F
Firion
Guest
I'm trying to find a kung fu style for self-defense and enlightenment. I need one that suits me: at the moment, fifteen years old, skinny (not alot of muscle/strength), but still very fit and healthy. SO it may seem like I need a style that deals more with the power of speed than the power of strength. I'm looking for something that deals with speed, but still has a few occasional relatively powerful blows (although I suppose exceptions can be made to this if the style is so effective in other areas that some power is not needed.) I also want something that doesn't totally disperse the idea of building chi (qi); someone in an earlier question said that going sinking your body into Dantien would raise shen levels in the mind, which would mix with the body's chi. Not sure how it works, if it's true, etc., just saying. So far I've looked at Praying Mantis (particularly Northern), Wing Chun (not in very great detail, still unsure what the general style is like), Snake, Tiger, and Eagle Claw.
Praying Mantis seems very good; I like the mixture of speed, chi, and strength, though I';m not sure if it's practical or not? Wing Chun's arm movements seem effective, though as previously stated I haven't been able to unearth much detail. Snake seems good for it's fast hand jabs and low kicks. I didn't like Tiger to much once I realized it dealt more with brute force and strength over speed and chi. Eagle Claw I'm unsure of; I can't find hardly anything on it. It seems to have a good mixture of strength and kicks as well as acrobatics, but I'm unsure of the general style's differences and the speed and chi involved (so far it seems to be comparable to Tiger as far as those factors are concerned.) As far as other styles are concerned, I've ruled out (DON'T WANT) Tai Chi Chuan (doesn't seem very practical), Drunken style (teachers and schools aren't available enough), Northern Long Fist, and I'm not sure where I stand on Choy Lee Fut. ANYTHING that ANYONE can offer--websites, personal experience, opinions, experience in actual styles, knowledge, absolutely anything--will be very very helpful. I need something relaxing, fitting to my body, that increases fitness and general well-being as well as meditation and the like, and something that provides self-defense. Important Note: YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONSIDER ALL OF THE LISTED REQUIREMENTS I'VE MADE IN ONE "PERFECT" STYLE. IF A STYLE DOESN'T EXIST THAT CONTAINS ALL OF THEM, THEN JUST PROVIDE SOME STYLES THAT PERTAIN TO *SOME* OF THEM, OR LIST A STYLE FOR EACH CHARACTERISTIC. Basically what I'm trying to say is, please; anything at all could help me right now. Thank you.
Praying Mantis seems very good; I like the mixture of speed, chi, and strength, though I';m not sure if it's practical or not? Wing Chun's arm movements seem effective, though as previously stated I haven't been able to unearth much detail. Snake seems good for it's fast hand jabs and low kicks. I didn't like Tiger to much once I realized it dealt more with brute force and strength over speed and chi. Eagle Claw I'm unsure of; I can't find hardly anything on it. It seems to have a good mixture of strength and kicks as well as acrobatics, but I'm unsure of the general style's differences and the speed and chi involved (so far it seems to be comparable to Tiger as far as those factors are concerned.) As far as other styles are concerned, I've ruled out (DON'T WANT) Tai Chi Chuan (doesn't seem very practical), Drunken style (teachers and schools aren't available enough), Northern Long Fist, and I'm not sure where I stand on Choy Lee Fut. ANYTHING that ANYONE can offer--websites, personal experience, opinions, experience in actual styles, knowledge, absolutely anything--will be very very helpful. I need something relaxing, fitting to my body, that increases fitness and general well-being as well as meditation and the like, and something that provides self-defense. Important Note: YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONSIDER ALL OF THE LISTED REQUIREMENTS I'VE MADE IN ONE "PERFECT" STYLE. IF A STYLE DOESN'T EXIST THAT CONTAINS ALL OF THEM, THEN JUST PROVIDE SOME STYLES THAT PERTAIN TO *SOME* OF THEM, OR LIST A STYLE FOR EACH CHARACTERISTIC. Basically what I'm trying to say is, please; anything at all could help me right now. Thank you.