 core styles. There are countless others.

The White Spider and Snow Leopard Styles are ground grappling styles. The White Spider concentrates more on locks while the Snow Leopard concentrates more on pinning and striking.

Eagle Style is like the Crane, but "flies" more. Bear is like the Tiger but stands its ground rather than pressing in. Monkey is like a cross between the Snake and the Leopard. Don't ask about the Frog style. I don't know enough about it and can only say that it's different

Forgive me. I'm geeking out again ;p But anyway, for the styles that look dance-like, don't underestimate them. The movements you see are designed to move out of the way, block, deflect, or trap strikes, or counter-strike.

True practitioners study at least all of the 5 core, if not more, to learn the balance between them all. If your opponent is fighting like a Tiger, you fight like a Dragon and vice-versa. Every style has advantages and disadvantages against the others. it all comes down to how you use it and how your mental training has been.

CH

[Fryk]

Crash, that was so cool, I bookmarked it.

[dendawg]

it's not called a direct remake it's a "re-imagining"

You mean like "Dragon Ball" is pretty much a re-imagining of "Journey to the West?"

[BlaqueKatt]

You mean like "Dragon Ball" is pretty much a re-imagining of "Journey to the West?"

well the author of Dragonball has said that he was attempting to get it into a more "kid accepted" version-it is in the same manner as "o brother where art thou" is the Oddesy-so more of an "update" a re-imagining is more of rewriting parts-see "tim burton's planet of the apes" vs the original or halloween vs "rob zombies Hallowen"

[jackfaire]

a re-imagining is more of rewriting parts-see "tim burton's planet of the apes"

LMAO Actually the newer planet of the Apes movie was closer to the book than the original one was in my opinion.

[Racket_Man]

LMAO Actually the newer planet of the Apes movie was closer to the book than the original one was in my opinion.

I did like Tim Burtons "re-make" as it did stick a little closer to the original book. BUT having said that I did LIKE the Rod Serling script for the original Planet of the Apes movie. he at least used the basic premise of the book but shifted the focus to a future Earth rather than a distant planet. The book was kinda boring and slow for me but a great premise for a story. I did like how Serling "Sci-Fi'ed" it up a bit more than the book and kept certain details hidden until the very last minute.

Rod Serling did create a great foundation for the squeals/prequeals