Special Xingyi Issue

[GeneChing]

I merged this thread with the previous print problems thread of mad4dos. I'm an editor and a little compulsive that way.

As for the 'martial arts magazine silliness', I feel ya. At the heart of the issue is that martial arts are dynamic and print is static. It has created a tradition of attempting to represent something dynamic via static snapshots, something that goes back to our ancient texts. That has grown into what I call the 'errors in time' which is exemplified by excessive counters to a straight punch that just hangs there. In real time, the straight punch doesn't hang there so. No one does that. It's always retracted. Such techniques require the master to get off two or three counter techniques in one tempo of the adversary. Now, a skilled master can actually do this sometimes, especially against an adversary of lesser skill. Of course, it looks funny when shown in photos. But therein lies one of the great misconceptions of kung fu vs. MMA and other such ring sports. Fight sports assume both fighters are skilled and equally matched. Kung Fu does not. Many kung fu tactics are based on trickery - on catching the adversary by surprise on the street. That just doesn't happen the when you step in the ring or the cage. When you step in the ring, both fighters are ready.

[SimonM]

And that is certainly a valid response to the "Power of Yue Fei" article.

However I don't feel that necessary excuses some of the tactics demonstrated in the mantis article. The fact is that an untrained opponent of greater size and power will probably try for a clinch. Flanking from clinch thus becomes an important technique to teach to people learning kung fu. Showing a pre-flanked throw and stating that it demonstrates flanking is thus a bit of a problem. And that is in the sequence with the sound throw. The sequence I made reference to on the first page of the article is one that would be very unlikey to work... unless, perhaps, you were considerably larger and heavier than the person you were attempting to perform it on.

And that is the inverse of what the article suggested, in text, as an advantage of mantis - the ability to effectively fight a larger, heavier opponent.

[doug maverick]

I merged this thread with the previous print problems thread of mad4dos. I'm an editor and a little compulsive that way.

As for the 'martial arts magazine silliness', I feel ya. At the heart of the issue is that martial arts are dynamic and print is static. It has created a tradition of attempting to represent something dynamic via static snapshots, something that goes back to our ancient texts. That has grown into what I call the 'errors in time' which is exemplified by excessive counters to a straight punch that just hangs there. In real time, the straight punch doesn't hang there so. No one does that. It's always retracted. Such techniques require the master to get off two or three counter techniques in one tempo of the adversary. Now, a skilled master can actually do this sometimes, especially against an adversary of lesser skill. Of course, it looks funny when shown in photos. But therein lies one of the great misconceptions of kung fu vs. MMA and other such ring sports. Fight sports assume both fighters are skilled and equally matched. Kung Fu does not. Many kung fu tactics are based on trickery - on catching the adversary by surprise on the street. That just doesn't happen the when you step in the ring or the cage. When you step in the ring, both fighters are ready.

glad to see more xing yi articles in the mag gene, as everyone knows xing yi is my drug of choice, and it has been for five years. i know your studing it also gene, is that why we're seeing more xing yi? its getting more and more popular in the states

[SimonM]

I have been quite interested in Xingyi within the sphere of my limited contact with it. It's a lot of fun to play and, linearity of attack aside has a few very effective footwork patterns that I was happy to learn. I also fully support the inclusion of more Xingyi articles in future editions.

[GeneChing]

The special issues come about totally organically. I seldom ask freelancers to produce articles on a particular topic. This is because if a freelancer fails to deliver, I'm left holding the bag, so to speak. It's not like I can penalize them for not fulfilling their promise.

What really happens is that I'll look at the articles I have in our queue for possible publication and the theme just emerges. With this issue, most of the pieces were in place. I only requested one and that was the one from Jake Burroughs. Jake and I had discussed the possibility of doing a xingyi special before, so I knew I could tap him. I knew his expertise and I felt he was trustworthy to deliver by deadline.

I do believe that our organically-grown specials are a barometer of the state of the art in America. It's not hard stats, but the very phenomenon of me receiving more articles on the same subject is a symptom of some kind of trend. What's more, I get a second validation with issue sales. However, I don't get a sense of how well an issue does for months after it comes off the newsstand. That's just a weird inefficiency of the magazine industry. An issue doesn't close for a year. So we'll see how this issue does. I'm hopeful, but I'm always hopeful.

[SimonM]

This is because if a freelancer fails to deliver, I'm left holding the bag, so to speak. It's not like I can penalize them for not fulfilling their promise.

Yeah, sorry about that... I got sidetracked writing a novel.
emphasis mine

I am happy to see Xingyi getting attention though. It's actually one of the most logical and straightforward martial arts I have come across. Even the most common deficiencies of the style trace back from it's functionality within the sphere it was developed for.

[SimonM]

The opportunities to hide in the shadows and grab somebody from behind are rather infrequent in the modern world. To make it more organic start the sequence from a clinch or at least from a frontal face-off position and demonstrate how to pass to a flank. If mantis does not include this information than I'd suggest cross-training to develop it. Starting close to home Wing Chun has literally whole books devoted to flanking techniques. Most forms of wrestling include techniques to flank an opponent too.

Ambush arts do not make for good self-defense and in this day and age the two bread-and-butter foci of martial arts are self-defense and training for sport.

[GeneChing]

We've just posted the unabridged version of A Lifetime Dedicated to Martial Traditions: An Interview with Professor Ma Mingda by William Acevedo, M.Eng., Mei Cheung, B.A., and Brenda Hood, Ph.D. The print version has move pictures, so be sure to pick up a copy before it goes off the stands next month.

[uki]

Ambush arts do not make for good self-defense and in this day and age the two bread-and-butter foci of martial arts are self-defense and training for sport.

ah, but only in ignorance would one say that the ages do not change like the days... what is out of date in one age, may be up to par in the next.