Shastarvidiya video

KuKulzA28 · 29th June 2009, 11:01 AM

Just some thoughts on practicing lethal weapons.

In the old days, and sometimes now, there was an initial stage of wood/reed/bamboo practice swords/sticks to get the flow and angles necessary to learn the sword. This can be seen is various cultures, but more well-known in Taiwanese and Filipino aboriginal fighting. Often a sword was expensive enough to make, let alone making realistic metal training swords.
The Chinese martial artist, Shifu Kang Zhi Qiang (Mantis Boxing), was covered in scars from slashes and thrusts by dao, qiang, etc. He was born in 1949 in Shandong, so it is understandable that the PROC was in its infancy at the time and the crack down on martial artists and the subsequent acceleration in decline (was already declining) didn't occur until later in his life time. He definitely trained the hardcore way with real weapons. Interestingly his favorite weapon was the "Six-harmonies club". The only harmonies I can think of is bruise, concussion, internal bleeding, fracture, broken bones, death. 6-harmonies probably has to do with Chinese culture and beliefs...
In many of the kalaripayattu videos out there, the students learn to spar with real weapons with real speed. Granted their goal is not to kill each other with sharp weapons, only to sharpen skills. Still though, it's impossible that accidents don't occur... some kalaripayattu practitioners and most likely their gurus have scars from live training...

fearn · 29th June 2009, 05:41 PM

The six harmonies is a basic concept in Tai Chi training, and I think it's found in the Six Harmonies Praying Mantis style, which is probably where the "six harmonies club" (aka staff) got its name.

They are:

externally:
1. Hands harmonize with feet
2. Elbows harmonize with knees
3. Shoulders harmonize with hips

internally:
1. mind harmonizes with intent
2. intent harmonizes with energy
3. energy harmonizes with force

This may sound mystical, but it's a basic way of saying that you need to get your whole posture right so that you can use the big muscles in your legs, along with gravity, to strike effectively without hurting yourself.

F

KuKulzA28 · 29th June 2009, 06:09 PM

Sounds like a very Chinese way of describing proper posture!

I ought to know more about my culture and related martial arts...

29th June 2009, 11:01 AM	#1
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Just some thoughts on practicing lethal weapons. In the old days, and sometimes now, there was an initial stage of wood/reed/bamboo practice swords/sticks to get the flow and angles necessary to learn the sword. This can be seen is various cultures, but more well-known in Taiwanese and Filipino aboriginal fighting. Often a sword was expensive enough to make, let alone making realistic metal training swords. The Chinese martial artist, Shifu Kang Zhi Qiang (Mantis Boxing), was covered in scars from slashes and thrusts by dao, qiang, etc. He was born in 1949 in Shandong, so it is understandable that the PROC was in its infancy at the time and the crack down on martial artists and the subsequent acceleration in decline (was already declining) didn't occur until later in his life time. He definitely trained the hardcore way with real weapons. Interestingly his favorite weapon was the "Six-harmonies club". The only harmonies I can think of is bruise, concussion, internal bleeding, fracture, broken bones, death. 6-harmonies probably has to do with Chinese culture and beliefs... In many of the kalaripayattu videos out there, the students learn to spar with real weapons with real speed. Granted their goal is not to kill each other with sharp weapons, only to sharpen skills. Still though, it's impossible that accidents don't occur... some kalaripayattu practitioners and most likely their gurus have scars from live training...

29th June 2009, 05:41 PM	#2
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	The six harmonies is a basic concept in Tai Chi training, and I think it's found in the Six Harmonies Praying Mantis style, which is probably where the "six harmonies club" (aka staff) got its name. They are: externally: 1. Hands harmonize with feet 2. Elbows harmonize with knees 3. Shoulders harmonize with hips internally: 1. mind harmonizes with intent 2. intent harmonizes with energy 3. energy harmonizes with force This may sound mystical, but it's a basic way of saying that you need to get your whole posture right so that you can use the big muscles in your legs, along with gravity, to strike effectively without hurting yourself. F

29th June 2009, 06:09 PM	#3
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Sounds like a very Chinese way of describing proper posture! I ought to know more about my culture and related martial arts...