Quote Originally Posted by Jimbo View Post
Djuan,

It’s not only a Western thing. When I lived in Taiwan, there were plenty of kung fu people who bashed other styles, lineages, schools, and teachers. And the bashers I saw ranged in age from late teens to 70+. The bashers all had elitist attitudes. No difference from here.

There are always those who are respectful of others, and those who are not. The ones who like to bash others are no different from zealots of any other type (religious, political, etc.). It’s a human tendency in some (many) to want to be a part of something special, and to feel superior to others. Like cult members.
right, I've seen it in all arts, yet due to the nature and importance of TCMA, among the "styles" of China there is strong divisions, not only regional, some just in relation, people wont want any link to certain styles when they are obviously branches of the same tree.

For example, a fair divide in the USA in mainstream sports would be hockey and basketball, both use a net to score, yet have no connection in origin or principle. Whats going on in TCMA is different. its More like if in the States, the WNBA tried to say they aren't a branch/child of the NBA.

You have styles like Baji Quan for example, where some zealous practitioners are acting like it originated out of thin air at WuDang. or even within Tai Chi, styles/schools will deny their root and play the one up game (which is incredible!). Now, I wont even start with how viscous certain styles are against linking with Shaolin, and how ignorant the academic community chooses to be about Shaolin and Damo.

Its due in part to the academic world's disposition with certain topics and culture traits, they 'ignore' facts and leave massive gaps in important stories, rendering the unlearned confused, and more ignorant by the generation. So then we are left with the arrogant, clickish, ego, both TCMA and MMA fighters making their stand lol

leave it to MMA, they act like punching kicking and grappling didnt exist before the UFC. sheesh. We can pick all the grappling done in the UFC apart, be it from any form of Jujitsu, and trace it Chinese/Mongolia, and do the same with Chinese/Mongolian chin-na and wrestling, and link that to wrestling/grappling styles in Africa.
We could pick the ENTIRE Muay Boran style apart and attribute it to ONLY Luohan and Hong boxing from North Shaolin. MAN DO YOU KNOW HOW ****ED PEOPLE GET AT THAT. lol pardon the caps, Thai boxers are ready to fight me to THIS DAY lol. its a fact tho.
Yet we all (all Lands) share Buddha. How is its, there is accepted Buddhist history in Thailand, and thus within the Muay Boran story, yet you dont include Shaolin? Its the same for Karate, TKD, NINJITSU might be the funniest case of denial. These "styles" are branded for life with roots in China, yet if you say that to some of their practitioners, they would literally want to physically hurt you, even if you can prove it.

so what happens next, is a watered down 'combat sport' centered martial art community, with no moral compass, or understanding of root to branch in nature, which is like only knowing your brothers and sisters, and denying the parents lol. totally backwards.
I think thats some of what Bruce Lee used to also argue in his campaign against style limits, and lack of embrace of other schools and evolutionary expressions of fighting. Many people misunderstood his position as against TCMA, I think he actually represented the essence TCMA genuinely and passionately.
Like Shi Yan Lei says all the time when people try to bash his traditional Shaolin (what idiot would do that and why? idk) as having to much Thai Boxing/Sanda flavor ....."a punch is a punch a kick is a kick"

Amituofo