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Date Posted: 02:41:58 01/07/03 Tue
Author: Goktimus Prime
Subject: Re: concept of mindset
In reply to: OneDragons 's message, "Re: concept of mindset" on 08:36:12 01/06/03 Mon

>
>Well personally I dont see time as being the one
>over-riding factor. OK I personally would not invest a
>lifetime in to developing "a ring of steel" and other
>such feats, but there are those out there who would
>given the opportunity and would enjoy doing it.
>

Well, you would hope to be able to develop at least some basic competence in fighting in a reasonably short amount of time -- too many martial arts schools take too long to equip their students with rudimentary combat competence: mostly done for the sake of commercialism -- why teach someone a technique in one year, when we can stretch it over three years and milk more money from them through gradings etc.?

I agree that some of the things that the Xiaolin monks do is incredible -- but also remember this:
(1) The Xiaolin monks, being members of a religious martial order, have virtually nothing else to do other than reading and meditating -- they have a LOT of time to dedicate to this kind of extreme training, that most other people who have lives outside martial arts (e.g.: work, family etc.) would take much longer to learn. So it's really a matter of their unique lifestyle that allows them to train like that. If you're the kind of person who's willing to abandon all your non-martial arts interests and dedicate your entire life to nothing else but martial arts training - then go ahead. Personally, there are other things in life that I'd like to experience/enjoy as well as martial arts.
(2) The Xiaolin monks also employ more extreme methods of training -- some of which incur injury. Although some martial arts schools do sadistically enjoy hurting each other -- and some people have the sadistic notion that being hurt and bruised in training somehow equates better learning -- it's generally something that is not accepted in our society. First of all the cost of martial arts schools' insurance premiums are steadily rising each year due to schools that do not adhere to their duty of care to students. Secondly, people have lives that they need to attend to -- jobs, study etc. -- things that they cannot do well if they turn up bruised and battered each week. Xiaolin monks don't have to worry about this, since they live in the temple. Also, the monks usually spend a lot of time massaging and healing each other after extreme training designed to cause injury. Bash one day -- heal the next. Thirdly, Xiaolin monks don't have to be ever combat ready since they live in the relative sanctity of their temple. Heck, the real Xiaolin monks almost never leave the confines of the temple -- the so-called Xiaolin monks that do international tours and tourist demonstrations are all fake government employees anyway, who specialise in a variety of lovely parlour tricks that bear little to no resemblence of actual Xiaolin Gongfu (ooh! He can lick that hot iron! Wow! So what? Is he gonna attack me with his tongue now?) -- the rest of us on the other hand, train with the intention that we may need to defend ourselves (street fights etc.).

So yeah -- as you said, there's nothing wrong with watching/reading about amazing feats and stunts -- and sure, feel free to be inspired by them. But as you said so yourself, a touch of realism is always required.

No matter how many times you crack a walnut on your head with a hammer, I'd doubt that your martial arts prowess or head endurance would improve. I could be wrong -- if anyone here feels like smashing themselves over the head with a hammer about 500 times to increase their cranial density, then go ahead and do it... (though some might argue that if you're willing to do that in the first place, your head must be thick enough as it is) d: d:

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