Western martial arts, something you never see in movies

[poleboy]

Perhaps. However, I have failed to find any sources indicating that Bodhi was more than a monk who taught the Chinese some religious principles. The whole "origin of Eastern MA" story just smells fishy to me. The fact that the Shaolin define him as the originator could just as well be a reflection of their dedication to his religious teachings, and this misconception could then have been carried on by the MA's that branched off from Shaolin.

However, given that MA's involve more than punching people in the face, I admit that he has probably had a hand in shaping the philosophies of Eastern MA's. I just don't buy the story of the wandering super-monk who kung-fu fought his way from India to China.

 

[Ares Tyr]

Perhaps. However, I have failed to find any sources indicating that Bodhi was more than a monk who taught the Chinese some religious principles. The whole "origin of Eastern MA" story just smells fishy to me. The fact that the Shaolin define him as the originator could just as well be a reflection of their dedication to his religious teachings, and this misconception could then have been carried on by the MA's that branched off from Shaolin.

However, given that MA's involve more than punching people in the face, I admit that he has probably had a hand in shaping the philosophies of Eastern MA's. I just don't buy the story of the wandering super-monk who kung-fu fought his way from India to China.

Part of his religious practice was a form of meditation through excercise, like standing in a squatting position for an extended period of time in order to help seperate them mind from physical attachment to the body and sensations (like pain) coming from such. Also, Bodhidharma believed that one must have a healthy body in order to have a healthy mind, so he was pretty big on the excercise. While keeping my skepticism, I'm willing to give him that he atleast introduced to the monks physical activity which led to martial arts.

Now, with my personal opinion, he was reportedly a member of the Indian warrior class (atleast by birth) before becoming a monk, and he more than less taught the monks Indian martial arts which they turned into unique Chinese martial arts.

And if you go by the theory that the Indians developed martial arts from Pankration brought by Alexander The Great's campaign, then the theory of Greece originating martial arts has some merit. But I'm still a little skeptic about that because I know India and China both have civilizations about as old as Greece.

But who knows. Mystery is something that has always gone hand in hand with the martial arts.

 

[poleboy]

The squatting bit does sound familiar (horse stance). I guess there's not much point in debating this further. Most of the sources are so obscure or biased that you can make anything seem plausible. Sound like he could indeed have had a bigger influence on Chinese MA than I thought.

But who knows. Mystery is something that has always gone hand in hand with the martial arts.

Indeed. *Channels chi and throws fireball*

 

[Ares Tyr]

But who knows. Mystery is something that has always gone hand in hand with the martial arts.

Indeed. *Channels chi and throws fireball*

I see your fireball and raise you lighter than air floating!

 

[Sayvara]

Despite the fact that almost every eastern martial art traces its roots to the Shaolin Temple and admittedly hails Bodhidharma as the originator of Eastern martial arts?

I'm willing to give them that Greece may have not been the originator of all formulated martial arts, but Bodhidharma definetly had a hand in things.

"My old dude is cooler than your old dude".

Give it a rest.

/S

 

[Ares Tyr]

Despite the fact that almost every eastern martial art traces its roots to the Shaolin Temple and admittedly hails Bodhidharma as the originator of Eastern martial arts?

I'm willing to give them that Greece may have not been the originator of all formulated martial arts, but Bodhidharma definetly had a hand in things.

"My old dude is cooler than your old dude".

Give it a rest.

/S

What old dudes? We were just talking about one guy... and we were having a polite discussion.

 

[Surggical_Scar]

You common oiks with your jumped-up butterknives, what about Cane Fighting? That's a real gentleman's pursuit.

 

[Slycne]

Tony Jaa is the go to guy for crazy ass martial arts. Write him a letter, maybe he'll make a movie where he kicks the crap out of guys using these fighting styles.

I just watched Onk Bak again a few nights ago. Elbows to the head must hurt, a lot.

 

[Zeke109]

Does every martial arts video on YouTube have to have a katana vs. longsword argument in the comment thread?

-- Alex

Prefer the katana, mahself. I even have one, or three...they get progressivly shorter.

 

[Beowulf DW]

You common oiks with your jumped-up butterknives, what about Cane Fighting? That's a real gentleman's pursuit.

What, is that anything like Irish stick fighting?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

You forgot the ancient Lancastrian Martial Art of Ecky Thump.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

he beat the ever-loving crap out of three guys with nothing but a rolled up newspaper.

Ah, the 'Chelsea Brick'

pfft just call it an alley apple, much better without the newspaper

Tony Jaa is the go to guy for crazy ass martial arts. Write him a letter, maybe he'll make a movie where he kicks the crap out of guys using these fighting styles.

I just watched Onk Bak again a few nights ago. Elbows to the head must hurt, a lot.

they do and if done right they can cut you pretty bad too. David Loiseau or Kenny Florian and what they do with their elbows

 

[Surggical_Scar]

You common oiks with your jumped-up butterknives, what about Cane Fighting? That's a real gentleman's pursuit.

What, is that anything like Irish stick fighting?

More like using a cane defensively - employing the crook as a snare for the arm or neck, trips and chokes.

It was initially invented to allow gentlemen to defend themselves from attack by the unwashed masses without getting their hands dirty.