Welcome to Gaia! ::

This is a thread where everyone can post what style they study, as well as the principles of the style and their personal reasons for studying it. For simplicity's sake, just use the art you're currently studying, and only one post per member, please. This is meant to be something like a Wikipedia, where we can all contribute to our collective understanding of the martial arts by reading mini-articles on each art studied by a member of the guild. The requisite information is:

Art Name
Component Arts (MMA only)
Principles

You can read my first post for an idea of how its supposed to look.

Style:Wing Chun

Principles:
Guard the centre
Economize movement
Touch reflexes: Chi Sao
Watch the leading elbow
Use linear striking action
Avoid fighting force with force
Train to use two arms at the same time
Use pressure points to make striking techniques more effective

The 5 Stages of Combat
1 Preparation or non-contact stage-
Side neutral stance

2 Contact-
With arms or legs, but not to main body
Protecting central line

3 Exchange-
Contact to head and body
Touch reflexes (Chi Sao)

4 Pursuit-
Entry technique

5 Reorganise or retreat-
Backward stepping with Fut Sao

My school dose have some Jujutsu and a few other things mixed in so we learn some other stuff in class once in a wile.
Cool videos from a uk Wing Chun groop.
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Our Grand Masters site.
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Style: Shorinjiryu Kentokukan Karatedo

Principles:

Physical- Accuracy, Speed, Evasiveness, Strength, Form (and several others).

Mentally- Self-esteem, self-discipline, stress control, leadership, experimentation (and others as well).

Extra: Along with the the usual punching and kicking, Kentokukan also includes Aikido, Judo, and weapons training.

The Site: Shorinjiryu Kentokukan Karatedo

If you really need other info, go there. XD

Style: Northern Kung Fu (Wu Shu/Shaolin)
Principles: much like OceaNova's school, there's a lot of focus on fluidity, speed, flexibility, form, accuracy, and strength (I believe in descending order of importance, at least from what my instructors focused on)

I started studying kung fu because a grandmaster from China who was visiting my Qi Gong master observed my Qi Gong form work and said I would do well to complement it with Wu Shu. Many years later, I definitely agree. They work well together.

*****

Style: Qi Gong Movements for Back Care (not very poetic, I know) and Dance of the Phoenix Qi Gong
Principles: self-healing and inner peace through gentle movements to open the energy channels and promote smooth flow of qi; shown in studies to ease chronic pain and promote balance and flexibility, even in relatively sedentary elderly; also reduces symptoms of "hurry sickness" (not a real disease - it's shorthand for that nagging feeling that you're super-behind all the time and you need to check the clock every five seconds)

I study this because I sincerely respect my master and enjoy the forms. It helps me to regain mental balance even when I'm severely irritable - it's *impossible* for me to stay angry through the entire form. I teach the form as an excuse to fit in definite practice time for myself regardless of how hectic my schedule gets (shh - don't tell my students).

Art Name: Muggai Ryu
Sub sect division: Batto Jutsu
Technique: speed increase from sword draw leading to a faster ability with the muscle structure of the arm, ultimaltely relying on white muscle increasing strength ten fold to normal red muscle sustained strength.
Art Name: Aikido
Sub sect: Defensive style
Techinque: ki balance and allowlying control over enemy strength and movement against you, enables body strength and flexibilty. Mainly uses the body weak points.
Art Name: Hiten No Zenshin (copyright still pending)
Sub sect: Bushido, Kendo, Muggai Ryu
Technique: A new unorthedox type of sword style dealing with basic Katana movements, relies on users personal experience to heighten their own growth in this art. (students taught so far -6-)

Art Name: Fencing.
Principles: Economy of movement, point control, parrying, second intention attacks, footwork, form, and strategy.

Martial Art practiced: Yoseikan
Focus: learn and understand the principles that are key to styles and techniques and apply these in combat (competitive or otherwise) situations, as well as experience and live the concept of budo.

Component arts: Judo, Ju-jutsu, Aikido, Karate, Thai Boxing, grappling, Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu, Kendo, Iaido. Though this depends on the teacher and his experience.

Martial Arts otherwise tried: ninjutsu, capoeira, ba-jutsu (a component of yoseikan but under a different teacher), Jodo, Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Wu Shu

Martial Arts still interested in, outside of Yoseikan: Kyudo, Naginata-do, ba-jutsu, boxing, capoeira, Okinawan Kobudo, Tai Chi, Kung Fu (Shaolin and Wu-Tang), Savatte, Fencing, Archery, Gunnery (read: basically ALL)

On a side note: hey guys!

Germany's been good to me. Going to Prague end of the month and then back into Yoseikan training as Uchi Deshi end of September.
Probably won't show up for another X months, but good to pop in. wink

Ciao!

Art: Hung Gar

Principle: Focusing Strength, feeling oncoming movements, and finding the weak points. *Use the force of motion to draw more strength to an attack.*

Extra: "Chi Sao is like bamboo, when pessure is applied it bends, and when your opponent commits.....you roll off like water and snap back at him like BAMBOO!" lol