Howdy from near to St. Louis, Mo., USA!
Has anyone ever perused this guy’s stuff? https://randybrownmantisboxing.com/blog/2013/5/28/the-heart-of-mantis-what-is-praying-mantis-kung-fu
I listened to a very similar interview that Stephen Kesting did with him that paralleled Iain’s but with a Kung Fu perspective! I had always wondered about if Kung Fu had had a “crazy time” like Karate where practicality went away and Randy Brown opines on it and how he is making his Kung fu practical!
https://www.grapplearts.com/kung-fu-bjj-podcast/
I would love to hear Iain and Randy talk!
All the best
in pace viribus
Spaniard
I’ve not been previously aware of Mr Brown’s work, but it seems very interesting and I’m sure the parallels between the two arts will be of great interest. I’m also sure that pragmatic karateka and pragmatic Kung-fu practitioners will have much in common. Looks like someone we should all check out!
As regards Kung-fu having a “crazy time”, it most certainly has and there are many commonalities with karate’s own historical journey. This quote strikes me as eerily recognisable:
Forms without application, and an emphasis on aesthetics, seems to have been a common issue in both 1930s Japan and China; with both arts “losing the combative heritage of our ancestors” over time.
All the best,
Iain