Uechi could be considered at bit...ahem...boring...from a visual standpoint to the modern american youth who's grown up on Power Rangers, the Matrix, John Woo films, etc.
http://www.xmarevolution.com/phpnuke/index.php
Clip from XMA Tournament
http://www.xmarevolution.com/phpnuke/mo ... etit&lid=2
I'm not at all suprised that the "Xtreme" label has been picked up by folks in the martial arts. Wushu skyrocketed to international popularity - why not XMA?
Is there room for -Xtreme Uechi in the world?
XMA
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There's been some pretty "vivid" discussion about XMA over at bullshido.net (a very rowdy place)
http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthr ... eadid=9077
My opinion is that while I respect the athleticism that it takes to do XMA, it's moved itself out of the realm of a "true" martial art.
Pretty doesn't equal effective.
I'd prefer not to see Xtreme Uechi-Ryu in that vein. If the Xtreme means breaking 2x4's with a nukite, well...
http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthr ... eadid=9077
My opinion is that while I respect the athleticism that it takes to do XMA, it's moved itself out of the realm of a "true" martial art.
Pretty doesn't equal effective.
I'd prefer not to see Xtreme Uechi-Ryu in that vein. If the Xtreme means breaking 2x4's with a nukite, well...
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Bill Glasheen
- Posts: 17299
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY
Nothing wrong with it if you package it for what it is - wushu. This is also the spirit of the athletic Brazilian martial art whose name escapes me right now.
Look, even folks like Bobby Campbell will tell you that you need to teach kids differently. He had them all doing athletic Northern Chinese Gung Fu out at the Cambridge Street dojo decades back. If it gets them excited about going to the dojo, then I'm all for it.
Truth in avertising is everything!
There's something to be said for flashier marketing as well...
On the other hand, we as an organization need to stay firm in our core, and not pander to fads.
The other day my #2 son (5 years old) had a birthday party at a gymnastics school. Excellent idea! This guy had these kids working hard and enjoying it for an hour and a half - at least 30 of them. My son went nuts. He got to do backwards flips on a pulley device, get flung up to a 50 foot ceiling, walk balance beams, roll, dive, flip, etc., etc. These are great exercises that teach important proprioceptive skills. Personally I'd a lot rather my son cross train in something like this for starts, and then go on to a serious traditional martial art. But mixing them is another approach.
- Bill
Look, even folks like Bobby Campbell will tell you that you need to teach kids differently. He had them all doing athletic Northern Chinese Gung Fu out at the Cambridge Street dojo decades back. If it gets them excited about going to the dojo, then I'm all for it.
Truth in avertising is everything!
There's something to be said for flashier marketing as well...
On the other hand, we as an organization need to stay firm in our core, and not pander to fads.
The other day my #2 son (5 years old) had a birthday party at a gymnastics school. Excellent idea! This guy had these kids working hard and enjoying it for an hour and a half - at least 30 of them. My son went nuts. He got to do backwards flips on a pulley device, get flung up to a 50 foot ceiling, walk balance beams, roll, dive, flip, etc., etc. These are great exercises that teach important proprioceptive skills. Personally I'd a lot rather my son cross train in something like this for starts, and then go on to a serious traditional martial art. But mixing them is another approach.
- Bill
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Bill Glasheen
- Posts: 17299
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY
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f.Channell
- Posts: 3541
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Valhalla
One of my students parents purchased that discovery channel tape, I hadn't seen it when it aired.
I was very impressed with the athleticism, but when he did his traditional Kata from his system, I wasn't.
Still fun to watch and kids do like it.
Fred
I was very impressed with the athleticism, but when he did his traditional Kata from his system, I wasn't.
Still fun to watch and kids do like it.
Fred
Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris
www.hinghamkarate.com
www.hinghamkarate.com
