Rants I have written about Kung Fu

Confusion about practicing forms and usage in fighting.

 About fighting and having to LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THEY DO IN FORMS.  I think it's a combination of many persons beliefs as to what THEY THINK fighting with kung fu should look like.

1) I don't need to say that 1st of all it means hard work through time right?

2) Movies are Entertainment and should be considered such.  Many people have Black Belts in Movie watching but have absolutely Zero Experience in an actual fighting, so they go the easy way and rely one what they know.   It isn't fair to assume that fighting with any TMA should look like it does in a Choreographed movie.

For those who don't do forms I’ll site an example of what to consider in forms.

There is a move in Hung Ga for ex. that is called "Bend the Cinnamon Tree".  (No it's not hippie stuff)  It's just simple poetry for memory of the move and to help describe what kind of energy you should have to exert or put out in order to BEND a small tree.   Ergo choke someone’s throat.

What is it?   It's a simple throat choke, it can be done from multiple angles and depends on the depth of the practitioner to work it and make it stick. 

Now the point....the form itself is just a few moves and then it goes on to another concept immediately.    So it has to be said, form or not...when you put someone in a choke, THEY ARE GOING TO RESIST.   The form is not addressing an entire role-play or situation where you choke someone and finish them off. 

The form is only the guide and the practioner HAS TO PRACTICE A THROAT CHOKE ON SOMEONE, not only the set up (which was the form for example) but also the final culmination of what happens when a person resists you.  

So a standup choke by wrestler and/or a TMA guy, although set up differently perhaps, should both expect to have the opponent resist and then they both have to do the work to stick the choke.   I'm saying the latter of the encounter is the same.  It has no reflection on the forms at that point.   But it doesn't mean forms are bad either. 

Does that make sense to those who don't understand forms?

3) MMA modern competition = a different objective. 

 I remember being in Moscow getting ready for the Russian Ultimate 2 back in 95'   Renzo was chatting about some other fighter and he said..."He couldn't make me Tap".   It was just innocent conversation that typically goes on.   Competing in an event like that, you don't have time to take it all in immediately. 

Of course experience is never gained instantaneously.  Rather it's only after, when sitting under a tree perhaps and reviewing what you have learned that you actually gain experience.

Anyway it struck me upon reflection that my goals are different.  I train for Self Defense.    Not to pursue some down and make them tap.   I don't consider myself world class if I have to chase an unwilling opponent down in order to make him tap.  But I do consider myself world class if all I have to do is defend myself from getting hurt. 

I have had many street fights in dangerous situations  (haha Tijuana for example) where I had to not only fight 3 on 1 but also avoid "La Policia".  After I knocked out cold, 2 dudes who where gunning for me cleanly, fair and square.   About 8 cops were chasing us through the crowds afterward.   I can still hear them yelling..."No Dejan Pasar, No Dejan Pasar"

The forms themselves in the past have taught me methods and to help set people up (if you have the right kind of school) But since every human is different, size, weight and determination...In the end, HOW YOU LOOK APPLYING it towards these different opponents may look different or UGLY For that matter. 

Hey the guy is not going to willingly let you stick it to him all pretty.  People are confused in that regard when it comes to forms.