training for life
Using Tournament Time
Unlike the average karate or Tae Kwon Do school, many traditional Chinese martial arts schools don’t ask or even encourage their students to compete in tournaments. A fear of looking bad or disgracing the school in front of the competitor schools’ students keeps many Chinese martial art teachers and their students away from tournament competition.…
The Fan’s Fighting Application
In ancient times, fans were the only practical air-conditioning units available. Even today, many people still rely upon paper fans for instant relief from hot summer heat. But did you know the same innocent-looking, hand painted, folded triangle can be a deadly self-defense weapon? I am speaking of paper fans with bamboo ribs. Most people…
Elements of Push Hands Practice
There are two sides to tai chi practice—the tai chi form and push hands (tui shou). Ancient tai chi scholars wrote that “You learn the tai chi form to learn to know yourself, and learn push hands to learn to know the opponent.” Forms practice teaches you your own proper relaxation, body position, breathing, and…
No Belts in Kung Fu
This article originally appeared in the June 1991 issue of Inside Kung Fu Magazine, “Training for Life” by Grandmaster Doc-Fai Wong. You might say that in Japanese and Korean martial arts, the most important part of the wardrobe is the belt. The belt’s color designates the martial artist’s rank, making it a critical part of…
Martial Arts Ethics
In martial arts, physical training makes us strong and skilled. Oral tradition trains our minds and hearts. We call this ethical training “wu de” in Mandarin or “mo duk” in Cantonese. All martial artists should follow the oral teachings from their instructors. Here are some do’s and don’ts that were taught to me by my…
