Any kung fu guys care to comment on this vid

**madmonkey** · Posted On: 8/25/2010 3:42am

Found this on you tube, thought it was a little better than a lot of the explanations of tai chi fighting method. Anyone with more experience want to share their views, does what he says make sense?

YouTube- Tai Chi fighting strategy

**Lu Tze** · Posted On: 8/25/2010 5:35am

For serious... a Jedi mind trick?

Try it in your next sparring session, instead of slipping or parrying the jab. Report back when your face has healed sufficiently.

**LI GUY 1** · Posted On: 8/25/2010 5:52am

Well I'm sure its a good system, that is if for some reason you cannot move your legs.
Watching the in picture video of the guys sparring at push hands, I wonder, why these guys let themselves get thrown instead of just moving their feet. This whole "root" business is nonsense.

What is the fascination with rooting? Why do Kung Fu guys feel the need to entrench their feet into the ground? Very....dumb.

**LI GUY 1** · Posted On: 8/25/2010 5:59am

Wow, from 7:20 on the guy proves how retarded some people can be. I'm sure he is a nice guy, and not really retarded, however whatever has been passed down the line of students to masters and so on is...wrong. Blind faith in a system.

So he re-directs someone's punch not by blocking, parrying, or headmovement! You simply need to point at the punch with your finger! He explains it as a sort of mind trick. You can even slow down your opponents punch to a total stop in front of your face by pointing at it!!

Like most, I'm sure he has a few good tricks, however nothing I saw has much use and borders on fantasy. Never mind it is fantasy.

**madmonkey** · Posted On: 8/25/2010 6:04am

Originally Posted by LI GUY 1

Well I'm sure its a good system, that is if for some reason you cannot move your legs.
Watching the in picture video of the guys sparring at push hands, I wonder, why these guys let themselves get thrown instead of just moving their feet. This whole "root" business is nonsense.

What is the fascination with rooting? Why do Kung Fu guys feel the need to entrench their feet into the ground? Very....dumb.

The reason I have interest in the sticking hands and rooting elements of Kung Fu is that I trained for a little while at Iain Armstrongs Namyang kung fu in the UK. They are very traditional but do also spar. I had one session where I spared Iain who used to box before taking up kung fu. He managed to close down the distance and get into touch contact, as soon as he had this he was able to pin my arms and keep his weight on them, it was not a clinch as I could still move but wherever I moved he managed to keep his weight pinned on me stopping me from striking him with any power or using any judo throws as my arms were tied up.

May be it was because I am not a brilliant striker and not amazing at judo but it still seemed very effective. I was wondering if any others have experienced similar. This vid has elements of what he was doing in terms of dealing with force coming toward you, admittedly it is a long way off from ring combat or particular aliveness. It would be interesting to see someone who was very experienced in Taichi in a ring situation.

**Evil Solvalou** · Posted On: 8/25/2010 6:08am

Originally Posted by LI GUY 1

What is the fascination with rooting?

You would be amazed at how many Australians and New Zealanders are obsessed with rooting. It's practically all we think about.

**Mor Sao** · Posted On: 8/25/2010 7:13am

Rooting is slang for schtupping/fornicating in Australia and New Zealand, hence the above posters remarks.

***WhiteShark*** · Posted On: 8/25/2010 7:14am

Wow, screwing around with a skinny nerd who is only allowed to touch your forearm. AMAZING!

**LI GUY 1** · Posted On: 8/25/2010 7:46am

Originally Posted by Dale Dugas

Rooting is slang for schtupping/fornicating in Australia and New Zealand, hence the above posters remarks.

Ahhh I figured it was an Australian thing, but being that I'm from the great USA I really don't care about nonsense like Australia.

What's you're take on all this BTW, as you are a Kung Fu guy? Anything to add/take away from this? I can't see any possible explanation for the redirection, but maybe rooting or how it's not used properly or something.

In boxing I'm supposed to be light on my feet, sink into my punches. In wrestling (mostly for throws) I'm supposed to plant hard into the ground and toss/throw/lift/etc. However again as in boxing, quick movement, being fluid, etc to set up the throw and get into position. I don't try and stand my ground.

So I can see how "rooting" would be used, but only as I know it, only for a moment. The entrance and footwork leading up to the strike/throw should be light and quick to set it up.

***WhiteShark*** · Posted On: 8/25/2010 8:03am

BTW, madmonkey if you want to start serious kung fu discussions try the CMA forum. YMAS discussions typically devolve into comedy fail threads.

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