Kung-fu.toa Simorgh has no competitions. You are tought respect for your fellow man and to avoid combat (as long as it only concerns yourself).
"Fighting not to fight"
this is called. This philosophical pronouncement is the main theme in all rules concerning fighting. It can be interpreted in many ways, for instance:
it can be hard not to start a fight if someone keeps
insulting you;
it can be hard to act purely defensively in a fight;
it can be hard to intervene in a fight between other
people to prevent it from escalating (on every level of conflict);
it can be hard to stand up for the 'weaker' if it is nothing of your direct concern.
It becomes evident that we will only use force when necessary, and even when we engage in a fight, we will try to act defensively as long as possible (dodging, blocking, grips), to show us much respect as possible for your opponent.
In this view it is impossible for us to participate in fighting-matches. First of all it is not an emergency situation, second of all you have to attack in order to win according to the rules of the match.
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Often fighters say they have respect for their opponent. Do they mean they see their opponent as a worthy human individual, and do they try to protect this individual, or do they mean they are 'afraid' of hard punches?? And does it show much respect if you beat someone
down for a medal or a prize? |
However, this doesn't mean Kung-fu.toa Simorgh isn't a very good style. Actually, "one learns to fight extremely well".
Would you engage in fight on the street to help someone you don't know, if you wouldn't be confident about your own techniques and qualities?
And how would you know you can resolve a fight with only blocking and dodging techniques? If you never had the experience this really works?
This is also resembled in the composition of the classes. Some of the students already have experience in other fighting styles and they think it's worthwhile to start all over again. All of them found something in Kung-fu.toa Simorgh what appeals to them and they couldn't learn in their previous style. Quite often this has something to do with the fighting.
Kung-fu.toa has been tested extensively by the founders, and this knowledge has been transferred to Kung-fu.toa Simorgh.
To summarize, Kung-fu.toa Simorgh is not just a defensive style, but is very suitable to attack; sometimes the attack is the best defense. And how should one learn to defend oneself if their are no good attacks to practice with?
This is especially necessary if you fight against multiple opponents. And not like a prescribed exercise, but just several people who attack you together.
Every level adds another opponent on a full-contact basis. Since there are seven levels you will have to fight against seven people on your last exam.
The ability to attack is a prerequisite to create a hole in the defense of your opponents to find a way out.
To practice this there are several degrees of fighting:
No contact
You make no contact with your opponent and kick in turns to practice coordination and controle.
Semi contact
You start using your hands and don't act in turns anymore and begin with more realistic fighting, without hurting each other. This is to practice timing and control over your techniques.
Half full contact
You can hit your opponent harder to learn how to find and protect weak spots.
Full contact
Fighting on basis of a knock-out system, shooting is allowed.
Free fight
Like full contact, but the fight continues on the ground.
All these degrees can be carried out against 1, 2, 3, 4, etcetera opponents.
What is important here is that you always participate on your own level. If you start out you will not be used as punchball, it's rather the other way round, so you can learn how to hit and find the right timing. Everyone treats each other with respect.