First, the what would I do scenario, that I do not know. It is too easy to say I would have hit him in the solar plexus or chopped his throat. No one can claim "what they would do and it would work", combat changes in a split second. I was just making an observation of the clip, that is why it was put on here correct? Do I think he(meynard) showed skill? Sure. I can not say he is without skill/structure. However, the why was he giving a demonstration?

That is what I mean by "playing hands". Why and how would the boxer even know Meynard knew Hsing I unless he or Robert were speaking of it, which would make a person that likes to fight want to test it.

My point. Unless you know the person you should not "give a demonstration". What if the scenario went further and it escalated into a full fight?

Yes, you should spar with many people of different styles, but it should be with friends/martial artists that you have built a trust with, and not some guy from a school you are visiting.

I witnessed a scenario like this once. I was in Karate and some guy walked in and was asking the Sensei the "what would you do questions", the Sensei was polite until the guy became overly aggresive and started a fight. It ended in a brawl and both people got hurt.

Again! Do not play hands and give demos, that is unless you are willing to carry it further if need be.

Bob2, I see you watched heehaw as a child.

What up,

that's stupid.

Bob#2

Which part Bob?

Bob#2 your a hillbilly hands player.

Actually, WHATUP does have a good point. I mean, think of all the students a teacher would lose if he was shown up to be unable to fight for real. Every time he does a demo, he is opening himself up to losing his livelyhood, so should be willing to defend himself accordingly.

why would someone who can't fight for real be a 'martial arts teacher'?

but allot of folks seem to be missing the point. Meynard was asked about Xing Yi- he showed part of a form. A boxer asked how would Xing Yi handle a jab- Meynard showed- the boxer escelated a little, Meynard stuck in there and defended himself without panicing, offending, or insulting anyone...except for Whatup and Enforcer.

All in all- it's pretty cool.

Not offended. Just an observation.

My point. You should not play the "what would you do game" with someone you do not know. Because as you all stated, it was escalated a little bit.

What if no one was able to stop it?

then it would have turned into a fight between two well trained martial artists- isn't that what they've both been training for- fighting?

Now that you mastered the obvious we can all be friends.

I don't think I could be friends with someone who says "Do not play hands outside of your martial arts circle".

good luck, though.
Shane

That is good advice. I believe you will one day understand what I mean.

Best of luck to you also.

for clairificiation, how does one know what their 'martial arts circle' includes?

Does that mean that, as a Ba Gua practitioner, I can only 'play hands' in front of Ba Gua people?

Since I primarily study 'Sun style Ba Gua' am i only allowed to 'play hands' with Sun stylists?

Or does anyone who studies martial arts (boxers, Xing Yi, Karate, TKD) fall into my circle since we all 'study an art of fighting'?

just curious how the 'How to Play Hands Rule Book' lays it out.

It would include all martial art styles and martial artists that you are affiliated with, that means friends, classmates,people you know and trust, this way there is "no escalations that get out of hand".


If you are visiting another school or talking about your arts etc. with people you dont know, or friends of friends that you dont know, then you are running the risk of a demonstration becoming an escalation.

so- If I move back to North Carolina and go to check out a school and they say "cool you know Ba Gua? We've never seen it can you show us a form"

what should I say?

It looked like a simple parry. I didn't know xingyi has parries?

what else don't you know?

What kinds of xingyi techniques cant be practised with boxing gloves?

Matthew,

wow- now that's a good question- we're sort of like an inquisition team together. (I'd like to answer- but my understanding of Xing Yi is very basic).

Shane,
Are you visited a school were you know the people(friends) or just checking out a new school?

If a school where you knew the teacher, students, maybe trained before and wanted to show what you learned while away, then nothing wrong there.

If you were visiting a school(checking out a new school). Then I would ask you, are you looking to be taught, teach, or give a demo. If you dont know anyone there, you might get challenged and even if it is friendly, it could turn ugly.

If I was looking for a school. I would just enter and join and train, the teacher will see if you have talent or not and approach you and ask.

G’day all, I’d like to join discussions as overall I’m thoroughly impressed with this board and have read some of Tim’s books which I must say put so many traditional concepts into a perspective palatable by a western reader – thanks Tim.

What up - you make a valid cautionary point, particularly in an historical setting which quite often could be described as martial xenophobia.

However, it also seems to me most modern escalations stem from a misinterpretation of the over-simplicity inherent in demonstrations. Its human nature to push things a little further to get a result satisfactory to your expectations especially if your comfort zone is getting a little stretched or you mistake the demonstrator’s level of intent if they are demonstrating a skill in isolation.

In the search for your personal martial truth you can't discount these opportunities as learning experiences. If you do you’re in danger of putting your art and approach to combat on a sugar pedestal.

Shane - its interesting you mention a playing hands rule book before as in my experience "playing" or "talking" hands is a Cantonese euphemism ironically used to express just such a situation as I mentioned above...a test of skill that goes beyond playing or a set format, so the rule book...read being courteous... goes out the window and one of the players looks for a strategic advantage by initiating an escalation.

As far as the footage goes I think Meynard did a good job in a rapidly increasing situation of unpredictability especially in controlling distance but I also think the bigger guy should be commended for testing something he probably thought was not a good technique.