MixedMartialArts.com focuses on what’s real in martial arts. Reality can be found in the arena, and perhaps above all, it can be found on the street.
One of the very first videos of martial arts working on the street was this one below, from about a quarter century ago. It opens with a young man in a red t-shirt having words with another, smaller man in a black tee. The latter figure snarls repeatedly, “I’m going to f*** you up. I’m going to f*** you up, man.”
It’s apparent the pair have agreed to mutual combat.
What Happened
Red tee removes something from his pocket, hands it to a nearby woman, and then drops suddenly into a Chinese martial arts stance. Squatting low with one knee bent one locked, and one fist balled up on the rib cage, one open palm outstretched, he looks like something out of a Deadly Hands of Kung Fu comic book.
Muhammad Ali rose to international fame fighting the truly totally terrifying Sonny Liston. A master of the mental game, Ali sensed that Liston would fear a crazy person, so he acted crazy. An MD once took Ali’s pulse immediately post-rant, and reported years later that his heart rate was normal – it was all an act. But it worked, Liston was thrown off. So too here.
The aggressor in black looks a little taken aback, presumably by the odd pose, and likely as well by the confidence. Black moves backwards, and backwards again. Red advances, taking small steps, and shifting stances, once quite dramatically.
The video cuts. Following in the footstep of Kwai Chang Kaine from the Kung Fu documentary series, Red has now taken off his shoes. He means business!
Red continues to advance crab style, with his arm outstretched. He feints once and then shifts, so now his right is leading. Finally Red attacks with a backstepping backfist
Black is a little baffled, and continues running his mouth. Suddenly he lunges forward with an awkward overhand right. Red distance manages to a degree, and parries the strike.
At this point, it devolves into what at first glance appears to be a brawl between two tired eight-year-olds, arms swinging like they are both frantically washing windows in circular fashion. However, students of Southern Chinese Martial Arts will see quite recognizable technique.
Red remains calm, confident in his art. He parries the overhand and flows it into the straight-armed attack characteristic of Choy Lay Fut. It lands.
Red starts a second such attack, but stops – angle or distance must have been wrong. At this point, a moment occurs that is typical of the use of traditional Chinese martial arts in a real context. There is some theatrical movement, but when the face punching starts, it devolves instantly into utterly untrained boxing or wrestling or a dog’s breakfast of both. Suddenly Red’s hands are up in a stance typical of anyone who actually knows how to strike. That doesn’t last though.
Red parries and evades another overhand, and again, tries the stiff-armed strike. He is doing this on purpose, not milling his arms without skill. And the third time’s a charm.
The final stiff-armed strike lands forearm to neck, and Black goes down and out, barely able to remember his own name.
The Lesson
Traditional Chinese martial arts worked awesomely.
The advent of Sanda, an extraordinary combat sport with techniques drawn from traditional Chinese arts, has disproved the notion that Chinese martial arts are ineffective. That said, the reputation that traditional CMA is overly flowery is not undeserved. Still, it worked. Traditional Choy Lay Fut techniques worked well.
Was the winner larger? Yes? Was the aggressor in black unskilled? Yes. But still, it worked.
The proper question in martial arts is not whether an approach is right or wrong, but rather, how is it right? What is there in the art that is useful? There’s always something there that works, almost.
