New Member

[Guest guest]

I just joined this club, and have but a few years

in Yoga, so after reading so many really good posts

here it is tough to jump in. My background has been in

the martial arts for almost 30 years and I find Yoga

to be very similiar. What I find most interesting is

Yoga becoming popular like the martial arts did in the

70's and 80's. Traditionalists would banter back and

forth as to who or what style is the most effective or

pure. There is a story of two Chinese Kung Fu men

watching a man successfully defend himself from several

attackers. One said to the other, "Wow, that man is really

good!" The other said, "Yes, but his rear heel was

lifted when he kicked!" (Implying the man had no

form.)Bruce Lee was severely critized by the Chinese

Community for both teaching Westerners and not keeping with

tradition. For that matter, so were most of the "Masters"

when they were starting out, promoting there

particular expression to the art. That reminds me of the

discussions of "this yoga teacher" or "that yoga teacher".

Anyway, thanks for letting this know it all beginner have

his say. Oh yeah, does anyone know of an Ashtanga

school in Delaware? Namaste

[Guest guest]

zenyogi,<br><br>welcome aboard. The similarities

you've drawn to Bruce Lee vs. the traditionalists has

been raised on this site before but, it is always good

to be reminded that some of the greatest of their

particular discipline will always be subject to jealousy,

bitterness and ridicule. And I also liked your story of the

two Chinese Kung Fu men. <br><br>What martial art(s)

did you study. I studied Jeet Kune

Do.<br><br>Respectfully,<br><br>ishogun

[Guest guest]

Ishogun,<br> Thank you for the warm welcome. I

have studied various styles, starting with Northern

Praying Mantis Kung Fu, a little Hung Gar, Shorin Ryu

Karate, Kenpo, studied a year at the Jet Center, then as

I got older to Aikido. After going full circle, I

found myself practicing on my own the same stances I

did as a boy and really connecting and understanding

more about what and why I was doing the stances. In

that class, we started out doing five grueling

stances, holding them. That usually took about 1/2 hour. I

read somewhere that a yogi named Ta Mo traveled to the

Shalion Temples and found the monks to be in poor health.

He is said to have taught them yoga excercises. Much

later did the "fighting" aspects come into play. So to

me, yoga seems to be just like Kung Fu but without

the fighting parts.

[Guest guest]

zenyogi,<br><br>How was studying at the Jet

Center? I assume you're speaking of Benny "The Jet"

Urquidez (sp?)<br>I think you're correct. The two relate

very closely. Especially with the Internal martial

arts. And as for sparring or fighting. There's plenty

on this board so they're similar in that regard as

well.<br><br>ishogun