Hippy Sifu Does Bad-looking, Kungfu-ey Sort of Shit

[grzegorz]

Current student here.

Lots of misinformation in this thread. Sifu Phan has lived and taught only in Philadelphia since coming to the US from his birthplace of Vietnam. He encourages students not to push pain, low stances are important but can be supplemented and slowly worked into. Rockville, MD may be a knockoff, lots of people are impressed by the Chinese name Shen Chuen, or Spirit Fist, and the calligraphy, and the style. Many imitators around, especially due to Sifu Phan's years of championship competition. Lots of people here seem to think Kung Fu should look like it does in the movies, or be done very slowly? Huge misunderstanding of the fighting art. But I'm not here to correct ignorance, I'm here to comment on the Rockville, MD school. If anybody has information or link to another Than Vo Dao style being taught, please share.

Please enjoy a recent video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5jShA5 ... e=youtu.be

Thanks!

I know you mean well but you be interested in knowing that the slow moving stuff is only one part of a ton of training.

[vietle87]

I visited his school in Philly and had an opportunity to have a frank conversation with him in Vietnamese. He admitted that "Americans didn't really get it," that he had made stuff up. Regardless, his strain of Seven Mountain Spirit Fist is totally unlike what I saw in Vietnam. Spirit possession is popular in that part of the South, and I presume it was imported from Cambodia.

[tvdpracphl]

I visited his school in Philly and had an opportunity to have a frank conversation with him in Vietnamese. He admitted that "Americans didn't really get it," that he had made stuff up. Regardless, his strain of Seven Mountain Spirit Fist is totally unlike what I saw in Vietnam. Spirit possession is popular in that part of the South, and I presume it was imported from Cambodia.

Vietle it is true that the western mind struggles with the true esoteric teaching, but in Asia the western mind is prevalent now. The art hardly exists anywhere anymore and Sifu Phan is reviving it.

And Sifu Phan does not make teachings up. He has a jovial, joking, and laid back personality, and you may have misinterpreted something that he said. Most Vietnamese Vo Dao is westernized art combined with TKD, BJJ, etc. The spirit art is incorrect in Vietnam, and Sifu Phan is reviving it. People try to piece it together but nobody teaches the way Sifu Phan does. He has a full mastership of the art, he is not piecing things together like many Vietnamese masters. Shen Chuen (Than Quyen) is also popular in the North.

In Thailand, they still have the art for protection (GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGPizJnYyOs), but they have lost the physical art (Vo/Wu Dao).

[tvdpracphl]

I know you mean well but you be interested in knowing that the slow moving stuff is only one part of a ton of training.

Thanks. Seemed that there is a misunderstanding of the art because people could not recognize the fighting characteristic in the videos posted. Especially because it was called "Kungfu-ey Sort of Shit".

[D_Glenn]

Attack of the 80lb beaver and 50 foot woman

This could distract the 50 foot woman for awhile and give the army a chance to bring in some Blackhawk Helos:




.

[Taste of Death]

Attack of the 80lb beaver and 50 foot woman

This could distract the 50 foot woman for awhile and give the army a chance to bring in some Blackhawk Helos:




.

My neighbor had one of those weiner mobiles. I miss that dog.

[tvdpracphl]

Would prefer Sushi I think!

[BonesCom]

I know how tvdpracphl feels. I used to be a student of Stephen Yan...

[Strange]

"slow moving stuff"

actually, the essence of martial arts lies in non-movement.
just sayin'; please continue.

[grzegorz]

I know you mean well but you be interested in knowing that the slow moving stuff is only one part of a ton of training.

Thanks. Seemed that there is a misunderstanding of the art because people could not recognize the fighting characteristic in the videos posted. Especially because it was called "Kungfu-ey Sort of Shit".

Fair enough, I thought the title was harsh too.