My name is Sean Carrigan. I've been training in the Martial Arts since I was three years old. This Blog is all about the Martial Arts from my perspective, experience, and insight. While I currently study Bak Mei "White Eyebrow" Kung Fu, this blog will focus on all aspects of the Martial Arts.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Chattanooga Martial Arts: Terry Pollard's School of the Fighting Arts; video samples
These video samples were taken from Terry Pollard's School for the Fighting Arts Youtube Channel: Kalikungfu.
Chattanooga Martial Arts: Chattanooga Taiji Community; video samples
Video sample of Dr. Zibn Guo of the Chattanooga Taiji Community. Video available on Youtube.
Chattanooga Martial Arts: ITA Tae Kwon Do; video samples
There are several schools part of the International Taekwondo Alliance (ITA) franchise in the Chattanooga, TN, area. Below are some sample videos featuring ITA Tae Kwon Do. These videos are found on YouTube and open to the public to search and view.
That's Wrong!!! How to disagree with me.
The topics and posts on this blog are written from my perspective, knowledge, understanding of the subject matter, and biases. Citations to sources supporting my position will be provided as I feel it is necessary.
If one reading these posts disagrees with my position or wishes to address what they believe to be incorrect information there are several ways they can go about expressing their views. Just as the Martial Arts involve a way of engaging and dealing with physical attacks the academic disciplines of Rhetoric and Argument are a systems that deal with using words to attack and defend written statements.
If one reading these posts disagrees with my position or wishes to address what they believe to be incorrect information there are several ways they can go about expressing their views. Just as the Martial Arts involve a way of engaging and dealing with physical attacks the academic disciplines of Rhetoric and Argument are a systems that deal with using words to attack and defend written statements.
Rules of Engagement for this Blog
- All feedback posted in the comments section that disagree with the post content will be considered a rhetorical debate in an open forum. I will treat such comments under the rules and methods of argument and rhetoric. One engaging in open discussion through the comments thread should be aware their position will be systematically explored and perhaps attacked for all to read using the methods of rhetoric and argument. Those making comments should be aware how their presentation will be viewed by a general reading audience.
- The person making comments with different opinions will set the tone for the discussion. A respectful tone will be responded to with a focus on (logos) logic and reason. A less than respectful tone and attack will be responded to with a focus on (pathos & ethos) emotional content and qualifications for making statements regarding subject matter. An open forum debate focuses more on the presentation of the material and establishing the credibility of those participating.
- For those not wishing to expose themselves to an open forum discussion I encourage e-mail communications. I will not share the contents of e-mail communications and discussions, keeping the comments and their contributor's name private. If a private discussion causes me to change my position then I will post a correction statement in a blog post then go through the related materials in the Blog and change the relevant topics to reflect my new position.
- The main point to consider is the difference between open forum debate and private discussion. They are different and will have a different focus in communicating information. Choose which one suits your purposes.
Yahoo Answers: Series 1; Frequently Asked Questions: What is the best Martial Arts style for . . .?
One of the most frequently asked questions on the Y!A martial arts category is one that revolves around the theme of "What is the best" for various reasons ranging from self-defense, combat, effectiveness, to even more specific focuses about scenerios. Such a question is rooted in lack of fundamental understanding about the nature of the Martial Arts and learning complex physical skills.
When earnestly seeking to learn a Martial Art the person searching for information and guidance needs to understand some basic concepts in order to effectively direct their energy in finding what they want. First, a good working definition of the Martial Arts (dictionary.com,google web definition,wordIQ.com) is useful to everyone engaged in such a search. Without a clear definition from which to work an individual risks having all manners of misconceptions clouding the issue and interfering with their efforts to find what they seek.
The term "Martial Arts" is a general category that contains hundreds of various topics, styles, and concepts. All of these things that fall under the overarching label of Martial Arts may be radically different from one another and can oftentimes be in logical conflict with one another when compared. The dictionary and other definitions of "Martial Arts" are limited in their scope and ability to communicate the complex nature of the label. I believe to be accurate in nature the definition has to be less specific and touch on the fundamental concepts of the category. (Further reading trying to define Martial Arts)
I will define Martial Arts as follows: Martial Arts - A field of knowledge covering all things related to the systematic study and practice of activities related to the phenomenon of combat and physical conflict in the human experience. This category includes (but is not limited to) the sub-categories of spiritual beliefs, philosophies, sports, training methods, physical applications and concepts, history, biographies, and specific styles/systems of martial arts.
Once a seeker understands has a good working definition of the Martial Arts then we can go on to answer the question "What is the best Martial Art ... ?". Studying and training in the physical aspects of a Martial Art is done under a teacher either in a school or other setting. When seeking "the best" it is more productive to focus on the qualities of the teachers and type of instruction available to the seeker within their means to access. Why? Because it is impossible to objectively measure the qualities of various martial arts styles and compare them to judge which is best. However, a seeker can research particular teachers/schools and compare them to one another to discern which is best for the particular goals and needs of the individual seeker. It is important to note, however, the label of "the best" is a subjective term assigned by an individual using their own beliefs and needs as a basis to assign value. One person's "the best" may vary wildly from others giving an opinion on the same information.
It is this subjective nature to the process of finding "the best martial art" that makes asking this very general question a non-productive approach to seeking direction on finding a martial art to study. Essentially the FAQ "What is the best martial art ...?" and attempts to find answers to this question is a waste of energy and effort that could be better devoted to learning about the martial arts and developing more focused questions that reflect the specific needs of the individual seeker.
Yahoo Answers: Answers from the martial arts category related to this FAQ.
- "There is no best style.
Your size, body type and sex have nothing to do with the style you want to choose. People that think that your size and body type determine the style know little to nothing about martial arts.
people of all various so called body types, are found in all styles of martial arts and do well in those styles
Most people will tell you there style is the best or they heard such and such is a great style,
The style is not important, what matters is how good your instructor is and how you train. The style is secondary, they all have there pro's and con's there are no superior styles.
If you have an instructor that can’t teach you how to fight, regardless of the style, what good would it do you?
Choose a school with a good instructor in the end that’s all that matters, that and how you train.
Its the person that has the ability to fight not the style" - (more quotes to be added) Shihan J, 30+ years martial artist. - (more quotes to be added)
- Find out what styles are available to you within the limitations of your travel, budget, and interests.
- Visit those schools/teachers and ask questions based on your interests and needs. Write down information on web sites, brochures, etc...
- Decide which of the available instruction matches your needs.
- If you are unsure about how to decide which to pick out of the avialable choices then you can present a question that will give better feedback. Model question = "Which of these options available to me are best suited to (fill in specifics)?" Make sure to include the relevant information (i.e. school web sites, style names, school/instructor details, focus of training) in the details area of the question.
- NOTE: If you don't narrow the field of your questions down to specifics then all the answers you receive will be based on the subjective opinons and biases of those who choose to answer the question.
Martial Arts: CLC Bak Mei "White Eyebrow" Kung Fu: Part 2; History v.1, Introduction
History is not a strong point in my academic fields of interest. I have focused on the academic fields of psychology, philosophy, and sociology in my studies. When I deal with topics on history my perspective will be rooted in the perspectives in which I am strong rather than trying to use the rules in the field of history. While I am interested in the narratives of history I do not view them as a significant authority and source of truth.
Regarding the history of Bak Mei kung fu I consider there to be two distinct categories of historical narrative; 1) the Legendary history and 2) the "secular" history. The Legendary history traces the foundation of the style back to the legendary founder, Bak Mei, and the events revolving around the times of the Qing dynasty of China. The secular history starts with the modern founder Cheung Lai Cheun. The term "secular history" is a phrase I learned from Dr. Y.Q. Wong, Phd, during our conversations and refers to the difference between the lineage starting with Cheung Lai Cheun (not a monk or priest) as opposed to pre-CLC attributed to monks of the Shaolin temple and Chan Buddhism.
I choose to focus on the secular history because I am not equipped or educated in the areas of expertise (Chinese history and culture) to give a reliable account of the Legendary histories. Any information I have of that area is passed down directly from Dr. Y.Q. Wong and would be dogma that I could neither support or challenge with citations.
I will cover the history of Cheung Lai Cheun's life-time, his biography, and the foundation styles in which CLC trained and practiced before developing what has become modern CLC Bak Mei. I will do so using source materials from the internet, conversations with Dr. Y.Q. Wong, magazine articles, and historical accounts of the period. I hope to be able to contact and get feedback from the few still living persons who trained directly under CLC.
Bak Mei wikipedia article
Dr. Y.Q. Wong's Site (some articles available)
Hong Kong Web Site
Amazon.com Search Results for Pak Mei
There are dozens of websites returned when searching Bak Mei kung fu. Some are definitely legitimate sources of information and others are less so. I will not share those I know to be part of the mainstream organization because I am not qualified to judge the rest of the sites legitimacy and do not wish to imply insult or give offense by failing to link sites that are legitimate.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Traditional Martial Arts
Within the spectrum of Martial Arts there are those that fall under the category of Traditonal Martial Arts (TMA). What distinguishes a TMA from others is the adherence to the cultural traditions and training methods from which the martial art historically developed. Without this aspect of preserving the traditions of the first generation founders and practitioners of the style then the martial art ceases to be a TMA.
The name of a martial arts style can be confusing when trying to figure out whether or not it is a TMA because non-traditional styles that have deviated from their original design often retain and use the name of the TMA from which they started.
Some examples of martial arts designators that could be either a traditional martial art or non-traditional are as follows: Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Kung Fu, Silat, Kenpo/Kempo, and Kali/Arnis/Escrima. Of these examples Karate, Kung Fu, and Kenpo/Kempo are the names most frequently misused to represent something that is not a TMA and sometimes it's not even by definition Karate, Kung Fu, or Kenpo/Kempo. The state of affairs in the martial art Tae Kwon Do is such a complex issue all the intracies will have to be explored in a separate entry devoted entirely to that art.
One of the key attributes of the Traditional Martial Arts is the original combat applications of the historical originators are often part of the style that is carefully preserved in transmission from one generation to the next. If time erodes away many of the styles tradition the focus is almost always to preserve the integrity of the style's effective concepts and applications. If those are lost then all else becomes meaningless in the context of the Martial in martial arts.
The majority of TMA's keep meticulous records regarding the lineage or path of transmission of the style from one generation to the next. Any teacher or school claiming to teach a traditional style should be able to provide you with the names of their teacher, their teacher's teacher, and so forth all the way back to the founder of the art. If this is not the case when questioned on the topic of lineage then that's a red-flag warning about that claim to being a TMA. It is the lineage of a Traditional Martial Artist that ties him or her to their style and gives them legitimacy, not an organization, franchise, or certificate.
For the most fundamental of Traditional Martial Artists that strive to follow the "old ways" the teaching of their style is a labor of love and not something they do in order to earn income. These fundamentalists in the TMA's are almost never easily found through internet searches, checking in phone or business directories, and do not advertise their abilities. Often they teach out of their homes, in parks, or in back rooms of various community businesses or Churches. For them the most important quality for students are traits that mirror the values and ethics of the tradition they teach. Classes under these types of TMA's tend to be very small in number and the relationships of those practicing the style more like an extended family than that of a group that share a hobby/activity in common.
Within the global Martial Arts community there are those who advocate strongly for the Traditional Martial Arts and there are those who strongly criticize the TMA's training methods and their effectiveness. The general population unfamiliar with the intricacies of the Martial Arts often don't realize how few Traditional Martial Arts schools exist in reality and how rare they are to find open to the public.
In my experience Traditional styles may also be referred to as "classical" or "feudal".
The name of a martial arts style can be confusing when trying to figure out whether or not it is a TMA because non-traditional styles that have deviated from their original design often retain and use the name of the TMA from which they started.
Some examples of martial arts designators that could be either a traditional martial art or non-traditional are as follows: Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Kung Fu, Silat, Kenpo/Kempo, and Kali/Arnis/Escrima. Of these examples Karate, Kung Fu, and Kenpo/Kempo are the names most frequently misused to represent something that is not a TMA and sometimes it's not even by definition Karate, Kung Fu, or Kenpo/Kempo. The state of affairs in the martial art Tae Kwon Do is such a complex issue all the intracies will have to be explored in a separate entry devoted entirely to that art.
One of the key attributes of the Traditional Martial Arts is the original combat applications of the historical originators are often part of the style that is carefully preserved in transmission from one generation to the next. If time erodes away many of the styles tradition the focus is almost always to preserve the integrity of the style's effective concepts and applications. If those are lost then all else becomes meaningless in the context of the Martial in martial arts.
The majority of TMA's keep meticulous records regarding the lineage or path of transmission of the style from one generation to the next. Any teacher or school claiming to teach a traditional style should be able to provide you with the names of their teacher, their teacher's teacher, and so forth all the way back to the founder of the art. If this is not the case when questioned on the topic of lineage then that's a red-flag warning about that claim to being a TMA. It is the lineage of a Traditional Martial Artist that ties him or her to their style and gives them legitimacy, not an organization, franchise, or certificate.
For the most fundamental of Traditional Martial Artists that strive to follow the "old ways" the teaching of their style is a labor of love and not something they do in order to earn income. These fundamentalists in the TMA's are almost never easily found through internet searches, checking in phone or business directories, and do not advertise their abilities. Often they teach out of their homes, in parks, or in back rooms of various community businesses or Churches. For them the most important quality for students are traits that mirror the values and ethics of the tradition they teach. Classes under these types of TMA's tend to be very small in number and the relationships of those practicing the style more like an extended family than that of a group that share a hobby/activity in common.
Within the global Martial Arts community there are those who advocate strongly for the Traditional Martial Arts and there are those who strongly criticize the TMA's training methods and their effectiveness. The general population unfamiliar with the intricacies of the Martial Arts often don't realize how few Traditional Martial Arts schools exist in reality and how rare they are to find open to the public.
In my experience Traditional styles may also be referred to as "classical" or "feudal".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)