This makes sense to me. Although, I disagree that weapons necessitate a "level," and that practicing sparring is not a legitimate self-defense practice.<br><br>Krav Maga implements the use of weapons early on in training because it's practical. If someone got violent at Noisebridge, it's likely they'd find a nice heavy object to swing if they really wanted to cause harm. They also teach basic sparring tactics, because it's likely someone will engage you in that way if they are attempting to attack you.<br>
<br>Bruce, what you describe sound like Aikido and/or Jeet Kune Do. Both of them, I believe, were developed, or hacked from other martial arts. People studied and learned what existed, and changed it to optimize-- Aikido seems to be very passive, but also assertive. There weren't any strikes or attacks, and we only learned how to perform techniques by doing the move on an "attacker," who would engage us. Being the attacker teaches and requires knowledge of the technique for efficacy in defense and to help teach the move.<br>
<br>Not everyone will want to study and maintain an attitude like yours, Bruce, however effective in the long-term.<br> I think people are more interested in beginning some learning. Is it so terrible to want to learn some bits of martial arts here and there, like how to manipulate certain types of attacks that are likely to occur, or use some weapons to enable less skilled or outnumbered individuals to defend themselves? In fact, if people are serious about self-defense, I'd recommend carrying pepper spray or the like (I'm interested in hearing about these flashlights and other high tech weapons!) <br>
<br>As for learning at Noisebridge-- Aikido which I participated in involved being thrown, which is a very practical and realistic way of stopping an attack. It's pretty important to learn to roll on mats, and shouldn't require anyone feeling pain. <br>
<br>It's possible to practice "listening" exercises as used in Tai Chi or Aikido, like push-hands technique, without being thrown. <br>There are lots of basic stances and principles that can be discussed or practiced.<br>
But, I think these are not ideal ways to learn to seriously defend oneself. <br><br><br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Apr 8, 2011 at 5:30 PM, Bruce Wolfe <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:brucewolfe.sf@gmail.com">brucewolfe.sf@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;"><font size="4"><font face="comic sans ms,sans-serif">I for one will not participate in a violence-centered approach to sharing self-defense. The primary principle of self-defense is learning how to avoid violence or neutralize. Not actually being offensive. Defense in this respect is more about being responsive.<br>
<br>As for weapons, that is a much higher level of learning and should be introduced in a formal setting where experienced teachers/guides/instructors/trainers can be sure there is a safe setting and practice. Again, for the higher level experienced practitioners.<br>
<br>Considering the responses I've gotten from this group, there is a dearth of experienced practitioners. I'm not saying there are none but more people who are new to it that want to learn.<br><br>My interest in hacking martial arts is in the understanding of how to make the internal energy (qi/ch'i/ki) manifest to make external energy (jing/ching/ki) substantial. For everyone, the manifestation comes to them in different ways but the end result is more or less the same.<br>
<br>Hacking of this is more about finding that internal process or feeling, sharing it and working on optimizing or making better ways to realize or manifest that process or feeling.<br><br>Anything else, I am not very interested in. After 40 years of martial arts, rudimentary postures, techniques and repetitive practice is useless without an understanding of the higher levels of subtle energy work that is actually the beginning of practice for all traditional and classical martial arts practice.<br>
<br>Ultimately, being very active and hard-workers you all are, wouldn't you be more interested in keeping your mind and bodies functional and able to work on your favorite tasks and projects?<br><br>As my great great grandmaster said:<br>
</font></font><h1><a href="http://neigong.net/2008/05/29/grandmaster-wang-xiang-zhai-1885-1963/" title="Permanent link to Grandmaster Wang Xiang-Zhai (1885-1963)" rel="bookmark" rev="post-206" target="_blank">Grandmaster Wang Xiang-Zhai (1885-1963)</a></h1>
<p><font size="4">“All sorts of strengths originate in the void and nothingness, which
can only be felt gradually by the tiny edges and corners of the body”.</font></p><font size="4">
</font><p><font size="4">We must, first and foremost, avoid the use of clumsy force, in body
and in mind. Using this force makes the qi stagnant. When the qi is
stagnant, the yi stops; when the yi stops, the spirit is broken.<br>
A small movement is better than a big movement,<br>
No movement is better than a small movement,<br>
Stillness is the mother of all movements.<br>
In quietude you are like a maiden<br>
In motion you are like a dragon.<br>
The mountains seem to fly when you apply your mind,<br>
The seas overflow when you apply your power.</font></p><font size="4">
</font><p><font size="4">One should know that if one can take the time to practice martial
arts, do it without any method, freely and slowly perceiving by
intuition, the results will be great.</font></p><font size="4">
</font><p><font size="4">To sum up, what cannot lead to comfort, happiness, and gaining strength<br>
does not deserve to be called martial art. </font></p><font size="4">
</font><p><font size="4">In movement, slow excels over quick, be relaxed rather than
impatient, the movement should be slight and the spirit full. When one
wants to move one will stop, when one wants to stop one will move,
furthermore, when moving one cannot help but stop, when stopped, one
cannot help but move.</font></p><font size="4">
</font><p><font size="4">Why move? Why be still?<br>
What are the results?<br>
What is the phenomenon in the middle of the process?<br>
Thus perceive by intuition, and you will be approaching the truth!</font></p><br>
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<br></blockquote></div><br>