Wu De article by master Yang Hai

[neijia_boxer]

Thanks for Sharing. We De was a big part of my second teachers philosophy.
Sifu Weiqi was all about- "Make a man before a martial artist"

Yongnian Taijiquan motto-

Yongnian has 3 meanings:
1.Ever progressive
2. Long life
3.Yang family home county village while Taijiquan is often called 'Grand Ultimate fist' a martial art of Taoists' in reference to the Taiji symbol (Yin Yang) as its principle.

Zhin- Diligence- Hard work and effort is prerequisite for skilled development. Daily practice on a regular basic will ultimately be rewarded by beneficial results.

Hen- Perseverance-It is important that a long and enduring sense of purpose be cultivated. A sense of purpose combined with regular daily practice will serve to achieve that purpose.

Li- Respect- Respect for your master, teacher, and fellow man is paramount. Deal with others in taking consideration their backgrounds and in the light of their expectations. Mutual respect serves to enhance a sense of community and solidarity in a society where individuals treat each other with respect.

Zhen- Sincerity- Sincerity in attitude or motivation is a prerequisite for learning Taijiquan. In order to achieve, a genuine resolve to pursue your goal must exist. Deal with others sincerely if you want them to reciprocate. Maintain sincerity in the fore of your dealing with others and you will achieve a smooth flow in relationships.

[everything]

Question: Is Yin-Yang logo broadly used in Chinese martial art society in China?
Answer: Yin-Yang logo is only for Taoist system. These styles come from Buddhism system such as Shaolin school would not use it. But some people like this logo, it seems more authentic and appealing to Uninformed martial art fans. But it shows that they do not understand the martial art culture in certain level due to some cultural barriers. It is not their fault, ignorant is not a mistake. Only resistanting to correct already-known mistakes is a mistake which is more serious than mistake itself.

This made me think of something that's been bugging me for a while. I will talk with Master Yang later today about this. In some schools (which I won't name), they teach their students that the yin-yang logo with the yang side up is a Buddhist yin-yang, and the one with the yin side up is the Taoist yin-yang... It's something I've never heard of or read of anywhere else. Anyone?

it seems more "authentic" ... ORTHODOX! lol how about if it's also clockwise vs counterclockwise?

[xingyijuan]

Question: Is Yin-Yang logo broadly used in Chinese martial art society in China?
Answer: Yin-Yang logo is only for Taoist system. These styles come from Buddhism system such as Shaolin school would not use it. But some people like this logo, it seems more authentic and appealing to Uninformed martial art fans. But it shows that they do not understand the martial art culture in certain level due to some cultural barriers. It is not their fault, ignorant is not a mistake. Only resistanting to correct already-known mistakes is a mistake which is more serious than mistake itself.

This made me think of something that's been bugging me for a while. I will talk with Master Yang later today about this. In some schools (which I won't name), they teach their students that the yin-yang logo with the yang side up is a Buddhist yin-yang, and the one with the yin side up is the Taoist yin-yang... It's something I've never heard of or read of anywhere else. Anyone?

it seems more "authentic" ... ORTHODOX! lol how about if it's also clockwise vs counterclockwise?

Looks more like a device to make students dizzy!

[kenneth fish]

At last! Real orthodox kung fu!

[mixjourneyman]

At last! Real orthodox kung fu!

angry Rabbi grabs the Mozza balls.

[k4rth4l]

Very nice article, thank xyJuan !

[Koah]

Question: Is Yin-Yang logo broadly used in Chinese martial art society in China?
Answer: Yin-Yang logo is only for Taoist system. These styles come from Buddhism system such as Shaolin school would not use it. But some people like this logo, it seems more authentic and appealing to Uninformed martial art fans. But it shows that they do not understand the martial art culture in certain level due to some cultural barriers. It is not their fault, ignorant is not a mistake. Only resistanting to correct already-known mistakes is a mistake which is more serious than mistake itself.

This made me think of something that's been bugging me for a while. I will talk with Master Yang later today about this. In some schools (which I won't name), they teach their students that the yin-yang logo with the yang side up is a Buddhist yin-yang, and the one with the yin side up is the Taoist yin-yang... It's something I've never heard of or read of anywhere else. Anyone?

I'm just a student with little experience and not many years under my belt but I believe the Yin Yang symbol is not supposed to be shown with the Yin side up or the Yang side up, instead both Yin and Yang are upwards I believe. Maybe I may be misunderstanding what your saying and the question itself is merely about which side, either Yin or Yang, big part is upward represents Taoism or Buddhism. Which is nothing I've heard about but coming from me that is not saying much because I'm no scholar, I'm not extensively educated in this field of area and I'm no Historian. Because I'm no Historian I can not say what the Yin Yang symbol represents during what period of time and was advocated by different by different representations from Taoist, Buddhists or Confucianists. But my understanding is basically it is a Confucian representation of Harmony.

[xingyijuan]

Thank you Koah. I had a little talk about it with my teacher and, you are in fact right. The yin-yang symbol represents perpetual change, so it doesn't have an up or down.

[jonathan.bluestein]

At last! Real orthodox kung fu!

That guy's name is Yehoshua (Joshua) Sofer. He's a real Ultra-Orthodox Jew and a martial artist:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yehoshua_Sofer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w9PUBIHdTU
Formerly American, nowadays Israeli. Very interesting and controversial figure.
Used to be a famous rapper. Former 6th Dan at Kuk Sool Won.
Some years ago he basically made up a new martial art called A.B.I.R ("Knight" in Hebrew).
Claims its a martial art that descended from the biblical 12 tribes of Israel, that was passed in his family through the generations... Well... BS. He invented that stuff. Shaolin and Kuk Sool are all over the place. He seems to have good gongfu, though. Has several branches in Israel. My gongfu cousin studied under him for a few years. He mixes up a lot of religious stuff in his teachings, reading prayers, reading from the bible, etc. I hate it when people mix religion with martial arts. Makes me sick. He's serious into what he's doing, but I believe he has a strong agenda on making people more religious. It's a known trend among Ultra-orthodox Jews in Israel. Adding to the already ridiculous dressing of the Ultra-orthodox Jews, he also dresses like an old-school Yemeni Ultra-orthodox Jew. Prominent biblical researchers and Ultra-orthodox rabbis all deny this kind of art ever existed.

A.B.I.R - strong religious overtones:
Adonenu - our lord / Emuna - belief in god
Borenu - our creator / Bitahon - Confidence (in faith / god)
Yotsrenu - our maker (Y and I are the same letter in Hebrew) / Ir'at Kavod - Showing respect (traditionally to god and parents)
Rof'einu - our healer / Rahmanut - Compassion

He also made this whole lame short-video series of his father supposedly applying techniques on him. It's all a fraud. His father is basically partially brain-dead. A very old man. Doesn't seem to know shit about martial arts. It's all a show, a set up. It's so sad that in his attempt to prove this is indeed an "ancient" art, he dragged his own frail old father into this.

This guy's got no Wu De.

But you got to give it to the man - he came up with this whole complex idea of a system, brought his knowledge together in a great disguise, created a huge world of his own around it, and managed to market it pretty well.

[jonathan.bluestein]

At last! Real orthodox kung fu!

angry Rabbi grabs the Mozza balls.

LOL
BTW
It's "Matsa" not "Mozza".

[mixjourneyman]

At last! Real orthodox kung fu!

angry Rabbi grabs the Mozza balls.

LOL
BTW
It's "Matsa" not "Mozza".

Sorry man, lol

[klonk]

But the world needs all the true knights it can get.

[bailewen]

At last! Real orthodox kung fu!

angry Rabbi grabs the Mozza balls.

LOL
BTW
It's "Matsa" not "Mozza".

Nah...Mix is going with the Italian version. In Italian a double Z is pronounced the same as a tzadi. Standard American spelling is usually with an "tz" for tzadi not a "ts". In any case the only real spelling is מַצָּה

While we're on the topic....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2BBwsYlwhQ

[neijia_boxer]

back on the topic of wu de...When I went to Park's school in college they had a good motto as well:

from http://www.pa-kua.com

"Wisdom, Benevolence, Sincerity, and Bravery"
.
These four words comprise the motto of Master Bok-Nam Park's Pa Kua Kung Fu School and the Ch'iang Shan Pa Kua Chang Association. They represent four important ideals that Lu Shui-Tian believed all Pa Kua Chang (Ba Gua Zhang) practitioners must cultivate and embrace.
.

* Wisdom - because without wisdom, a student will not be able to grasp the depth of Pa Kua Chang and will not be able to develop his or her understanding to a high level. Wisdom is required to make progress; the student must "think deeply" and research thoroughly.

.

* Benevolence - because without benevolence, a student's pride, ego, or arrogance takes control. The Pa Kua Chang practitioner must remain humble, show respect to everyone, and promote goodwill towards others. And, Pa Kua Chang must never be utilized in an improper or unjust manner. Benevolence is required and grows with the cultivation of wisdom.

.

* Sincerity - because without sincerity and a serious commitment to training, a student will not make sound progress and will not be able to develop his or her skill to a high level. The student must dedicate himself or herself to the art, and must honor the heritage of the Pa Kua Chang of Lu Shui-Tian and Master Park. Lu Shui-Tian stated that "the instructor does not teach the student; the instructor merely presents knowledge and ideas -- the students, in truth, teach and train themselves." Sincerity is required and grows with the cultivation of wisdom and benevolence.

.

* Bravery - because without bravery, a student will lose his/her skill in a confrontation. A student needs to remain calm and clear whether facing an opponent in a sparring session or in a serious fight, and must learn to conquer and control his or her own fear. To understand Pa Kua Chang completely, the student must study and research the fighting side of Pa Kua, as well as the health side. Through the cultivation of wisdom, benevolence, and sincerity, a student's bravery comes from the heart and is not derived out of ego or arrogance. The Pa Kua Chang fighter must do what is just and what is required when a confrontation is necessary. And when a confrontation is necessary, the response must be immediate and without hesitation.

.
Knowledge and skill come at a price and with an obligation. The obligation is responsibility -- the responsibility to use one's knowledge with wisdom and benevolence, to execute one's skill with justice and bravery, to uphold one's heritage with honor and sincerity, and to present one's achievements with accuracy and humility. This is what we believe and this is what we promote.

[taiwandeutscher]

Here some statement on wude

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSLdKLHfsKs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JprbnArdVmo