From: erc@unislc.uucp (Ed Carp)
Subject: Re: kundaline & sinanju
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5
Organization: Unisys Corporation SLC
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 18:25:03 GMT

Dave Pipes x4552 (dpipes@spica.srg) wrote:

: In article <1992Aug13.171705.27347@linus.mitre.org> m23364@mwunix (James Meritt) writes:
: >In article <1992Aug12.124724.29177@srg.srg.af.mil> dpipes@spica.srg (Dave Pipes x4552) writes:
: >}In article <1992Aug10.195402.15617@linus.mitre.org> m23364@mwunix (James Meritt) writes:
: >}>2. The series (Murphy & Sapir, now ghostwritten) _The Destroyer_.
: >}
: >}Ah!  This is a serialized history of Sinanju.  It is absolutely accurate.
: >}The only fault I find is that it does not contain enough of Chiun's amazing
: >}poetry.  A look at the two greatest martial artists in history, and what
: >}MA's can do besides opening a dojo and teaching.  A true inspiration to all
: >}of us!
: >
: >Here, I was interested in comments on the idea of a "sun source" and the
: >training methods (this series is what introducted me to many of the martial
: >arts as I searched through factual literature of actual occurences that matched
: >the extraordinary things done.  Found most of them for the first 50 or so...)
: 
: What kind of events did you find as a basis for the books?

A lot of what was written as MA in the book was stuff that has been done in
real life.  Documented, even.  Shaman, for instance, can do a lot of the
things mentioned in the series, plus a lot more.

: I have always been interested in a general "source" for martial arts, and in
: trying to figure out how old it might be.  For example, a lot of the "older"
: martial arts included both striking and grappling arts.  The newer ones tend
: to be striking styles.  Does this reflect in any way the greater availability
: and lethality of weapons in the last 2000 years or so?

I think it represents a change in the mindset of MA as a purely defensive
strategy to one as an offensive weapon.  I thought I was going to get sick
when, time afte time, a talented akaido student line Stephen Seagal would
adopt the John Wayne, "tough guy" attitude, then kick ass.  That's not what
MA is for.  "To defeat one hundred enemies in one hundred battles in not the
highest skill.  To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill."

MA gives one the confidence to know that, if backed in a corner, one will
win.  If one is forced to fight, one should give his all, killing or
severely injuring his opponent being a probability.  Anything less is
dishonorable.  To (as Chiun put it) "ply one's skill on a street corner like
a toy" is turning a deadly discipline into a toy for a dabbler, instead of
the "last resort" it was intended to be.  "Zen in the Martial Arts" makes this
point very well.

It distresses me to see people walking around with sai's, throwing stars,
chucks, etc., just to try and impress someone as to how tough they are.
Real toughness comes not from what you wear on your belt, or carry in your
hand, but who you are inside.  You don't have to swagger through the streets
to impress.  If you do, (not *you* personally), perhaps that rates a good,
hard look in the mirror at one's own insecurities.

: >And while Chiun may like Ung poetry, his instructor didn't and his pupil
: >doesn't!  ;-)
: 
: This is of course one of Remo's major failings.  Chiun seems to believe that
: it is also one way in which he exceeds his master...:-)

I agree.  But, then again, Chiun likes "daytime dramas", which cancels out his
fondness for Ung poetry. :)
-- 
Ed Carp, N7EKG     erc@apple.com                801/538-0177
"This is the final task I will ever give you, and it  goes  on  forever.   Act
happy, feel happy, be happy, without a reason in the world. Then you can love,
and do what you will."           -- Dan Millman, "Way Of The Peaceful Warrior"
Xref: sparky rec.martial-arts:11802 rec.arts.movies:26869