Posts by Eric Cox73

Ryan Fowler6 said:In ten years, I suppose America will be so saturated with Chinese immigrants that perhaps nobody will even feel the need to leave home anymore...

Oh, for sure.🤣

Larry Hayes said:...Don't smoke anything but Marlboro, while I'm out here sipping beer in front of the drugstore.🙏
Back to the question😁:

Karate isn't the only martial art in the United States😉. Personally, I'd suggest you don't bother heading to China just yet; it seems like a waste of time while you're still a beginner, as nothing will likely make sense to you. My advice would be to join a local club, get some solid training under your belt, and maybe consider traveling to China in ten years or so once you actually know what you're doing.🙂.

Maybe it hasn't even been ten years, but honestly? It is what it is.

William Vaughn said:Hey, I'm looking to find out what kind of martial arts I can train in the city? Is there some kind of list online, or does anyone actually know? I heard there's a club called Pantera over near Benčić, and another one in Mlaka. Based on what you guys know, which of those two is better if I'm looking for Tai Chi—specifically the Chen style?

you have a message

Sam Roberts said:a miracle??😕

😂😂🤣 and honestly, I know people who don't practice Tai Chi wouldn't see it if it hit them in the face, so whatever...

I don't know the first thing about Muay Thai, but man, that little girl is something else! As for that tiny acrobat, watching her actually scares me. If she were my kid, I’d have sent her straight to a gymnastics gym instead of letting her go jumping all over the streets. My sister even joked she looks like she’d be a natural at shoplifting... anyway, moving on to something closer to home, check out what this ten-year-old is up to in China http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS0QYq26V2g

crimsonraven19 said:Seriously, I’ve been hunting for decent Thai food in Seattle for years now!!!!!!! Can someone just give me a straight answer—is there any actual good Thai around here or am I wasting my breath? Please, just tell me the truth, don't go throwing insults my way or trying to get me banned, I just want some damn Thai.
thanks

All I know is that Igor Ivošević does some Thai for other people, but I don't know about anyone else. Go check him out, though you probably won't tell much from just one session because he does a bit of everything—mixing Savate, kickboxing, and Thai all at once. Besides that, he offers private lessons which cost a pretty penny, but word is you actually learn a ton. If anyone knows another instructor, let me know, 'cause I'm dying to find out too..

fingers crossed you guys get me some new Wushu sneakers for Christmas (size 10)

Look, maybe we should all just meet up somewhere and beat the hell out of each other. Just kidding... mostly. But seriously though, let's try to actually organize some kind of meetup for all us enthusiasts of hitting people. Let's actually get to know each other for once.

placidbison20 said:Alright, what part of this thread's purpose is confusing you?

This space is strictly for information sharing.

If you want to talk about karate, feel free, but please head over to the specific thread dedicated to that.

Fine, I'll shut up about it. I just want some new kicks—legit Wushu shoes—so does anyone actually know a shop in the States where I can order them online?!!!!!!

Ryan Fowler6 said:So, we’re supposed to believe there is such a thing as "real" karate versus "fake" karate? If you ask me, there was no esotericism in the original art. It seems to me that figures like Yamaguchi or Egami were the ones who introduced those mystical elements, blending in various Eastern philosophical or religious teachings that they personally found interesting. They essentially rebranded the practice to reflect their own specific visions. On the other hand, I suppose all that mysticism serves as a sort of magnet for people like you—those who are drawn to the idea of secrets, miracles, or the supernatural. It offers a convenient way to feel like you're achieving something profound without actually putting in the grueling, repetitive work required by honest training...

placidbison20, it might be best if you moved this entire discussion to a new thread.

What you call "mystical" or "supernatural," I consider totally normal, everyday stuff. And as for being lazy? Give me a break. I train six hours a day, plus extra conditioning. If you think Tai Chi is some easy walk in the park, let me tell you: most karate guys can't even hold a proper stance for more than ten or fifteen minutes without shaking, whereas I can hold it for an hour and a half, maybe longer. Let's get back to the actual point: we have sport karate, which is one thing, and true skill, which is something else entirely. We're talking about mastery here. You know damn well this stuff traces back to China, with techniques coming from Shaolin, which inherited them from Bodhidharma. If he wasn't a mystic, then who was? Plus, plenty of techniques come from Southern China, a place crawling with Taoist shamans and black magicians. Do yourself a favor and actually study Tensho and Sanchin kata. Between the eight Bagua palm positions in Tensho and all the Pinan stuff involving the five elements... you've got a lot of reading to do.

Nathan Walker16 said:I was actually thinking about every possible context, including martial arts like karate.

If you haven't seen them yet, I've linked four clips here covering various aspects of karate; at the start of the second one, you can see them practicing "ki" (or chi)—it's that breathing technique similar to what they do in Aikido, and the video actually compares it to Tai Chi.

It feels like all these traditional Chinese and Japanese disciplines rely heavily on working with "ki," and honestly, it’s a damn shame how much of that essence has been stripped away just because modern combat sports focus entirely on the physical mechanics.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IG1X8O...x=0&playnext=1

It’s not just that people have stopped doing the actual drills; it’s that nobody even knows what real Karate applications look like anymore, especially here in the West. Look, the guys training Kyokushin are tough, I get it—they’re legit strong—but that’s not what true Karate was designed for. Old-school Karate had a massive esoteric side to it. Just look at Gogen Yamaguchi. Most of the real peak happened right after WWII, and honestly, I highly doubt the Japanese would just hand over the full arsenal and all the deep secrets to Americans on a silver platter. What we’ve been fed is just tiny scraps of the real thing. It’s exactly like Tai Chi. Basically, you have to dig incredibly deep and pray you actually stumble upon some genuine knowledge.

Yo, can someone drop a link where I can order some Wushu shoes? I’m in a massive rush for these, so if you've got a lead, let me know. Honestly, a spear, some broadswords, or even sabers wouldn't be a bad idea either—though I guess I can wait on the weapons. The kicks are the priority right now.

Anyone know if there are any San Shou or Choy Lee Fut schools around the States or maybe in Canada?

Yo, has anyone else heard that rumor about Wu Shu potentially making it into the Olympics?

vividorca2 said:Where are you located?

I'm out of San Diego, and my big plan is to expand Chen in the city and get Master Xiaowang over here by April—assuming he actually makes it to SD for at least a day. I’m gonna pitch the whole project to the Mayor and try to score some free space. I need to get Mickles to help me out first, but honestly, I think I can pull this off because interest is already through the roof and I haven't even started advertising yet. I’m thinking about running free mass training sessions in the local parks on weekends just to get people used to working out, and maybe hit up some schools and other public spots too. Man, I’ve got ideas for days... just hoping the stars align for me..

Hey, I’m new here. I’m looking to connect with people who actually take Tai Chi seriously—and when I say serious, I mean hitting the mats for 5 hours a day, plus at least two meditation sessions, and having a solid grasp of Taoism. If there are any of you out there living that lifestyle, I’d love to link up and swap some insights.