Ah yes, the age old question "Are there any Chinese Martial Arts worth learning?". I know the title of this thread may have been deceptive, and perhaps lured some individuals who love to make those who have an interest in CMA look like idiots, but I'm really not looking to get into a pissing match. I feel like I have a pretty legitimate question, that's probably been answered. But I don't have enough time to browse the entirety of the forum. Lets being, shall we?
Let me qualify my first question with another question: "Are there any surviving, practical Chinese Martial Arts?" or perhaps "Are there any surviving CMA that have practical application on the street?". To frame this discussion, I'm not looking for CMA that work well in the ring. Many MA used in the ring have practical uses outside of the ring, but not all MA have uses inside the ring. Once again, to qualify, I have nothing against MMA, or combat sports. I am quite aware of the effectiveness of practical MA like Muay Thai, as I have trained for several years in it and am still quite passionate about it. I am also aware of the effectiveness of BJJ, and other ground based disciplines.
I'm quite happy with my own personal blending of TKD and Muay Thai. It's worked quite well for me Kickboxing and in the future I plan on training in BJJ. But, no matter how practical these arts are, I've always wanted to learn a CMA. Maybe its part of that Kung Fu romanticism that drew so many of us to MA in the first place. Maybe it's the fact that I want to learn some tradition and wear a Gi that makes one feel like one is a part of something both larger and older than oneself (I know very few Muay Thai practitioners who do the Wai Kru, earn or wear Mongkol or Prajioud at all) and sure, maybe to us Westerners that stuff is irrelevant or just pageantry or "If its not regulation, I don't give a shit". But I'd like to think that MA is more than just learning how to bash someones face in. There I go, romanticizing again.
Anyway. So to return to the question, are there any Chinese Martial Arts worth learning? Perhaps in a fitness, street practicality, traditional sort of way?
I've heard that Wing Chun and Kempo have some practicality, but that's all hearsay.
So, whats the word?
Let me qualify my first question with another question: "Are there any surviving, practical Chinese Martial Arts?" or perhaps "Are there any surviving CMA that have practical application on the street?". To frame this discussion, I'm not looking for CMA that work well in the ring. Many MA used in the ring have practical uses outside of the ring, but not all MA have uses inside the ring. Once again, to qualify, I have nothing against MMA, or combat sports. I am quite aware of the effectiveness of practical MA like Muay Thai, as I have trained for several years in it and am still quite passionate about it. I am also aware of the effectiveness of BJJ, and other ground based disciplines.
I'm quite happy with my own personal blending of TKD and Muay Thai. It's worked quite well for me Kickboxing and in the future I plan on training in BJJ. But, no matter how practical these arts are, I've always wanted to learn a CMA. Maybe its part of that Kung Fu romanticism that drew so many of us to MA in the first place. Maybe it's the fact that I want to learn some tradition and wear a Gi that makes one feel like one is a part of something both larger and older than oneself (I know very few Muay Thai practitioners who do the Wai Kru, earn or wear Mongkol or Prajioud at all) and sure, maybe to us Westerners that stuff is irrelevant or just pageantry or "If its not regulation, I don't give a shit". But I'd like to think that MA is more than just learning how to bash someones face in. There I go, romanticizing again.
Anyway. So to return to the question, are there any Chinese Martial Arts worth learning? Perhaps in a fitness, street practicality, traditional sort of way?
I've heard that Wing Chun and Kempo have some practicality, but that's all hearsay.
So, whats the word?
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