Some of the greatest martial artist in the world have been purists in their style, for example, Yip Man, Chen Zhen-Lei, Zheng Man-Qing, and many more.
Others became great by shopping around and ultimately creating new styles. for example Lee Jun-Fan.
What does it take to become great in the Martial Arts?
[i]“Absorb what is useful;
discard what is useless;
add what is uniquely your own.”[/i]
This is great if you already know the definition of useful and useless.
Jeet Kun Do is not a style. It is a way of thinking. Jun Fan Gong fu is a style. After understanding the principles of a style, then the practitioner can understand the definition of what is useful and what is useless.
There must be people in the community working as dictionaries of knowledge so that potentially good knowledge is not wasted on people who cannot achieve. These people are the purists. They less they through in the rubbish the better.
Lee Jun Fan also stated that just because you do not understand it now does not mean it should be discarded as useless.
OK, I gotta ask:
Why do you always refer to Bruce Lee as “Lee Jun Fan”?
Now I realise that “Lee Jun Fan” was his Chinese name (given by his nurse, if I remember correctly), and “Jun Fan” was the name he orginally gave to his style/system of kung fu
But “Bruce Lee” was the name on his birth certificate, the name he used and the name most (non-Chinese) people know him by.
And most Chinese people know him by the Chinese name he was given, the name his sifu and classmates called him and the Chinese name he used, which is (in Mandarin, anyway) Lee Hsiao Long = Little Dragon Lee.
I’m not saying that you are wrong to call Bruce Lee “Lee Jun Fan”, I’d just like to know “why?”
Don’t think, Feel. It’s like a finger pointing a way to the moon, don’t concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all the heavenly Glory"
I can’t speak with much authority on the Chinese martial arts per se, but as for the Okinawan martial arts (which came from China, and probably even moreso from Taiwan during the 19th century), I can’t think of any master who was a “purist.” Most sought out many instructors and developed their own “styles” (although most were not systematized into actual “ryuha” until after their deaths, with perhaps the exceptions of Chojun Miyagi’s Goju-ryu and Tatsuo Shimabukuro’s Isshin-ryu). People with the years of intense training, devotion, and natural ability (tiancai) that these men had, I think, allow them to do whatever they want. Most modern martial artists who create their own systems lack a solid foundation or understanding of the martial arts in general, and in so doing not only dilute the already weakened state of the martial arts in the world, but discredit it by neglecting its original purpose … brutal hand-to-hand combat.
But, I think it is always a good idea to learn from as many teachers as you can, but only after having a strong foundation in one particular style. I studied Isshin-ryu for many years, and not until after I felt I had a good background did I start dabbling in other things like Taijiquan, Qinna, etc. to enchance what I already knew. In the end, however, any particular “style” is just a vehicle or tool … and eventually must be discarded. The greatest masters were “martial artists” in the true sense of the word, they had transcended any particular style of system.
Good words.
These are also the words of any martial artist not trying to sell a system.
I believe Zhen Man-Qing said something to to effect of. first one learns taiji. then one learns to free the mind in relaxation, then one learns there is no taiji. (at least one of us has manage to unplug from the Matrix)
The funny thing about Zhen Man-Qing is that although his students seem to be martial arts zealots, he did not seem to be a zealot. He seemed to be a man who went beyond the teaching of his teacher.
I have no good reason for calling Bruce Lee Lee Jun Fan.
Funakoshi (founder of Shotokan and considered father of modern karate) studied several different Okinawan ryu or “schools” or systems.
Now I know Little Buddha will correct me on this an add specifics, but…When Funakoshi (nickname "Shoto’) went to Tokyo, he went to teach karate, not any particular style or school, just “karate.”
He didn’t like the idea of karate being classified and divided by “ryu”. For him, there was only “karate-do, my way of life.”
One thing he did do was to simplify and modify the kata so that all could learn karate.
It was his (Japanese) students who, being Japanese and wanting to systemize and classify everything, got all bent out of shape about what and what wasn’t real “Shotokan” – the style taught at “Shoto’s building.”
My point: Funakoshi was not a “purist.” He was an innovator who combined different elements to create something new. His students became the “purists.”
And while some of them were, no doubt, very, very good at what they did, could they ever be really called “great”?
If you look at old 8mm film footage of Funakoshi demonstrating kata and kumite, you will find that it looks very different from modern Shotokan. Although he did have many teachers, I’d say his greatest influence by far was Itosu, and it was due to Itosu’s advocation of introducing karate (then simply still known as “te” or “ti”) into the physical education program on Okinawa and later Japan. This was the beginning of the “modernization” (ugh!) of karate.
Well, I haven’t seen the 8mm film of Shoto, but I would like to.
However, I have seen the photos in his books. (Karate, My Way of Life, et al) There is a classic one of Funakoshi sensei leading his student in a kata – he is stepping forward, throwing a “rising block”
He is in a short, upright stance… typical of Okinawan karate.
All the students behind him are in the long, low stances now typical of Shotokan.
These days, Shotokan students are taught: “Beginners must master low stances. Natural stances are for advanced students.”
Speculation, Mr. Spock?
Are Taiwanese into Chinese martial arts? I have seen a little Qi Gong in the parks and some Judo, but not a lot of Wu Shu in Taiwan.
Mostly into Taikwondo and Taichi from what I’ve seen.
I should let others handle this because they can give you better information; but here is a quick response.
Yes, the people of Taiwan (including those who would call themselves “Chinese” or “Taiwanese” etc. are into “Chinese” Martial Arts.
In fact, some would say that if you want to learn the genuine article, the real thing, then you are better off here than you would be on the mainland (i.e. "China) where most of what they teach is modern “Wushu” and not real kungfu.
For example, if you want real Hsingyi or Bagua (Pakua) or Wing Chun, or taichi or even San Da (the sparring/fighting)aspect of kung fu)Taiwan, esp. Taipei is the place to be.
Kaohsiung ain’t bad either.
For the record, in Taiwan, in addition to Chinese martial arts, you will find several Japanese martial arts, including karate, aikido and judo.
You will also find Muay Thai (if you know where to look) and (I’ll say it before Sean says it) Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Check out the other threads about “martial arts” in Taiwan for details.
Oh, and also for the record, the people of Taiwan are really into taekwondo, and are pretty darned good at it… on the sporting level anyway.