The Derailing Thread

[KevinK]

I'd be a little afraid of it, too. Also heard that God "doesn't like it". I also stay away from the animal or demon-based martial arts, because they're, well, demonic. Karate's probably OK, but Dragon-style? Don't think I want to go there, thank you.

 

[Angel]

What do you think of Tai Chi?

 

[KevinK]

What do you think of Tai Chi?

Not only beautiful, but a deceptively powerful fighting form. This slow-moving art is regarded as the most powerful of the Chinese fighting arts. I did it for a brief period, and may return to it some day.

 

[Angel]

I see.
I think Tai Chi and Yoga have similarity in releasing energy (Chi) in parts of the body.

 

[KevinK]

I see.
I think Tai Chi and Yoga have similarity in releasing energy (Chi) in parts of the body.

Yes, indeed. In Tai Chi it's chi, in yoga it's prana. In aikido it's "ki", and George Lucas called it "The Force".

 

[Angel]

Matt has a Yoda doll. :D

 

[KevinK]

Matt has a Yoda doll. :biggrin

I did, too, for a short while. I made it myself, out of wax. It was only 2-3" tall. Someone at work finally micked it from my desk.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

At work today we had a course on how to handle aggressive behaviour. Part of it was about getting out of the way of a punch. Maybe I should ask my employer to pay for martial arts classes :p

 

[Angel]

That's exactly what I thought when I read the second sentence, lol.

 

[KevinK]

A novice in martial arts will typcially go into some fancy, complicated move to neutralize an attack. The expert will usually just step back a half-step, wait for the destructive energy to dissipate on its own, then step forward and launch his own counter-attack.

The bad guy is trying to show off. The good guy just wants to end the fight.

 

[Angel]

 

[Angel]

I made some pop corn, and when I took the bag out of the microwave I held the bag upside down and hot butter fell on my foot and it was so painful!!! Its been several minutes and it still burns

 

[KevinK]

Lots of people have painful corns on their feet. I never heard of anyone adding hot butter.

 

[Angel]

Ewww! I don't have corns :P

 

[KevinK]

I didn't know my grandfather very well. He lived in Hawaii, the last years of his life. I grew up in California. I only saw him a few times really. They tell me he was a gruff old warrior, but I never saw it. They say he acted differently around his grandchildren. I don't know how many people can say they've seen a Samurai put on a little baby bonnet on his head so he could hear his grandchildren laugh.

 

[Angel]

He sounds pretty cool.

 

[Angel]

Did you like growing up in CA?

 

[KevinK]

Did you like growing up in CA?

Yes and no. Beautiful state.The ocean (and Bay). But in my old age I've become fairly conservative, and find myself out-of-phase with politically-liberal personalities. Way too much taxation, and don't even get me started on gun laws (they just shut down my favorite outdoor range).

 

[Angel]

Did you ever get into swords, seeing as your Grandpa and also in being Karate?

 

[KevinK]

Did you ever get into swords, seeing as your Grandpa and also in being Karate?

Oh, yes, but rather piece-meal. At one point I even planned to move to Japan to study Zen Buddhism and Japanese swordsmanship. One of the reasons I started to study the language. Then the crash happened, health problems., change of plans. I studied the sword as best as I could, obtaining a few training pieces (both metal and wooden), learning Chinese broadsword technique from the sifu I was learning kung fu from, and picking up the basics of Japanese style from training books. Also, the style of karate I chose was a Japanese style (shotokan), vs. the very different original Okinawan styles. Shotokan has been called "sword-fighting without the swords" and it really is, focusing on broad one-point killing techniques vs. intricate blocking and wrist-locking or dramatic kicking techniques. I see myself as a modern-day Samurai, using hands and feet as weapons since people don't go around wearing swords any more (save that one guy a few weeks ago who stopped a fight aboard a subway train with a live katana he carries around with him).