Kung fu has been around for literally thousands of years. To think that because MMA is what is popular in media today, that it’s going to cause Kung fu to disappear or any other martial art for that matter simply won’t happen.
Mixed Martial Arts is simply a natural progression for anyone that takes their martial arts journey seriously. Wing Chun , Hung Gar, Tai Chi, Shaolin animals, Wushu, Sanshou, Mantis, Chin Na and many more styles that make up the Kung fu systems have followings all over the world.
It’s not uncommon to come across people who cross train in Kung Fu and Karate or Krav Maga, Jujitsu etc….
Here at Enter Shaolin we don’t believe that style matters. What we do believe is that the energy behind the techniques is what is important to understand. It’s these energy principles that transcends “style”. If you understand how the energy works with the body then you can make no style as your style.
What do you think?
Will MMA cause kung fu to go the way of the Dodo Bird?
Kung Fu has lasted the course of time with more than a 1000 yrs of training and will last many more years beyond MMA.
Right! Though the idea of mixed martial arts has been around just as long… Currently MMA is the flavor of the day, it’s not a new idea, just a new way of expressing it.
I agree 100%. Different strokes, different folks, different yolks..
My first instinct is to avoid confrontation, when unavoidable, incapacitate without injury, when unavoidable.. cause one to remember their early childhood memories of what pain felt like, a healthy reminder. This is why we train muscle & mind, condition connective tissue & synapses and utilize energy & technique via a variety of ‘styles’ or ‘ways’ if you will.
For me, jiu jitsu is a means to an end. I chose this out of convenience, (as most humans make decisions) although some rarely choose an art for just availability. For the betterment of mankind, martial arts is in every neighborhood, you just have to choose (like with all things) what’s best for you. Long live all style, art, ways etc..
Point is, make good use of energy, give it your all, train hard like your depends on it. Better to have it and not use it, rather than using that which one doesn’t have. Winter is Coming.. Infinite Progress is mankind’s endgame.
Word! Thanks for sharing 🙂
It’s possible only if masters in Kung Fu DON’T take heed and adjust.
What do I mean ?
In WWII, the forerunners of special forces in Great Britain and the U. S. ( S. O. E. and O S. S., respectively) did not have YEARS to attain skills that were needed to take out an enemy DEEP behind enemy lines without being captured and detected !
Kung Fu along with Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, Kenpo, etc. are martial arts –
martial: ANYTHING pertaining to war .
Based upon the Greek god of war, Mars.
In today’s world, for one to be able to protect oneself, there has to be a system that can be taught where a person is able to eliminate the fear they will be harmed by the average hooligan on the street and make SEVERAL guys realize they f**** up to even think you’re easy prey.
Does MMA do that?
No… but it does provide a false sense of security to those that delve into it.
There was a time..back in the 70s, when someone earned a 1st degree black belt in Karate, they were the BUSINESS and seriously could account for themselves on the street against several attackers.
Today?
Not so !
Instructors in ALL the traditional arts – not just Kung Fu – need to bear THAT in mind.
Or else MMA acolytes can ” champion ” and thump their chest that they can hold their own in the same situation with an artist.
It will be a sad state of affairs should that fallacy become fact.
Hi Gavin,
I agree it’s important that martial artist learn to adapt.
When I was younger my father enrolled me in Goju Ryu. My Sensei, didn’t give away belts… You earned your belt through blood sweat and tears… Martial arts isn’t that way in most places today.