Moustache Waxing Women
why don’t women with mustaches have that waxed of or shaved?
i see women quite often with hair on the upper lip. disgusting. sometimes i think about sneaking up on them with a brick and knocking them out…then shaving it myself
i just don’t see why they can’t shave it. i shave everyday and it’s not difficult!
If they get rid of that hair, it will only grow back thicker and darker. Best to leave it alone.
Wanted Facial Hair
Permanent Home
Can a reptile tub be a permanent home?
i have a leopard gecko in a tub and a ball python in another tub. Both have hides, water bowls, food bowls, etc. Can they live there permanently or do they have to be in a tank?
They can live permanently there. No problem with that. A lot of breeders keep Leos in a tub for there whole life. Its only nicer if you use a tank but not necessary
All Trash Prototype – Coil Test – generate free home electricity permanent magnet alternator
|
|
Honeywell HHT-011 Compact Air Purifier with Permanent HEPA Filter $40.99 Helps Remove/ Captures Up to 99% of Airborne/ Microscopic Particles Such as*: Tobacco smokePet danderMold sporesDust Pollen* (from the air that passes through the filter). Overall particle reduction depends on many factors including the amount of air processed, the pollutant type, and the pollutant’s introduction rate into the environment.Permanent Filter**- just vacuum to clean (** permanent clai… |
|
|
Honeywell HFD-010 QuietClean Compact Tower Air Purifier with Permanent Filter $69.99 Compact TowerFor Smaller Rooms (8′ x 8′)… |
|
|
Mr. Coffee 6659 4 Cup Permanent Filter $3.99 The Mr. Coffee 6659 4 Cup Permanent Filter fits models DR4 DRX5 SP3 EC5 AR4 AD4 BL5 BL4 SPX3 NL4 NLX5… |
|
|
Permanent Record – Live & Otherwise – Violent Femmes $5.99 A live performance and music videos of Violent Femmes…. |
International Beard Competition 2009
Pinewood derby
Origins
Petty Superbird
Cubmaster Don Murphy organized the first pinewood derby, held on May 15, 1953 in Manhattan Beach, California by Pack 280c. Murphy’s son was too young to participate in the popular Soap Box Derby races, so he came up with the idea of racing miniature wood cars. The cars had the same gravity-powered concept as the full-size Soap Box Derby cars, but were much smaller and easier to build. After Don Murphy’s first race in 1953 the Los Angeles County Department of Recreation copied the pinewood derby with Murphy’s permission.
In the 1980s, the design of the block was changed from a cutout block, consistent with a 1940’s style front-engined Indy 500 car, to a solid block. The tires were also changed from narrow, hard plastic, to wider “slicks”.
Construction
A Cub Scout holds a winning pine car
The Scout is given a block of wood made of pine with two notches for wheels, four plastic wheels and four nails. The finished car must use all nine pieces, must not exceed a certain weight (usually five ounces), must not exceed a certain length and must fit on the track used by that particular scout pack.
Blocks can be whittled with a hand knife or a band saw or Dremel carving tool for major shaping. Decals can be bought at scout shops or hobby shops. It is also possible to use standard model decals to replicate actual racing cars such as Richard Petty’s 1970 Plymouth Superbird, shown at right. The original style is based on open wheel cars, however, fender or body kits are available, or wheels can simply be placed outboard of the body.
Other than the previous basic design rules, the Cub Scout is able to carve and decorate the car as he chooses. Many Cub Scouts also add weights to the final design to bring the car to the maximum allowable weight; coins, glue-in lead pieces, and melted lead are common ways to add weight. Cars typically vary from unfinished blocks to whimsical objects, to accurate replicas of actual cars. The fastest cars tend to resemble low doorstops, with weight at the rear. Graphite is usually the only lubricant allowed, and it often helps to polish the provided nails.
The idea behind the pinewood derby is for the parent, usually the father, but occasionally the mother or grandparent, to spend time helping the child design, carve, paint, add weights, and tune the final car. However, it is often the case that the parent takes over the construction of the car, an aspect of the event that was lampooned in the 2005 film Down and Derby, and also in a 2009 episode of South Park. The quest for a fast car supports a cottage industry that supplies modified wheels, axles, and blocks as well as videos and instruction books. While a pinewood derby car kit costs around $4, a set of modified wheels and axles can sell for more than ten times that amount. These aftermarket items are legal under some Pack rules since the parts originally came from an official BSA kit. Complete cars can be purchased on eBay and elsewhere for around $100 to $200. Although these cars violate the spirit of the event, if not the rules, enforcement can be difficult.
Pinewood Derby Donahue 1972 AMC Matador
Model manufacturer Revell was licensed by the BSA to produce pinewood derby kits with a release in December 2009.
Competition
The track usually has two to six lanes and slopes down to the ground, since the cars are powered by gravity. Tracks may be owned by the pack or rented. The race is run in heats, giving every car the chance to run on each lane. The racers can be grouped with others from the same rank (Tiger Cubs, Wolf Cubs, Bear Cubs, etc.), or can compete against the pack as a whole.
The first, second, and third place winners usually receive ribbons, medals or trophies. Some packs also award on the basis of car design. The first place race winners get to advance to the district level, then each of the district-wide race winners get to race each other from across the entire council.
Other races
Pinewood derby cars ready to race
As the popularity of the pinewood derby grew, other organizations adopted the concept. Pinewood derby is a registered registered trademark of the BSA, so most use different names. Each derby has slightly different rules for making and racing their cars.
Awana has the Awana Grand Prix.
Christian Service Brigade uses the name Shape N Race Derby.
Royal Ambassadors have RA Racers.
Royal Rangers use a different kit with screw axles and dowel rod axle supports.
Scouts Canada has the kub kar rally for Cub Scouts and beaver buggies for Beaver Scouts.
YMCA chule cars use the same kit as the Royal Rangers.
Valve cover racing is an event at some car shows using vehicles made from valve covers.
Car modifications
Stock wheels (left) and modified (one gram) wheels (right)
Car track
The forces propelling a pinewood derby car are gravity and inertia, the opposing forces are friction and air drag. Therefore, car modifications are aimed at maximizing the potential energy in the car design and minimizing the air drag and the friction that occurs when the wheel spins on the axle, contacts the axle head or car body, or contacts the track guide rail. Friction due to air drag is a minor, although not insignificant, factor. The wheel tread can be sanded or lathed and the inner surface of the hub can be coned to minimize the contact area between the hub and body. Polishing the wheel, especially the inner hub, with a plastic polish can also reduce friction. Often one front wheel is raised slightly so that it does not contact the track and add to the rolling resistance. Axles are filed or lathed to remove the burr and crimp marks and polished smooth. More extensive modifications involve tapering the axle head and cutting a notch to minimize the wheel-to-axle contact area. Note that packs can establish additional rules for what, if any, modifications are allowed. In some areas, no changes can be made to the axles or wheels.
A second consideration is the rotational energy stored in the wheels. The pinewood derby car converts gravitational potential energy into translational kinetic energy (speed) plus rotational energy. Heavier wheels have a greater moment of inertia and their spinning takes away energy that would otherwise contribute to the speed of the car. A standard wheel has a mass of 3.6 g, but this can be reduced to as little as 1 g by removing material from the inside of the wheel. A raised wheel can reduce the rotational energy up to one-quarter, but this advantage is less with a bumpy track.
A proper lubricant, typically graphite powder, is essential. Wheel alignment is important both to minimize wheel contact with the axle head and body as well as to limit the contact between the wheels and guide rail as the car travels down the track. The center of mass of a typical car is low and slightly ahead of the rear axle, which helps the car track straight as well as providing a slight advantage due to the additional gravitational potential energy.
See also
Woodcar Independent Racing League
Down and Derby – a 2005 film centering on a pinewood derby competition
References
^ “Best Mother-Son Finish”. Reader’s Digest. 2006. http://www.rd.com/cub-scouts-pinewood-derby-race/article.html. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
^ “The Pinewood Derby”. National Scouting Museum. http://www.bsamuseum.org/exhibits/derby/index.html. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
^ “The History of Pinewood Derby Car Racing”. Pinewood Pro. http://www.pinewoodpro.com/pinewood-derby-history.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
^ Bogert, John (July 9, 2008). “Scouts Honor Memorial Set for Creator of the Pinewood Derby”. Daily Breeze (Los Angeles Newspaper group). http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_9834624. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
^ Pinewood Derby Car Construction
^ “The Dark Side: eBay Cars”. Pinewood Derby Times. http://www.maximum-velocity.com/pinewood_derby_times_v5_i3.htm#feature. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
^ “Revell Pinewood Derby”. http://www.revell.com/pinewood-derby/index.html. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
^ “Search of Trademark Application and Registration Retrieval system”. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=76447146. Retrieved 2007-03-02.
^ “Pinewood Derby Race Rules”. ShapeNRace. http://shapenrace.net/racerules.html. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
^ Cowley, E. Roger (November 1989). “Pinewood Derby Physics”. The Physics Teacher (American Association of Physics Teachers) 27 (8): 610612. doi:10.1119/1.2342889.
^ “Five Keys to Pine Derby Performance”. Maximum Velocity. http://www.maximum-velocity.com/fivekeys.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
External links
Wikibooks has a book on the topic of
How To Build a Pinewood Derby Car
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pinewood derby
Pinewood Derby at the Open Directory Project
v d e
Boy Scouts of America
Organization
Boy Scouts of America Cub Scouting Boy Scouting Varsity Scouting Venturing Sea Scouting Order of the Arrow National Eagle Scout Association
Learning for Life
Exploring Explorer Search and Rescue Fire Service Exploring Law Enforcement Exploring
Advancement and recognition
50-Miler Award Advancement and recognition Distinguished Eagle Scout Award Eagle Scout Honors and awards of the Order of the Arrow International Activity Patch Merit badge Ranger Award Ranks in the Boy Scouts of America Religious emblems programs Silver Antelope Award Silver Award Silver Beaver Award Silver Buffalo Award Silver World Award Spirit of the Eagle Award Square knot insignia William T. Hornaday Awards World Conservation Award Young American Award
Leadership training
Kodiak National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience National Youth Leadership Training Powder Horn Seabadge Troop Leadership Training Venturing Leadership Skills Course Wood Badge Youth Protection program Youth Staff Development Course
People
Chief Scout Executive National president
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Award Eagle Scouts Recipients of the Silver Buffalo Award
Daniel Carter Beard William D. Boyce Carroll A. Edson E. Urner Goodman William Hillcourt Ernest Thompson Seton Unknown Scout James E. West
Events
Camporee Klondike derby Operation On-Target Order of the Arrow national events Project COPE
Pinewood derby Raingutter regatta Space derby
National Scout jamboree
Other
Uniform and insignia Trail’s End popcorn
Boy Scout Handbook Boys’ Life Scouting Epsilon Tau Pi Tribe of Mic-O-Say History History of merit badges
Scouting in popular culture
Issues
Membership controversies Coalition for Inclusive Scouting Scouting for All
Barnes-Wallace v. Boy Scouts of America Boy Scouts of America v. Dale Cradle of Liberty Council v. City of Philadelphia Curran v. Mount Diablo Council of the Boy Scouts of America Evans v. Berkeley Randall v. Orange County Council Welsh v. Boy Scouts of America Winkler v. Rumsfeld Wrenn v. Boy Scouts of America Yeaw v. Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act Support Our Scouts Act
Councils and regions
Central Region Southern Region Western Region Northeast Region
Abraham Lincoln Council Alabama-Florida Council Alameda Council Alamo Area Council Alapaha Area Council Allegheny Highlands Council Allohak Council Aloha Council Andrew Jackson Council Annawon Council Anthony Wayne Area Council Arbuckle Area Council Atlanta Area Council Baden-Powell Council Baltimore Area Council Bay Area Council Bay-Lakes Council Black Hills Area Council Black Swamp Area Council Black Warrior Council Blackhawk Area Council Blue Grass Council Blue Mountain Council Blue Ridge Council Blue Ridge Mountains Council Blue Water Council Boston Minuteman Council Buckeye Council Bucks County Council Buckskin Council Bucktail Council Buffalo Trace Council Buffalo Trail Council Burlington County Council Caddo Area Council Calcasieu Area Council California Inland Empire Council Calumet Council Cape Cod and the Islands Council Cape Fear Council Capitol Area Council Cascade Pacific Council Catalina Council Cayuga County Council Central Florida Council Central Georgia Council Central Minnesota Council Central New Jersey Council Central North Carolina Council Central Wyoming Council Chattahoochee Council Chehaw Council Cherokee Area Council (Oklahoma) Cherokee Area Council (Tennessee) Chester County Council Chicago Area Council Chickasaw Council Chief Cornplanter Council Chief Okemos Council Chief Seattle Council Chippewa Valley Council Choctaw Area Council Cimarron Council Circle Ten Council Coastal Carolina Council Coastal Empire Council Colonial Virginia Council Columbia-Montour Council Concho Valley Council Connecticut Rivers Council Connecticut Yankee Council Conquistador Council Cornhusker Council Coronado Area Council Cradle of Liberty Council Crater Lake Council Crossroads of America Council Dan Beard Council Daniel Boone Council Daniel Webster Council De Soto Area Council Del-Mar-Va Council Denver Area Council Des Plaines Valley Council Direct Service East Carolina Council East Texas Area Council Erie Shores Council Evangeline Area Council Far East Council Five Rivers Council Flint River Council French Creek Council Gamehaven Council Gateway Area Council Georgia-Carolina Council Gerald R. Ford Council Glacier’s Edge Council Golden Empire Council Golden Spread Council Grand Canyon Council Grand Columbia Council Grand Teton Council Great Alaska Council Great Lakes Council Great Rivers Council Great Salt Lake Council Great Sauk Trail Council Great Smoky Mountain Council Great Southwest Council Great Trail Council Greater Alabama Council Greater Cleveland Council Greater New York Councils Greater Niagara Frontier Council Greater Pittsburgh Council Greater Saint Louis Area Council Greater Western Reserve Council Greater Yosemite Council Green Mountain Council Greenwich Council Gulf Coast Council Gulf Ridge Council Gulf Stream Council Hawk Mountain Council Hawkeye Area Council Heart of America Council Heart of Ohio Council Heart of Virginia Council Hiawatha Seaway Council Hiawathaland Council Hoosier Trails Council Housatonic Council Hudson Valley Council Illowa Council Indian Nations Council Indian Waters Council Inland Northwest Council Iroquois Trail Council Istrouma Area Council Jayhawk Area Council Jersey Shore Council Juniata Valley Council Katahdin Area Council Keystone Area Council Knox Trail Council La Salle Council Lake Huron Area Council Las Vegas Area Council Last Frontier Council Lewis and Clark Council Lincoln Heritage Council Lincoln Trails Council Long Beach Area Council Longhorn Council Longs Peak Council Los Angeles Area Council Los Padres Council Louisiana Purchase Council Marin Council Mason-Dixon Council Maui County Council Mecklenburg County Council Miami Valley Council Mid-America Council Mid-Iowa Council Middle Tennessee Council Midnight Sun Council Milwaukee County Council Minsi Trails Council Mississippi Valley Council Mobile Area Council Mohegan Council Monmouth Council Montana Council Monterey Bay Area Council Moraine Trails Council Mount Baker Council Mount Diablo Silverado Council Mountaineer Area Council Muskingum Valley Council Narragansett Council Nashua Valley Council National Capital Area Council NeTseO Trails Council Nevada Area Council North Florida Council Northeast Georgia Council Northeast Illinois Council Northeast Iowa Council Northeastern Pennsylvania Council Northern Lights Council Northern New Jersey Council Northern Star Council Northwest Georgia Council Northwest Suburban Council Northwest Texas Council Norwela Council Occoneechee Council Ohio River Valley Council Okefenokee Area Council Old Colony Council Old Hickory Council Old North State Council Orange County Council Ore-Ida Council Oregon Trail Council Otschodela Council Ouachita Area Council Overland Trails Council Ozark Trails Council Pacific Harbors Council Pacific Skyline Council Palmetto Area Council Patriots’ Path Council Pee Dee Area Council Penn’s Woods Council Pennsylvania Dutch Council Piedmont Council (California) Piedmont Council (North Carolina) Pikes Peak Council Pine Burr Area Council Pine Tree Council Pony Express Council Potawatomi Area Council Potomac Council Prairielands Council Puerto Rico Council Pushmataha Area Council Quapaw Area Council Quivira Council Rainbow Council Redwood Empire Council Revolutionary Trails Council Rio Grande Council Rip Van Winkle Council Rocky Mountain Council Sagamore Council Sam Houston Area Council Samoset Council San Diego-Imperial Council San Francisco Bay Area Council San Gabriel Valley Council Santa Clara County Council Santa Fe Trail Council Scenic Trails Council Seneca Waterways Council Sequoia Council Sequoyah Council Shawnee Trails Council Shenandoah Area Council Simon Kenton Council Sioux Council Snake River Council South Florida Council South Plains Council South Texas Council Southeast Louisiana Council Southeast Wisconsin Council Southern New Jersey Council Southern Sierra Council Southwest Florida Council Southwest Michigan Council Stonewall Jackson Area Council Suffolk County Council Susquehanna Council Suwannee River Area Council Tall Pine Council Tecumseh Council Texas Trails Council Theodore Roosevelt Council Three Fires Council Three Rivers Council Tidewater Council Transatlantic Council Trapper Trails Council Tri-State Area Council Tukabatchee Area Council Tuscarora Council Twin Rivers Council Twin Valley Council Utah National Parks Council Ventura County Council Verdugo Hills Council Virgin Islands Council Voyageurs Area Council W. D. Boyce Council West Central Florida Council West Tennessee Area Council Westark Area Council Westchester-Putnam Council Western Colorado Council Western Los Angeles County Council Western Massachusetts Council Westmoreland-Fayette Council Winnebago Council Yankee Clipper Council Yocona Area Council York-Adams Area Council Yucca Council
Categories: Racing sports | Boy Scouts of America | Scouting events | Toy cars and trucksHidden categories: Pages containing cite templates with deprecated parameters
About the Author
I am a professional writer from China Quality Lighting, which contains a great deal of information about electric shaver ratings , rc car simulator, Welcome to visit!
“Flash” by Daniel Dorff; Kate Prestia Schaub, piccolo
Black Beard Designs
Decoding Chinese Forms, the Hidden Meanings Behind the Flash
Chinese styles are often criticized as being impractical, showy and lacking in practical application. The criticism is usually heard from the eclectic styles that focus on street fighting and self defense and it is true that a Tai Chi or White Crane form will do you little good in a cage fight. But then again combat is not only what forms were designed to teach. Forms are the heart and soul of a style containing not only fighting techniques, but also the strategic and philosophical principles of that style.
Chinese forms are some of the most complicated and confusing because they contain hidden meanings that, like a puzzle, can only be solved by persistent study. Although each form has its own specific applications and interpretations the following keys may help you to decode the secrets of the classical Chinese forms
Hiding Techniques
One way in which Chinese forms differ from the better known Japanese and Korean forms in that the latter use the principle of keeping only what was useful in combat and have tended to discard those movements that where not. Watching Japanese and Korean forms being performed one can recognize the techniques being used. In contrast, when watching Chinese forms many movements appear strange and theatrical and the combat applications are not always clear. One reason is the notoriously secretive attitude surrounding the Chinese styles. The old masters were said to have hidden their best techniques by changing them to make them incomprehensible to anyone that did not possess the key to understanding the style.
A Chinese folk tale may provide a clue as to why the old masters were so secretive and it goes like this. Once there was a young man who gained a reputation by visiting different martial arts schools and defeating the instructors in sparring contests. When he arrived in a town or village he would first discreetly enquire into the local master’s whereabouts and then secretly spy on the master during his practice. After several days of spying he would have learned the master’s style, strategy, strengths and weaknesses and then he would issue his public challenge. Knowing what to expect, the young man was able to defeat many teachers and thus gained his reputation. One day the young man arrived at a village nearby the mountains in which a Taoist Monk who was also a Kung Fu master was said to live. After inquiring among the villagers the young man learned that the Master practiced early every morning in a clearing. Rising before dawn, the young man went to the clearing and hid in the bushes where he could secretly watch the old monk as he practiced. After several days of spying the young man felt he knew the monk’s secrets and he challenged him to a contest. The old monk obliged to meet him in the village for a sparring match the next day. During the match the young man was soundly beaten and made to look the complete fool. Confused the young man asks, ” I studied your technique for days, but when you fought you used movements I had never seen, how is this possible?”
The monk replied, “It is wise to use the strategy of `Know your Enemy’ but several days ago I sensed someone was watching me so I employed another strategy. When I practiced I changed the movements so that the real techniques were hidden, and when you challenged me I guessed it must have been you who had spied on me earlier. I knew what you would expect and, so I was able to turn the advantage against you.”
Whether the story is true or false the tendency to keep the real applications of a form secret is still apparent and many teachers are reluctant, or at best vague, in explaining the real purpose behind the movements. One method of hiding technique is by `blending’ the techniques together. In Japanese Katas there usually is a `stop’: a pause after each technique to show precision and focus. In Chinese forms the techniques are often blended together without a pause between the end of one technique and the start of the next. It is this blending of techniques that give Chinese forms their characteristic fluidity, and their mystery, since without having trained in the style you would not recognize many of the techniques being performed.
These masters would teach the hidden applications to only a select group of students, referred to as `Closed Door’ sessions. During the regular `Open’ class all students would learn the same movements, but only the most trusted students would be taught the true applications behind the movements. In this way the style’s most important techniques were kept secret from outsiders and those not deemed worthy of the knowledge.
Breathing Techniques
Many Kung Fu forms contain breathing exercises called Chi Gung which combines deep abdominal breathing, dynamic hand movements, and visualization. In the so called `Hard’ styles the hand movements are performed slowly using dynamic tension. In `Soft’ styles the hand movements are done relaxed with the focus on visualizing Chi (Internal Energy) flowing throughout the body. Some breathing exercises include vocalizations. Striking with a Crane Hand is usually accompanied by a crane call produced by a sudden contraction of the diaphragm, similar to a technique taught in modern voice classes. A more unusual vocal technique is a long descending wail that starts in the falsetto range and then descends through the octave to the bass range. The sounds made during a form are designed to show breath control. Unfortunately Bruce Lee made these vocalizations famous and now no moron’s pantomime of kung fu is complete without the obligatory whining and wailing.
Conditioning
There are several ways in which physical conditioning exercises are incorporated into a form. In the Chinese forms the stances tend to be much lower than they would be in real combat. Maintaining low stances throughout the form is excellent for developing leg strength, endurance, and provides cardiovascular benefits. Another conditioning technique is to exaggerate the movements which requires greater effort and flexibility. For example, in the Long Fist form the arms are held stretched out away from the body and the techniques are large and exaggerated. This works the muscles in the shoulders as well as the waist and relies on gravity resistance much like a modern Pilate’s routine. For more strenuous conditioning, weights in the form of heavy brass or iron rings were worn around the forearms. Kicks are also done higher in a form than would be done in application. When practicing forms many kicks are aimed at head height, although in self-defense, most teachers admonish against kicking higher than the solar plexus. The high kicks in a form help to increase flexibility and balance.
Finesse
Finesse techniques are usually found in weapons forms and are meant to demonstrate the performer’s expertise in handling the weapon. Like a gunfighter spinning his revolver on one finger before holstering, these techniques are almost all show but do require considerable skill. Weapons such as the sword, spear, and staff are routinely spun about the body, passing the weapon from one hand to another, behind the back, overhead, and around the neck, in what are known as Flowers. The finesse techniques are incorporated more for beauty than combat although some are surprisingly effective.
Symbolic Gestures
Forms occasionally include movements that are symbolic of the style. Some represent the origins of the form or religious influences such as the famous Kung Fu bow done by pressing the right fist to the left palm. This is said to have originated in the Shaolin temple and represents the Buddhist principle of non violence, the open palm stopping the fist. Another possible meaning is that it is a secret hand sign left over from the times when martial arts were taught in secret societies. In this case the fist represents the sun and the palm the crescent moon. In Chinese writing the moon and sun symbols written together spells “Ming” which was the reign name for the last native Chinese dynasty the Ming Dynasty. From 1644 to 1911 many secret societies were dedicated to overthrowing the Ching dynasty and restoring the old Ming. The hand signal was a way for members, many of whom were martial artists, to recognize each other.
Little known in the West is the relationship of Chinese Opera and Kung Fu with both arts exchanging techniques. Chinese Opera schools devote much of their curriculum to Kung Fu and gymnastics. Chinese Operas usually have battle scenes where the performers must wield and spin weapons and battle several opponents in choreographed fight scenes similar to those found in modern movies. Jackie Chan and Samo Hung both learned their Kung Fu while training to be Opera performers. While Chinese opera incorporated kung fu techniques, Kung Fu also borrowed many dramatic techniques from the Opera.
One of the most famous characters in Chinese Opera and Kung Fu schools is Kwan Gung. Kwan is the both the god of war and the patron saint of martial arts. He is characterized by his use of a particularly heavy halberd called a Kwan Dao (Kwan’s blade) and by his long black beard. A statue or picture of General Kwan is usually found in every Kung Fu club and in earlier time a rusty old Kwan Dao was often displayed in front of the club’s entrance like barber’s pole. When using the Kwan Dao in a form there are several dramatic gestures that have no practical applications but have obviously been adopted from the theatre such as a pause in the form in which the practitioner pretends to stroke a long beard.
Other examples of dramatic gestures are found in the animal styles. Each style will incorporate movements that embody the characteristics of the animal such as the graceful open arm hops and turns of the White Crane, the facial grimaces and ape-like gestures of the Monkey, and the hypnotic bobbing and weaving of the Preying Mantis. Some of these techniques have a combat application while others are for aesthetic reasons only.
Conclusion
Long before written language heroic tales of great deeds and battles were acted out in pantomimes in front of campfires as a way of passing cultural traditions onto the next generation. In a sense Chinese forms are a continuation of this ancient tradition. The next time you practice a Kung Fu form know that you are also a part a cultural tradition the goes back before history began.
About the Author
Stefan Verstappen is a writer and martial arts practitioner who has lived and traveled throughout the Far East. He is a frequent contributor for Black Belt, and Inside Kung Fu Magazine and author of , The Thirty-Six Strategies of Ancient China, Blind Zen, Little Warriors and Chinese Business Etiquette.
Author’s website: www.chinastrategies.com
You can e-mail Stefan with questions and comments to sverstappen@yahoo.com
Into to cutting a bald fade
|
|
Sweatshirt with Poland, beard, man, black and white, robe, turban, Europe, traditional dress, bust Gildan – Crewneck SweatshirtA value fleece, made from Air Jet Spun Yarn, offers a soft feel and no pill, wash after wash.7.75-ounce, 50/50 cotton/poly; double needle throughout, banded bottom, 1 x 1 athletic rib with Lycra, set-in sleeves. The “SHOPZEUS.COM” label is just a watermark in the picture…. |
|
|
Sweatshirt with black and white, abstract, Europe, beard, monument, sitting, sculpture, United Kingdom, Scotland, statue Gildan – Crewneck SweatshirtA value fleece, made from Air Jet Spun Yarn, offers a soft feel and no pill, wash after wash.7.75-ounce, 50/50 cotton/poly; double needle throughout, banded bottom, 1 x 1 athletic rib with Lycra, set-in sleeves. The “SHOPZEUS.COM” label is just a watermark in the picture…. |
|
|
Sweatshirt with beard, man, face, black and white, United States, portrait, bust, glasses, Northwest Gildan – Crewneck SweatshirtA value fleece, made from Air Jet Spun Yarn, offers a soft feel and no pill, wash after wash.7.75-ounce, 50/50 cotton/poly; double needle throughout, banded bottom, 1 x 1 athletic rib with Lycra, set-in sleeves. The “SHOPZEUS.COM” label is just a watermark in the picture…. |
|
|
I Am Iman $36.61 Iman’s emergence in 1975 sparked an upheavel in cultural identity that continues today, and her first book is a gloriously entertaining hybrid essay on the cultural-cum-political power of good looks.A quarter century of the most famous photographs by Helmut Newton, Steven Meisel, Herb Ritts, Peter Lindbergh, Bruce Weber, Scavullo, David Bailey, Nick Knight, and many others are contextualized by we… |
Moustache Celebs
Prince snubs celebs at Time 100 gala
All celebs are not created equal. Prince was more equal than the other Time 100 luminaries honored Tuesday night at the Time Warner Center. While…
Celebs love my Mustache