Kung Fu

[Da Pope]

Yes I agree. I often think that Damo was a Yogi.

[kingoftheforest]

Yes I agree. I often think that Damo was a Yogi.

He was from India and it is said he lived on the streets there for awhile as a beggar.

Lot of Yogi's still do that.

[Tokyo Kid]

So what do you guys mean by spiritual development, and how is this achieved through martial arts training?

Woah, I actually got an anonymous neg rep for asking this question! HAHA!!

Anyhoo, IMO the development of mind, body, and spirit are most important. From what I recall hearing, the Buddhist and Taoist monks began physical training after they realized their bodies were becoming weak after too much meditating and studying.

Though exercising the mind and body is definitely beneficial to your well being, I would consider spiritual development a seperate issue. You don't need to pretend to be Asian to learn kung fu.


edit: now I wasn't trying to say monks invented kung fu. we all know Damo didn't invent kung fu, and it didn't come from Shao Lin temple, right? Good. Carry on.

[kingoftheforest]

Actually as far as I know the Taosits already had moving meditations and "medical" forms.

I know that when Damo came over the Buddhists monks were in poor physical shape.

Or so the story goes and all.

[kingoftheforest]

"Kung Fu" translates to "Skill over time."

Nobody invented it.

Shoalin invented Shoalin Kung Fu

[Da Pope]

Though exercising the mind and body is definitely beneficial to your well being, I would consider spiritual development a seperate issue. You don't need to pretend to be Asian to learn kung fu.

I agree that it isnt nessecary to involve spritual attainment to learning how to fight. Just that there are plenty of traditions that do so and its not just the domain of Asian arts either. Historically many western civilizations considered combat as a spirtual endevour, Valhalla anyone? Even the word 'martial' is derived from the Roman god of war Mars.

[kingoftheforest]

I agree that it isnt nessecary to involve spritual attainment to learning how to fight. Just that there are plenty of traditions that do so and its not just the domain of Asian arts either. Historically many western civilizations considered combat as a spirtual endevour, Valhalla anyone? Even the word 'martial' is derived from the Roman god of war Mars.

It would stand to reason that anything relating to life and death, as well as struggle would have a spiritual aspect to it.

Just seems to fit.

[Da Pope]

Yeah it does for me too but I can understand why it has no significance for other people.

Different strokes and all that

[Tokyo Kid]

I agree that it isnt nessecary to involve spritual attainment to learning how to fight. Just that there are plenty of traditions that do so and its not just the domain of Asian arts either. Historically many western civilizations considered combat as a spirtual endevour, Valhalla anyone? Even the word 'martial' is derived from the Roman god of war Mars.

That's true. Heck, even the Torah has kung fu techniques in it IIRC. OK, maybe not. I'm just a bit skeptical of martial arts schools that offer spiritual enlightenment as part of their cirriculum. I have seen Christian karate schools, I suppose if my church had sparring classes I'd be more likely to go every sunday.

[Da Pope]

LOL

I am pretty skeptical of ANYBODY selling enlightenment FULL STOP.

Although saying that I have some enlightnement you can have for a bargin one off price of £10,000 or if your American that works out at about $1,000,000....dont delay!

[kingoftheforest]

I dont really think you can teach it as part of class.

You can direct people but in the end it has to be their chose, and something that comes from yourself and not some outside source.

You either get it or you don't. Nobody should have it forced on them.

[SergeTk]

LOL

I am pretty skeptical of ANYBODY selling enlightenment FULL STOP.

Although saying that I have some enlightnement you can have for a bargin one off price of £10,000 or if your American that works out at about $1,000,000....dont delay!

You can sell anything this days ( who would've thougth 20 years ago bottle water would be a hit product), all you need is right marketing .............

[kingoftheforest]

You can sell anything this days ( who would've thougth 20 years ago bottle water would be a hit product), all you need is right marketing .............

And enough uneducated consumers.

[Edward-]

And enough uneducated consumers.

Not necessarily, but true for the most part.

Remember the pet rock? It sold MILLIONS. It was just a rock packaged with printed adoption papers, and randomized information.

[kingoftheforest]

Not necessarily, but true for the most part.

Remember the pet rock? It sold MILLIONS. It was just a rock packaged with printed adoption papers, and randomized information.

That was a fad though.

Spiritualism seems to have stuck around a lot longer.