The Ugly Truths of Pugilism: Combat or Circus?

武道 或 杂技?

After some discussions with my Si Heng Da* on their grueling experiences of how they vehemently debated and how hard it had been for them to get people to understand why kungfu is not working in our current times, I revisited our discussions and think perhaps this may help people to understand.

* Si Heng Da : Cantonese for kungfu seniors and juniors, 师兄弟 (shī xiōng dì) in Mandarin

How has any fight improve anyone’s life? There are only a few reasons for learning martial arts today:
1. Entertainment
2. Philosophy
3. Sports
4. War
(* Defense is a complicated topic, which I wish to avoid in this discussion)

While many martial artists are quibbling over who or what is the best, their starting domain must be stated clearly first. Else, it is akin to people talking about same word meaning different things. In other words, they are not even agreeing or disagreeing, they are talking about different things.

Martial arts, for example, were for soldiers. It was for the battlefields. However, the killing art, becomes an art for fighting. There is a difference — the opponent and battlefield has changed. The same principles is derived for solving life problems. That was why it became philosophical and methodological.

Other people use it for entertainment and games. Some traditional people are not happy because they are religious about it. To them, it’s like using Jesus for money making and fashion. The intent and value of different designation is not the same.

The Olympic shooter may use similar techniques for snipping down military commanders, but they lack sustainability skills like focusing under life and death situations, going without food, water, and sleep for days, and maintaining calm breathing with blood and flesh all over the place. Neither do they know camouflaging and blading opponents at close range. Thence, they can hardly last a day in the killing fields. That is what I am saying. There is a stark difference.

Martial artists who only know kungfu through movies are perhaps most disillusioned and lack the proper sense of…