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nadir

- nadir
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## kung-fu

Thu Jan 28, 2016 6:35 pm

I seem to recall fsmithred does kung-fu, or a similar sports.
I am looking for a online course for some very basic moves.
Mainly arms, not legs (besides stances).
I don't want to learn kung-fu, but need forms of stretching (which are fun, else i know enough ways to stretch).
This is pretty much all i have found yet.
I like it, but it lacks arms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f8zb_QKZEo
tia.
fsmithred

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## Re: kung-fu

Fri Jan 29, 2016 3:41 am

Good stuff! I skipped around through the video. He talks too much, but what he says about a strong foundation and always going back to the basics is good advice. I don't know of any good basic training videos, but if you find stuff with good explanations, like the one you linked, I'll take a look at them. And here's some of my own advice:
Don't bounce like he does in the crouching stance. Don't know if you looked at the second video from the same people, but it looks like they all start around age 10-12. Old farts like us might break if we try that when we're not ready for it. Move slowly and carefully when stretching, and make sure the muscles are warmed up before stretching.
When you bend a knee with weight on it, make sure the knee/thigh is pointing in the same direction as the foot. This might be rule number 1.
Another option for stretching is yoga. And in either case, kung fu or yoga, you're much better off having a live teacher who can look at your posture and make corrections.
nadir

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## Re: kung-fu

Fri Jan 29, 2016 6:03 am

Thanks.
First things first: Yeah, i heard that it is *always* better to learn from real teacher (that it is even wrong to learn by books or videos).
Right now i would not know how to achieve that, but i think about it.
Like said: I mainly am looking for stretches.
Yoga would be fine, or european stretching. Thing is:
Not sure how i ran into kung fu, probably a film i saw.
What i really like is the weird movements, they are kinda mystic. /Well: yoga too. Sorry, i can't explain it any better. I sure don't want to learn "fighting").
And yes: i sure take it easy. No bouncing, as far it's me.
-
Right now i search youtube a lot. I do some easy forms of blocking. He does something like "twisted so-and-so". One arm on top of the head, the other before the chest, near the armpit of the one which is over the head.
Such are moves i am looking for ... what i call mystic.
If you run into any ideas, movies or pictures, please tell me about them. As far stances are concerned, the video above seems to be fine. Kicks i don't care for. So anything related to the arms.
Here is another one i found: Didn't do any of that yet, seems pretty advanced
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0ylNz9qLhM
nadir

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## Re: kung-fu

Fri Jan 29, 2016 6:04 am

You might like this. It shows that it is always better to have a teacher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1maE-vjEsY
fsmithred

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## Re: kung-fu

Fri Jan 29, 2016 11:51 am

That second Shaolin video is excellent. Simple movements of each part, but getting them all coordinated is not so easy. And the Jackie Chan clip is priceless. Can't tell you how many times I've felt like a klutz trying to follow along with a teacher.
You might want to check out some Qigong exercises. Here are a few to get you started:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K-0JpiJu-o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzwn9UewNms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPl8JNx ... freload=10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9GoGkF ... freload=10
nadir

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## Re: kung-fu

Fri Jan 29, 2016 1:31 pm

Yeah: coordination. Things which look dead easy may require quit some training to get into "muscle memory" (same for skating, btw).
I am pretty sure the videos will help. Will look at them, but it will take a bit.
golinux

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## Re: kung-fu

Fri Jan 29, 2016 3:44 pm

The first vid that Nadir posted was very harsh. All I could think of was torn/ruptured ligaments. The Jackie Chan vid was just kind of stupid. I can't imagine much of that lesson was committed to memory even though he imitated those movements fairly well. I have never investigated Qigong but I naturally do a lot of those type of movements because they feel so good and balancing. I'm also hooked on Feldenkreis movements for balancing. I start out with movements like these before I get out of bed in the morning!
nadir

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## Re: kung-fu

Fri Jan 29, 2016 9:16 pm

thanks, golinux.
btw: The other day i wanted to explain a trick i am thinking of to the other skaters. They are middle-aged, 20 - 25.
To demonstrate i rolled over my back (the trick would be to ride backwards, fakie as skaters call it, to the roll and land back on the board).
They were amazed how flexible i am.
While i for one don't consider a roll outstanding difficult.
My main problem is pain (due to muscles being abused too much ... i exaggerate pretty much anything ... .
To make it short: To the young folks out there: do your stretching as long you are young. When age hits you like a hammer it might be too late ...
How come i think of this? I just watched the video in the OP. The master says: If you don't have kung-fu, you can't do this (the sittinng stance). I can do it, doesn't seem to be that much of a problem (standing up from it is a bit tough though ... 85 kilos .... ).
Long, short: I sure got fun.
golinux

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## Re: kung-fu

Sat Jan 30, 2016 1:20 am

> fsmithred wrote:Move slowly and carefully when stretching, and make sure the muscles are warmed up before stretching.
> When you bend a knee with weight on it, make sure the knee/thigh is pointing in the same direction as the foot. This might be rule number 1.

+1 to both of these suggestions. And make sure that a warmup is more than repetitive brute-force calisthenics
fsmithred

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## Re: kung-fu

Sat Jan 30, 2016 1:55 am

Dude, 20-25 is NOT middle age. They are kids! (No, not children, and not even adolescents anymore. They are adults, but they're still kids!)
I don't think I understand your proposed trick. Does the roll happen on the ground, preceded and followed by standing on the board? Or are you talking about a back flip in the air? (Either one is way beyond my skills)
Some people are stretchy in some directions but not others. You must have loose hip/butt muscles. The getting up part is mostly on one leg, so yeah, that's not easy for most people.
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