POST #4: Of MMA and TCMA Part 2

Part 1 was dedicated to a critique of the notion “Mixed Martial Arts” and all things modern which fall in that category. In order to show that I am not biased and above “brand loyalty”, this post will be a critique of certain elements prevalent among many Traditional Chinese Martial Artists. This applies to classical arts in general, but as my focus is TCMA, just substitute, at your discretion, whatever ‘X’ art you think relevant.

There are many issues I have with the contemporary practice and dissemination of TCMA (don’t think it’s just the one I will be mentioning in this post), but for the sake of maintaining a theme, I will only be tackling one at a time.

This post will be directed at those who train in TCMA, but misrepresent the art form. Misrepresentation includes such statements as “my art is too deadly to use in competition”, “it is a secret that I cannot show people”, “our art is meant to kill so we cannot demonstrate it practically” and other such related nonsense phrases. Misrepresentation also includes the claiming of knowledge and training in TCMA, but come show time, absolute horseshit.

(Look! A bad word. Clearly no bias on my part!)

Allow me to briefly clarify something. Depending on the goals set by the individual learning TCMA, there will obviously be different categories and levels of judgment. For instance, a person who wishes to learn TCMA primarily for health reasons is not expected to become an expert fighter; that individual will instead be judged on health improvements. If they learn to fight on the side, kudos to them. Likewise a person who wishes to study TCMA in order to gather cultural information will not be expected to become an expert fighter; that individual will be judged on the amount of relevant cultural material learned and understood. This post, and the subsequent criticisms, is aimed at the individuals who claim to learn TCMA for the purpose of fighting; individuals who SHOULD be judged on their ability to engage in physical contests.

For this particular category, there are, in my opinion, essentially five different types of TCMA fighters. I will list them in (my personal) decreasing order of respect. They are:

• The Traditionalist Fighter
• The Hybrid Fighter
• The Self Defense Fighter
• The “Kick Boxer” (notice how it’s in quotes. More on that soon enough)
• The Internet Warrior

The TRADITIONALIST FIGHTER is something of a myth, wrapped in a fairy tale, placed in a dream. TFs are those that can utilize the skills in a textbook fashion with little to no deviance in structure or general shape, despite the modern variables involved in fights. If the form he learned requires a 45 degree bend and two hands held parallel while swiveling on a center, then in a fight he will do exactly that, PERFECTLY and EFFECTIVELY, in any given context which the movement would be deemed appropriate. Essentially, watch a 70s/80s Hong Kong Gung Fu movie and watch how they fight. Excellent choreography. Spectacular fight scenes. Natural grace. Mind boggling speed and precision. Authentic patterns and movements abound. That is the Traditionalist Fighter (obviously a movie is dramatized skill, but I hope you get the picture). I’m sure there are a few out there; emphasis on the word FEW

(I've never seen one. However, since I'm not a fan of absolutes, I always leave a 1% margin of error. Hence FEW).

Everyone who started learning Gung Fu at some point wanted to reach this level of fantastical skill. Most people realize soon that unless you have absolutely nothing else to do other than learn Gung Fu, this vision is harder to hold than water in a broken bottle.

(the video clip came from a 1981 movie choreographed by Lau Kar Leung, an absolute Legend in martial arts choreography and a real life master of enviable renown. He's the old man in the brown who fights the villain in white.)

The Hybrid Fighter is the classification those who train for combat should aim. The HF MAY not readily adopt classical ready stances I.e. very erect side horse stance, Ji Ng Ma, Diu Ma etc. There are exceptions obviously, but usually in non-demonstration/uncontrolled environments, the HF would probably opt to stand like any kick boxer or disciplined combatant in the modern era: erect, slight curvature of the back, hands up to protect head and upper body, or perhaps head and a lower guard for the middle, possibly a side stance to decrease exposed surface area blah blah blah. From here, he seems like any other fighter in a ring. Even the initial punch/kick might seem indistinguishable from the modern kick boxer. However, that is where the similarity ends. Once the initial attack is given/received, the HF will pressure, maneuver, and fight primarily with the techniques he trained so hard i.e. claws into joint cavities, tripping with horse stance, double fists, finger strikes, swinging forearms, retreat and attack using Tau Ma stance. He only falls back onto the simple jab-kick phase when the distance is too great and the caution too high. The HF is, at most, 10% ‘kick boxing’, with the other 90% being the classical patterns and skills of his chosen discipline.

(the video clip used portrays the Buk Sing Choy Li Fut group, a sub set of the Choy Li Fut system. The Lacey's are very well known and of excellent martial pedigree due to their intensive training, with actual tangible results, and admirable devotion to the art)

The Self Defense fighter is in the middle of my range of acceptability. I will talk about those who engage in TCMA for the purpose of self defense IN A DIFFERENT POST as this is another issue I have with TCMA . However, as I said, one criticism at a time. Suffice to say that I am OFFICIALLY neutral, but UNofficially leaning toward discouragement regarding learning TCMA for self defense purposes (as a primary aim TCMA training).

Now we get into the real thick and murky business of wading through the sludge and scum which abounds within the world of people who train in TCMA (I used moderately distinct imagery to create a sense of disgust while distancing myself from actual profanity. Just as effective no?)

I have very little respect for “Kickboxers” (note the quotation marks). I do not mean those who practice the myriad of disciplines that fall under the purview of kickboxing I.e. Muay Thai, Sanda, Savate, American Kickboxing, Shoot Boxing etc. Individuals who practice those disciplines are good athletes and usually a credit to their discipline simply due to the fact that those who practice it use it. “Kickboxers” refer to, and hence the quotes, those that spend the time to train in TCMA… but fall back onto what could only be described as a pale shadow of an imitation of kickboxing. Let me paint you a picture:

Everyday, for several years, you train yourself hours at a time. You plant yourself in stances to strengthen your standing and rooting power. You kick 1000 times the many different types of kicks you know. You practice an assortment of punches and hand strikes coming from every conceivable angle. You slap sand, gravel and metal beads to toughen your hands. You condition the tips of your fingers the same way, spending hours jabbing them into sand, gravel and metal beads. You spend hours using nothing but the tips to grip onto jugs of water. You now possess fingers that can easily slide in between joints and damage soft tissue and muscle. You learn how to properly angle yourself so that with minimal force, you can topple people larger than yourself. You strike trees with your forearms to harden the bone in the wrist, forearm, and toughen the skin and flesh of your muscles so that they, on top of your fists, may be used as effective bludgeoning tools. You learn how to lead with a simple jab, but rush in close to seal off the opponents arms while being able to position your elbow right at his plexus, effectively being able to knock your opponent down in one strike ad nauseum… … … …

You now get into a fight (either for competition, self defense, or because you‘re an undisciplined asshole), and the first thing you do is throw a jab. So far so good. You throw a sloppy kick… maybe you simply lost balance. Then you lose your head and everything goes out the window. You are reduced to flailing. No stance. No root. No calculated maneuvering. No legs-hip-torso-arm union. Just erratic shiftings along an imaginary line, hopping in imperfect circles, jumping and swinging your arms in hopes of an opening. THAT, my friends, is PURE embarrassment.

In the above described situation, it would be BETTER to LOSE attempting to use real TCMA techniques.

Some might question why.

Why would you rather lose attempting to use techniques you might not be prepared to utilize?

It would be better because, though defeated, people will simply say that HIS Gung Fu was no good. He would simply need to train harder, smarter, and educate himself better regarding the ins and outs of different fight strategies. He would need to spar more and study different styles to become better versed and tailoring his chosen skill sets to best others.

However, in the above situation, his Gung Fu isn’t simply no good. It’s not present at all. So you claim to know TCMA and they challenge you. Instead of attempting to show TCMA in combat, you fall back on something you never really learned and therefore cannot even properly imitate.

What does that say?

That says that even though you spent the time, suffered the bruises, cuts and breaks, dripped the blood and sweat and tears… you have no confidence in what you train.

There is no pride.

Not only is your Gung Fu absent. Your fighting spirit is absent. It is no longer ‘HIS Gung Fu is no good’. It becomes ‘Gung Fu IN GENERAL is no good’. A chef that does not eat his own recipes cannot be trusted. Corporate leaders hesitant to invest in their own company cannot expect the public to believe in the company either. Such is the case with TCMA practitioners, who train for combat, but fall back on something entirely different. “Kickboxers” (note the quotes) are detrimental to the fighting pride and heritage of TCMA.

(I would like to make a note that the above description and criticisms are leveled at TCMA people that train to fight in competitions or for general scuffling purposes. In the event of surprise attacks in dark alleys, I don't think it matters what you do so long as you come out alive. If it turns out that flailing saved your life, then gosh darn it who am I/you to complain in that situation? The anger and resentment is not aimed at those attempting to get home safe to their families, but at those who parade the fact they learn TCMA... but have squat to show. THOSE people are my intended targets).

The final category of TCMA fighters are those whom are dubbed as Internet Warriors. In the truest sense, I believe most of them are not fighters, but that is merely an assumption on my part based on the colloquial label assigned to them. As the title implies, I.W. do not frequently voice themselves in a true public forum but rather hide behind their cyber walls and interact on forum boards. They are inflammatory speakers who watch competitions and demonstrations and have little to no useful critique of the happenings. They come in two varieties:

• Those critical of TCMA practitioners as being shit

• Those that defend TCMA practitioners with an assortment of excuses, much like those made in the beginning of this post.

The latter group is usually composed of TCMA practitioners or, even more depressing, starry-eyed NON-EXPONENTS who have been pulled into the world of classical gung fu movies and wonderful displays of martial strength via demos etc WITHOUT EVER HAVING EXPERIENCED the bitter training and the ‘eating of the late night congee’.

(the latter statement is a Chinese colloquialism translated into English. It is equivalent to ‘burning the midnight oil‘. Back in the day, you stayed late to train late with fellow older martial brothers to help flesh out what you have learned over a period. In the end, you had a light snack/meal of congee.)

Regarding the first group, they will be addressed in a different post. The reason is that they fall under a more specific topic which will be later addressed and TAGGED as “GAMES”. Suffice to say that the first group either criticizes groundlessly, due to having no skills themselves, or criticizes on faulty premises, which is what that future post will address.

The second group is the real danger to TCMA. Regarding the defense statements, I have this to say:

Why join a competition if you did not prepare to fight according to their rules?

If you have the intent to join a specific competition that has specific rules I.e. no eye gouges, no groin kicks, no punching the back of the head, then it is the responsibility of the fighter to train according to those rules and attempt to excel according to those rules. If you want to test your skills based on a different rubric, perhaps one which allows eye gouging and groin kicking, then join that type of competition. It is simply ridiculous how many comments there are online saying things like

“oh if he didn’t have gloves on he’d kick his ass”

or

“this is bullshit. That Shaolin monk/Gung Fu fighter/karate kid would whoop that jiu jitsu guy/mma guy etc if they didn’t have gloves/allowed him to use his deadly techniques”.

All of these points are POTENTIALLY valid. However, the success of those two points hinge on two important factors:

• that they didn’t have gloves

• that they were not in THAT particular type of competition with THOSE explicit rules.

The jist of this is that you entered a competition unprepared. Don't cry about losing at something you knew the rules for but refused to prepare accordingly.

We move onto the second subgroup of the Internet Warriors: The individuals who have had little to no training the martial arts and have their sources of references as movies, books, hearsay stories (My friend knew a guy who heard a story from his brother who trains with a man that was in the Army/Special Forces/Shaolin Temple/Taoist Sage............ you get the picture I'm sure)

These people are idiots. Plain and simple. It is a shame to consider them part of the martial community but, like any other type of community, there are elements that the majority would rather not acknowledge or deal with. These people, by popular opinion, should not belong, but they belong nonetheless because they are insistent in stepping foot into territories that would rather them not be present. This can be somewhat equated to ethnic minorities in a somewhat hostile country; the major ethnic group in charge of the country would rather they just move on out, but they have to let them stay or else the majority will be accused of racial prejudices.

(For the record, I am NOT endorsing ethnic cleansing. Just the first example I could think of. Ethnic minorities enrich an area they reside in by simply bringing variety and distinctness. I am not a racist. Please don't accuse me of being one. Like I said, first moderately well fitted example for the situation I could think of. Remember, Me=NOT A RACIST.)

These individuals, these Internet Warriors, just shit all over the place and leave nothing but bitterness and embarrassment. Their great disservice is injecting themselves in conversations that they know nothing about and, therefore, force people who might sincerely want to learn something, to muck their way through the garbage. Most people just throw up their hands and surrender, coming to premature conclusions that, more often than not, cast a negative light on TCMA. This is the great disservice these starry-eyed Internet Warriors engage… they take up room and valuable time and distract people from the genuine knowledge attempting to be disseminated. Sure they might even have read a few books on martial theory and combat philosophy. They might even have seen a few videos and listened in on a few demos and martial seminars/conventions. This all amounts to about less than a thimbles worth of experience and they, as individuals who perpetuate the nonsense and illusion of experience, amount to even less because of their intentional misleading of others and general irresponsible and assholish behaviours.

...In the above section I realize that I come off sounding rather belligerent. Under normal circumstances I am a very passive and nice guy... pussy cat like in fact. And I know writing in blog format seems to, at least superficially, point a shy trembling finger in my direction in accusation of being an Internet Warrior myself.

You know what I have to say to that?

I've already acknowledged that the internet is not the way to teach... and text only formats are not the way to go when learning something that is so definitely physical. I mentioned this in... my first post I believe. However, as I also mentioned in that post, and perhaps the second post, I would be remiss to the promise I made if I did not utilize a little bit of everything in order to fulfill my charge. So, in the words often ATTRIBUTED to Voltaire (though incorrectly so) "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." You are perfectly free to draw your own conclusions based on what little bit/moderate amount/all you have read. If I end up doing a bad job, that's why I made an open invitation for constructive criticism, questions and debate.

So what is the take home message of this rather lengthy post?

TCMA practitioners are abundant. However, the bad reputation TCMA has recently received is justified by the nonsense that seems to be prevalent in most circles. Misrepresentation is a major issue within the community and, sadly enough, there might be an equal number of genuine as well as disingenuous representatives. Those who do dish out judgment must bear in mind that not all people learn TCMA for the purpose of combat as it is rich in cultural information as well as an all around good work out. Thus before an individual decides to judge, it must be first made abundantly clear that you are judging according to the right mind set and utilizing the proper rubric i.e. don't judge the historian by the standards of a fighter. Judgment must be reserved for the appropriate categories.

Train Hard. Talk Less
~Thunder Palms