• Archive through September 08, 2000 September 08 - 02:57 pm [21]

Anonymous...you're too serious. Go find your funny bone. Joe is one of the good guys.

Who the heck is Weston?

Diverting because of a misspelling? Wesson are you happy now? How do I know if it's humor? Look at at “Shenwu Torney (not my misspelling)”. Joe wants to stretch people. I think Joe can’t handle stand-up. He wants to wrestle with Mike.

I can handle stand-up or wrestling.
I am over 25.
I don't want to fight everyone on the board.
I am not on steriods.
I am married.
I am a father.
I am arrogant.

As far as Smith & Wesson - whatever.
As far as the J Judy thing goes - she'd want to do me.

What's the matter anonymous, feeling a little sensitive? Use your real name.

O.K. Joe. My real real name is "The Original Macaco Fino #1" just like you. You sound like an arrogant back east boy.
You guys live and act like rats.

Where is that flame board when you need it?

Speaking of rats, my daughter has a pet rat. I think it's cruel to imply that they are anything like people. They are much more social!

HEY! HEY!

I'M TRYING TO GET SOME SLEEP HERE!

;)

To Original Macaco fino & TO ALL DISTURBED BY MY PAST POSTINGS,
I'm not a know-it-all, I'm an experieced-some/heard-some/read-some type of part-time wisenheimer. If I were a know-it-all, then I'd know what "Macaco fino" means; and I'd have a flying squirel as a sidekick (recall: "Rocky & Bullwinkle"). So, Groucho Marx still retains his title as the master of the quiz (recall: "You Bet Your Life" quiz show -- yes, I like comedy...& that's another good reason to train at Tim's Shen Wu studio, close to Ahti's no less). Don't we all look forward to training with Tim? Oh, Tim also looks forward to your coming back for more training (it was a topic of discussion yesterday -- busy with work, family, & long drive, eh?).
Well, it appears that I would have come up empty on the answer to your kata question had I contacted Mr. Ahti Kaend (sp? -- I know he's "Mister" to me). So many explainations concerning kata(s) have been lost over the many years. George Dillman has been working hard to try to come up with reasonable explainations for moves in katas that of late have been given some pretty ho-key (sp?) explainations, (oh, I've seen a few martial videos, so I use them as part of my "experience" too when giving my opinions on matters -- which brings up the following...

To Anon- 8 Sep, 1:49 pm, (& you too O.M.F.),
The Orig. M. F. has already stated that he's Uechi-ryu trained (& I'll assume that he's telling the truth) -- that he's trained with Ahti Kaend & perhaps even with Walter Mattson (or is it Matteson? -- I'll assume O.M.F. has got it right -- a mute point anyway); plus, he's claimed to have travelled to Okinawa & actually trained with old masters -- his name should really be "the Original Lucky Dog." Uechi-ryu practitioners -- or at least Ahti Kaend's practitioners -- are EXTREMELY CONDITIONED FIGHTERS!!! And they know some decent applications to their katas (even if they don't know why its named such-&-such -- that's why they're fighters). The Kaends (Ahti & his wife Olga) once fought their way out of a biker bar -- this is no small & easy task (& Olga is 4-foot something at best -- oh, I should have kept the original typ-o: "at beast," as she's physically more capable that the average guy -- their training is that extreme; why they even have boards broken across their shins & they break baseball bats with hammerfist blows!!!; & I've viewed/heard the results of three USMC bar fights -- each one sent people to a hospital barely clinging to life). Their students are equally tough. I'm glad Meynard stated, "Anonymous...you're too serious. Go find your funny bone. Joe is one of the good guys," 'cause society doesn't need any more bad guys like this. How do I know (am I being a know-it-all???) that these practitioners are tough? I've heard stories & I've seen two videos of Mr. Ahti Kaend's students training (again, more experience for the so-called know-it-all -- I don't just make all of this "sh$t" up as O.M.F. implied above).
O.M.F. is an admitted arrogant-type of guy. Some people (myself included) have had ego/arrogance problems -- and some try to work out this problem (myself included); but others don't perceive their own arrogance as a problem (i.e.: some USMC pilots I've known/known about); rather they use it to their advantage (but some do crash & burn on occassion). I've had too many humbling experiences to want to hold onto my ego (which still keeps poping up from time to time).

NOW BACK TO O.M.F. directly,
The context of "hurting my feelings" was in READING the comments of others. Being pummeled physically (ergo, in person) is a whole different context (wouldn't you agree?) -- I wouldn't be concerned for my feelings in such a case (I would be concerned with my immediate physical well being). So, please keep things in context -- or you'll scare my wavy hair (er, what's left of it) straight -- hey, that might be a good thing (easier to comb perhaps), hmm. Oh, I do know a thing or three (yeah, three's probably the limit) about martial arts, being in fights/struggles -- I've learned (& sometimes re-learned) painful lessons (over & over even); and even though my memory sucks, I still consider the advice that I've given on these discussion boards sound, & all my experience real. When we meet you will become a part of my experience (good or bad for me -- it will still be another experience).

To ALL CONCERNED,
Yes, many guys like to give out veiled threats. I no longer do this, so unless you read a direct challenge, don't even think that what I write appears like a challenge (else your thinking will be in error); and you won't ever read a direct challenge from me as I've learned that such can be very unhealthy (& can be used as evidence against one in a trial) -- use your heads, please.

WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL TOPIC ANYWAY?
Oh, yeah, MIND/BODY CONNECTION; & O.M.F. has half a mind to connect with my body, eh?. Well, as long as it's kept within the confines of the Shen Wu studio (a friendly atmosphere -- really) O.M.F.'s Uechi-ryu skills (& any others) will help me discover more of my weaknesses which in turn will help me lose my ego/arrogance & help me to consider an appropriate defense (a win-win for me). You see, the mind will find ways around the body's problems, given time & opportunity of course. {:o)

Hey, can anyone tell me how I got that yellow happy-face thing in my text above(as it wasn't intended -- it doesn't hurt, but it just wasn't intended; and I'd like to know should I intend to do it sometime in the future)?

Mike;
I edited your message to see what you did. It looks like you wanted a "Happy face". You just didn't want the emoticon version. DiscusWare probably thinks they are doing you a favor by converting your text. Chris's post did the same thing.I didn't find a reported problem in the DiscusWare support database. I will open an incident report with them on Monday.

Thanks SysOp. {:o)

Mike Taylor has been involved in the martial arts a long time, and is certainly entitled to his opinions. Read them or not.
As far as Macaco Fino being arrogant, if you had someone as hot as Judge Judy wanting to do you, you'd be arrogant too.

To Those Who Choose to Read My "Stuff,"
If every opinion I've held on martial arts over the years were first tested in serious combat I'D BE DEAD -- really! My opinions change with my experience(s). Occassionally I'll "poo-poo" something & a martial-arts instructor-buddy will -- in a friendly & usually somewhat painful way -- demonstrate something that causes me to change my opinion(s).
So, if you choose not to ignore my opinions, then I recommend testing them out first in a friendly setting (& under a variety of conditions). If something works for you, then fine; if not, then formulate your own opinion(s) on the matter(s).

P.S.: An experiment for Mind/Body/SPIRIT: practice a given technique or form with different emotions (one time "angry/mean," another "sad," another "happy," etc.). It's an interesting experience (ponder its usefulness). {:o)

MUST SEE answer to
"Silly Question About Purity."
(it's right on target for THIS discussion). {:o)

hey Anonymous, I was just kidding. Calm down you're going to get a heart attack.

J Judy and Macaco Fino...that's a visual! (shudder)...I don't want to think about it but I can't help it! Yikes...

Mike,
At the end of your post above, "An experiment for mind/body/SPIRIT..."
I'd like to point out that, although I think it is a fine experiment, the emotions have nothing to do with the 'spirit,' emotions are mental reactions to mental thought processes.

That must explain why so many like to refer to me as "mental"... although I've never considered myself terribly emotional.

That's funny Bob #2. {:o)

To Tim,
What's "spirit" as used in this discussion? Noah Webster (my hero) wrote 21 definitions to this word (as a noun) in the first American dictionary of the English language (in 1828; the first was wind: air in motion; hence breath -- due to Latin "spiritus," from "spiro," to breathe, to blow...in the sense of rushing or driving); among the other definitions are: (#3) vigor of intellect; genius; (#4) temper; disposition of mind, habitual or temporary; (#5) the soul of man; the intelligent, immaterial & immortal part of human beings; (#8) turn of mind; temper; occassional state of the mind; (#9) powers of mind distinct from the body; (#10) sentiment; perception; (#11) eager desire; disposition of mind excited & directed to a particular object; (#14) excitment of mind; animation; cheerfulness...
"Emotion" (as a noun, from Latin "emotio;" "emoveo" meaning to move from) is defined as: (#1) literally, the moving of the mind or soul; hence , any agitation of mind or excitement of sensibility; (#2) [a philosophical definition is given]; (#3) [basically] ...a reaction...[Noah gives a 2-paragraph explaination of this reaction -- I'll spare us all].
The (above) experiment of emotions (definition #1) is not an experiment of emotions (#2 nor #3), & as such fits with the "spirit" (definitions listed). This experiment is one of deliberate action (acting), & is not based upon reaction (per se, as this can be discussed with hair-splitting fine lines -- not my intent). Nevertheless, we are in agreement that it's a fine experiment. {:o)

P.S. (Tim): I too have trouble distinguishing mind & spirit (& mind & heart); I (presently) think that the spirit is processed via, or somehow connected with the mind/the mind's processes -- different yet interdependent??? WHO KNOWS? ANYONE OUT THERE IN CYBERLAND? {:o)

P.S.S.: Here's a one-liner to ponder: "Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." {:o)

Spirit is not the same as soul. The soul is comprised of the mind emotion and will. The spirit of man is related to the breath. In Genesis, God breathed into man the breath of life. I will leave it there without becoming verbose, or pontificating!

To Bob,
Thank you. I agree [that the spirit of man is (directly) related to breath -- in the old Greek & Latin the words translated into English as "spirit" are actually better translated (that is literally translated) as "breath"]. Nevertheless words have taken on & lost meanings over time. Therefore some words can be used to convey different meanings -- meanings acceptable to (& understood by) others. And in (American) English "soul" has had at least 16 definitions -- two of which involve "spirit."
Consider the simple word "let." If I said, "Please let me go," then you would probably be polite & let me go free, eh? We understand "let" differently these days than when it first appeared in English. Back then "let" meant to restrain, to arrest, to hold onto. Quite a change several hundred years makes, eh?
There's probably some better word, or group of words that I could have used, but it (or they) didn't/haven't (yet) come to mind. English tends to be ambiguous, so full explainations can be quite lengthy.
Coincidence? Meanings of katas are lost, or added too over time. Sometimes things just get turned around (& sometimes even well accepted this twisted way).

To All,
I WONDER WHAT THE PRACTITIONERS OF OLD MEANT BY "SPIRIT" -- if they even used the word (er, it's foreign-language equivalent that is). ANYONE (esp. Tim, since you're fairly well read in Chinese martial literature)??? {:o)

In Chinese medicine and qi gong, there is a focus on the "San Bao" or "Three Treasures." The Treasures are "Jing" or "essence," "Qi" or "air," and "Shen" or "Spirit." In modern terms, Jing is the sum of all hormonal processes; qi is the sum of all respiratory processes; shen is the sum of all electrical processes (including those in the mind and nervous system). These concepts carried over into the martial arts. "Shen," commonly translated as "spirit" in English, refers to both the conscious and subconscious processes of the mind.

Cool Tim. Thanks. So, is the essence ("jing") of Xing Yi to use air (breath control: "qi") & nerves (neurotransmissions: neuro-muscular coordination: "shen") to bear on target(s)? That is, is our primary focus to coordinate our breath (movement of respiratory system) with the rest of our body's movement (movement of skeletal structure via nerve transmissions to muscles)? Also, (based on my recent experience with "pi" or "splitting" form) is it recommended to breathe in on a double-handed pull & breathe out on either a double-handed push or a simultaneous-push-pull action (as a "rule of thumb")?

Exactly