InvisibleFist said:
The AAU/CMA is a federation of Kung Fu schools. My school is a member.
Yes, I am aware of the AAU, my sifu was the regional director here for a while. Its a group of school and members with one common goal, to manage and promote tournements. You can't call a rose a skunk cabage and expect people to believe you. A federation of Kung Fu Schools would be the United States Kung Fu Exchange. That is a federation of schools. My school is a member of it and its purposes are to increase exposure of kung fu and expand real, true kung fu. Its sole purpose is to live kung fu, to teach true kung fu and allow kung fu a bright future. Competitions are not part of our goal because competitions are great and fun, but serve no purpose in extending true kung fu to others and parts of the world. True kung fu isn't my gold medals from the AAU competitions I've been to, but the level of skill I can stand on, my own skill.
InvisibleFist said:
If there were painting competitions, then painting would NECESSARILY CONTAIN sport aspects BY DEFINITION.
What deffinition is that? Deffinition of what exactly? Your making your own deffinition, so you can say it is correct. So what about my eating analogy? Is eating a sport? Does eating contain sport aspects? There are eating competitions, so by "deffinition" eating contains sport aspects?
InvisibleFist said:
All of which I beleive I demonstrated to be true.
To whom? You demonstrated nothing to be true to anyone besides yourself. How would you demonstrate to be true, the statement that kung fu is a freaking hobby? Is that possible? See, your only looking at your own picture here, not anyone elses views or opinions. To have a real discussion one must at least think on the posts of others.
InvisibleFist said:
Look 7*, you are being willfully obstinate. You seem determined to beleive that kung fu is ONLY about self defence, and that those who are into it for other reasons are WRONG. You even relegate everything other then self defence to the "servants quarters".
OK, lets get back on topic here, you can twist around things I've said as much as you like, but its not going to get us anywhere in our discussion. I've said nothing like what you just posted I have, so lets not fall into personal attacks and twisting of words. If this thread can't stay on topic, its of no use.
InvisibleFist said:
There are many reasons to study Kung fu, self defence, fitness, competition, performance, Chi cultivation, to exalt one aspect above the others is obtuse.
Your 100% right. There are many reasons to study kung fu. I guess truth is also in the hands of the beholder eh? If I study kung fu for chi cultivation than I guess that is what kung fu is about to me then right? So there are no absolutes, kung fu is about everything and nothing all at the same time. Listen, reasons to study kung fu may vary as diverse as anything we have ever seen, however the reasons poeple are drawn to study kung fu do not change its history, principles, or intent. I think our problem here is we are not defining things well. To you, kung fu holds aspects of whatever you are looking for, I can understand that bellief to a point, but the truth is kung fu was created for specific reasons and they are not mutable to everyones whims and desires. See, back to eating, there are many reasons to eat, right? Boredom, sadness, competitions, fun, taste, being hungry, nervous, etc. Are these all parts of why eating exists? Nope. Eating exists to fuel our body and keep us alive, all other reasons to eat are personal. Same with Kung Fu. Its purpose is straightforward, our reasons for study may differ, but Kung Fu doesn't change for each of us.
7sm