OT for HI but still khukuri: Martial Arts

DannyinJapan said:
ballroom dancing.
Click to expand...
Watched some on TV once
and was struck by how the best dancers
look 'taiji' in their footwork.

'Gliding' across the floor,
they are placing their foot
before commiting their weight to it.

Efficient body work is in essence the same
no matter what you are accomplishing.
 
Excellent point. Delusion seems to have found purchase in what is commonly lumped into the "Martial Arts" or classification.

I agree with sleimann. make the choice based on what feels natural for you. In practice, the sword art of Japan that i studied (Aikibudo Kobudo) was way to stiff and structured for me (and force you to be a right-handed swordsman--i'm a lefty), yet the seemingly brawly, loose, almost "drunken" styles of western MAs appeal to my sensibilities. Were I to go back and take an Eastern MA again, it would be Bujinkan or a Chinese Kung-fu style w/ weapons (sword and spear).

That said, all MAs seem to have points of convergence, and those are the foundations of importance. I was a bit better than most starting fresh on W MAs because of the exposure to Eastern MAs. And for spear/knife fighting, all the Aiki stuff made for good application in the W MA arena.

Keith
 
Ok, that makes sense, both the breathing comments and the any style is a fighting style. I got a response from a bando guy and am e-mailing a semi-local tai chi guy, both I hope will be willing to answer questions.
I will use your tips slieman when asking questions.
About the fighting martial arts vs. not using them for fighting. I know that there are very few non-fighting martial arts, among which are seifukujutsu and seikendo, and even with seikendo you are taught self defense. So ya... if a teacher ever says that this should not be used on anyone, or that I can NOT kill with it, even if necessary, then I believe I will find a new teacher (or knowing me I will probably argue the point and end up getting "asked" to leave). The opposite is true too; if the teacher seems to encourage fighting then I will leave there as well.
My problem with tai chi will be finding a teacher that understands the uses for it outside of standing under a tree going through the forms.
 
Welcome to the Cantina, sleiman.

My understanding is that Asian martial arts began as a way of conditioning the body, so one could endure long hours of seated meditation. This predated even kobudo.

I believe that in a "broad spectrum" system such as the Bujinkan, one can find whatever you're looking for, with the possible exception of something like tournament point sparring.

John
 
American bando asc uses Khukuri not the original bando, just like they have adopted the yawara as well, these are adopted weapons AB adopted Ju jitsu but it is not Ju Jitsu. not saying they aren't good at it just being clear on what the art really is.

besides the word bando is a word for martial arts like kung-fu or karate

To use the weapon and then empty hands kali or Arnis will work fine, since the chance of finding a good system developed with the Khukuri is rare.
 
Check out these links on Bando and American Bando Association boss guru, "Dr." Gyi:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134482
http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies117.htm
http://www.phonyveterans.com/Gyi.html

As for stuff out there from members of the American Bando Association:
http://www.bohans-family.com/bando_notebook/index.htm

And then the American Bando Association went and adopted the Cold Steel "Gurkha Kukri" as their "Official" kukri a few years ago. It's the ABA logo on the Cold Steel blades. Go figure!

-- Jim
 
Spectre said:
My understanding is that Asian martial arts began as a way of conditioning the body, so one could endure long hours of seated meditation. John
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Spec, I was taught that same thing from my first Budo teachers. It is probably not true. Many arts like to give some smarmy statement about their purpose and beginnings having something to do with dealing with hardships, physical fitness, patience, discipline, morality and spirituality, and MAYBE it is true that a person seeking those things can find them by studying those martial arts.

The historical truth is that the major martial arts of Japan, China and Korea owe most of their knowledge to the people of ancient India. Budo was created by the Vedic and Aryan people of ancient India about 3,500 years ago. It was created out of constant warfare and perfected in constant warfare. Its purpose was to allow the student to survive a battle.
That is a summation of Hatsumi Sensei during class about three months ago.

Seeing that India is the true birthplace of civilization, I am inclined to agree with him.
 
Footnote reference: JP Mallory's _In Search of the Indo Europeans_

Good stuff. I think most of us came form there in one migratory wave or another.

Keith
 
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