I've been around martial arts since I was a kid because my dad taught karate. I used to travel with him to tournaments as a kid, meet practinioners of different styles, kung fu, Taekwondao, tai chi, etc. I always disliked the tense movements of karate. I tried some "Internal" Chinese arts while a teenager but dumped them because it seemed like all it was good for was "Taiji dance" and not fighting. I've read martial art classics that talk about sticking, adhering, following, etc. About old men defeating multiple opponents. For the longest time I thought it was just myth or skill that was only present in the past. Then I read Effortless Combat Throws, and all those martial art classics actually make some sense now.

I gotta say, Thanks Tim for putting that knowledge in a book that I could read.

can anybody answer this question?: regarding Tim Cartmell's synthesis of the principles and understanding of body use, momentum, joining centers, etc. that is in the ECT book, was Tim "taught" this stuff by his martial teachers in much the same way he presents it in his book? or did Tim synthesize this stuff on his own based on what he was taught to practice and the martial classics, etc.? It seems strange to me that there are sooo many "internal" practinioners and yet so few seem to understand or practice the principles that Tim presents in his book.

PS: I'm really impressed by Tim's presentation of these principles. I'm curious to know more about him. Anybody know if he's married, does he have children that train at the school with him?

Tim spent 10 years in China and countless hours of pulling this together so we could understand it.

It was not taught to him by his teachers the way he teaches it. If it was, a lot of "internal" guys would actually understand what they are supposed to be doing. (My opinion)

A lot of "internal" folks get threatened (IMO) by the way Tim presents concepts. I believe people do this because they really either:

a) don't want to work hard and test their practice because they really know it won't work.

b) they know they can't "fight" with it but want to protect their ego and time put in and talk all about chi and non-measureable esoteric crap. Because really, who wants to feel like a moron devoting a lot of time and practice to something that you were lied to about.

c) Hold on to a belief that was taught to them by someone that they looked up to and respected and think by not testing and questioning that they are doing "the right thing" by it.

Chapter 2 in that book is one of the best chapters written on marital arts - just my opinion.

Good training,
Joe

Jason,

go to http://wwwShenwu.com and read Tim's bio as well as his philosophy of fighting, and write ups on several styles of Martial Arts.


Bob#2

Yeah, I read everything on the website, all the write-ups.

By the way, what do you guys call Tim in class? So many guys expect to be called Sensei, or Master, or Sifu or whatever. It seems funny to me because my understanding is that in ancient times no one considered themselves a master of the art. and the kids the martial artist adopted and taught martial arts to called him Sifu because he was their father and teacher literally.

Jason,

You should consider purchasing Jess O'Briens's book (Nei Jia Quan : Internal Martial Arts Teachers of Tai Ji Quan, Xing Yi Quan, and Ba Gua Zhang), which has a lengthy interview with Tim and other big name CMA practitioners.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1556435061/103-3136785-9533451?v=glance&n=28315 5

We call Tim -
Tim.

The reason why is that's his name.
I used to call him Facia la gazza, but an old Italian woman heard me call him this and made me stop.

Then we were in Carl Jr's and beat on an old woman and saved her life. (true story)

I believe that Tim will agree with my statement of the only thing he would feel that he's a master of is his "own domain..." (Old Seinfield episode ;) )

However, when I teach or am at the Spearmint Rhino is Vegas, I like to be addressed as the Big Kahuna.

good training,
Joe

Personally, my students all call me Master ('Yes, Master' 'I'm sorry Master' etc). I do not allow them to have direct eye-contact with me.
The are also forbiden to touch me.

It's very important to set boundries for students so they don not forget who is the boss.

I teach Combat Tai Ji Chuan in several retirement homes around Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. My students love me, or else.

I friggin' love you to Master Bob# 2.

Mistress Betty...

You can love all you want Betty but he will probally still forbid the touching.
But I won't -you can eye look into my one good eye.
as long as you remember Gretchen Wilson will still be my one and only true love

This has been bugging me all day... and I probably wont be able to sleep until I get an answer.....

Jason Todd... what did your father's students call him?

hehehe. You guys are hilarious. make me laugh.

Danny N.: thx for the recommendation. I'm going to purchase the book right away. Sounds interesting.

Of course, the students all called my dad Sensei ;)

Damn, Bob#2... You are a card. I like your wit.
May I borrow your methods for teaching? I teach a class of 5 year old kindergarten students and need to maintain some order. I like to beat them with a stick, like I saw on a video online once. But that doesn't go over well with the parents or the DA.
I will give you credit, of course.

Jason,

Everyone calls me by my name.

Joe (Big Kahuna),
I wonder if the choking-to-death lady ever thinks about us, and if her ribs ever healed from the beating.

so bob#3 i take it you took my advice and are probably watching gretchen wilson in some black market porno right now????
and BBB, don't get dicourged, one of my good friends asked me to swirl after some serious 3rd grade stuff (you know her friends ask me out for her kinda stuff). Maybe if you'd wear the pants in the relationship you could be on top. Thats what i did, i just told her striaght out that if she would ask me herself then i'd say yes, so 2 classes later i got asked. See BBB it's not too hard.
lmfao
ttfn
apprentice

Bob#2:

Do you still use the bullwhip with your students or you just "rub" them with heel palms?

Hey apprentice -
honey thanks for the worldly advice.

But - the Betty does not wear pants - ever!

The bottomless Betty

J.T.

we're not currently working on any bullwhip defences- but thanks for reminding me.

Bob#2

Bob#2:

when are you planning your students call you Grand master?

Also, when Tim comes your place do you make them kneel down and knocking their heads to the ground?

I think this is the best protocol.

J.T. I don't have any children yet... and my non-children do not have any children so I am not yet a Grand Master.

You're killing me!

Remember to get paid before anyone calls you Grand master.