leonje
11-Sep-2003, 04:53 PM
Hi All,
I am new to this list; so let me first introduce myself. My name is Leon, I live in Israel (Tel Aviv) and I am currently searching for a martial art that will fit my needs.
I am looking for a martial art that will be effective as self-defense, yet I am not looking for instant results and I don’t mind learning for a year or so before being able to use it effectively.
I would like it to be stimulating intellectually and have a tradition behind it (unlike the very effective “Self Defense” lessons that only focus on specific situations and their solutions).
I am also looking for a martial art that has less of that "military discipline" air to its lessons as was my impression from looking at Jiu Jitsu and Karate lessons (from the sidelines). It is my belief that a person that pays to be taught should not be disciplined physically (by being told to do push-ups etc.). I don’t think a martial art should become something like military basic training, nor should the Sensei/Sifu act as a drill sergeant. I am not sure if this is the standard in the disciplines I have mentioned, in any case it is the manner in which it was practiced at the lessons I saw.
Now to my point: :-)
I found that there is a Shaolin Nan Pai kung fu lesson taking place in my university’s sports center, which is very convenient for me. After looking at a lesson I got a very positive impression of the Teacher-Student relationship, being more like a family than basic training.
When I looked for info on Nam Pai on the net I found very little, and I was wondering what is the reason for this? Do you think Nam Pai is effective as a self-defense discipline? How old are its roots? (I think I read it dates only to the 19th century, but then I am not sure if its only a variant of an older art). What is its relation to other styles of Kung Fu? (I know there is also a Southern Praying Mantis school in another city but taking a bus all the way will pose a problem for me).
I would very much like to hear any opinion you might on Nam Pai.
Thanx!
Leon
I am new to this list; so let me first introduce myself. My name is Leon, I live in Israel (Tel Aviv) and I am currently searching for a martial art that will fit my needs.
I am looking for a martial art that will be effective as self-defense, yet I am not looking for instant results and I don’t mind learning for a year or so before being able to use it effectively.
I would like it to be stimulating intellectually and have a tradition behind it (unlike the very effective “Self Defense” lessons that only focus on specific situations and their solutions).
I am also looking for a martial art that has less of that "military discipline" air to its lessons as was my impression from looking at Jiu Jitsu and Karate lessons (from the sidelines). It is my belief that a person that pays to be taught should not be disciplined physically (by being told to do push-ups etc.). I don’t think a martial art should become something like military basic training, nor should the Sensei/Sifu act as a drill sergeant. I am not sure if this is the standard in the disciplines I have mentioned, in any case it is the manner in which it was practiced at the lessons I saw.
Now to my point: :-)
I found that there is a Shaolin Nan Pai kung fu lesson taking place in my university’s sports center, which is very convenient for me. After looking at a lesson I got a very positive impression of the Teacher-Student relationship, being more like a family than basic training.
When I looked for info on Nam Pai on the net I found very little, and I was wondering what is the reason for this? Do you think Nam Pai is effective as a self-defense discipline? How old are its roots? (I think I read it dates only to the 19th century, but then I am not sure if its only a variant of an older art). What is its relation to other styles of Kung Fu? (I know there is also a Southern Praying Mantis school in another city but taking a bus all the way will pose a problem for me).
I would very much like to hear any opinion you might on Nam Pai.
Thanx!
Leon