Wow I always thought I was the black sheep. Glad to know you guys are out there.
I think the problem with shaolin is the seeming lack of practical applications. They are in the forms but we can't see them from where we are standing. We tend to look for the external things. Such as this attacks here. Or this is a throw when someone does this or that. In shaolin style the movements are always going up and down. This has two benefits. It makes you more agile and it strengthens legs, developing explosiveness.
There is no apps for going down into a cross stance and punching. You are developing punches and legs. A gungbu punch is not done low stanced in actual combat. It is just practiced that way. If you could throw a powerful blow in a super low gungbu. You could easily throw it harder and more stabile standing almost straight up. I think the type of apps we are looking for aren't there. I do believe getting a high level of skill at these forms does make you a much more formidable opponent. The problem is most people are just trying to remember the form. Or think they are good just because they can remember the movements and flow a little. Shaolin is all about power. If your flexable and the form just "looks good" you will get your ass handed to you in combat. And you will give shaolin a bad rap.
I think the problem with shaolin is the seeming lack of practical applications. They are in the forms but we can't see them from where we are standing. We tend to look for the external things. Such as this attacks here. Or this is a throw when someone does this or that. In shaolin style the movements are always going up and down. This has two benefits. It makes you more agile and it strengthens legs, developing explosiveness.
There is no apps for going down into a cross stance and punching. You are developing punches and legs. A gungbu punch is not done low stanced in actual combat. It is just practiced that way. If you could throw a powerful blow in a super low gungbu. You could easily throw it harder and more stabile standing almost straight up. I think the type of apps we are looking for aren't there. I do believe getting a high level of skill at these forms does make you a much more formidable opponent. The problem is most people are just trying to remember the form. Or think they are good just because they can remember the movements and flow a little. Shaolin is all about power. If your flexable and the form just "looks good" you will get your ass handed to you in combat. And you will give shaolin a bad rap.
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