CeltWulfe

This is similar to discussions of Aikido and its usefulness in today's defense, or is it just an outdated tradition that folks hang on to. I have found that in my studies, both are useful, if used in their proper environments. I have been to the CSAtlanta school, many years ago, and met Master Michael Reid. I was unable to attend the school at that time, but found him to be knowledgeable of both Kung Fu and Tai Chi disciplines. Tai Chi was designed as a combat art, used to kill on a battlefield. Since there are very few uses for a killing art now days, and if you teach a killing art full speed, you kill off your prospective students. Not a good thing. Teaching the principles of body positioning, proper breathing techniques and timing, mental positioning, and confidence in your skills, will allow you to use your knowledge automatically when it is needed. If you are grounded, and study tai chi, you can use your push techniques immediately, upon command. I do not think 1 art is perfect. Take what works from whatever you have in your arsenal, at the time it is needed. If it needs a front kick, use it. If it requires a firearm, club, blade, and you have it, use it. Just my .02 cents.

I think that exercises such as crab walks, holding gripping jars (both in horse stance, and various other stances and postures), dodging swinging ropes/weights, do have a place in training. I still use these techniques in training. If you do not use them for any other reason, then train in them to hold the history in place. Imagine what knowledge we would have now if the real Shaolin monks had written the knowledge down, and not tried to hold the knowledge fully secret. Also, most of these methods work other muscles than your standard workout routine. They work the tiny balance muscles and ligaments that do not normally get used, and makes you a more rounded Martial Artist. However, not everyone needs to sit under a waterfall, 75 pound grip jars in each hand, in horse stance, for 4 hours, to gain strength and mental discipline. Train for what you want to do in life, and how your body responds to you.