The absolute foundation of San Soo yet few practice it and many do not know how and much worse, few care. Many demonstrate how they understand the horses but why don’t we learn from the man himself, we can. I am posting a video from YouTube, they were preparing for the 84 demonstration and met at Bob Estrada’s studio. I will breakdown some important points that you may miss on the video if you were not with him back then. I have noticed through the years that Americans have a difficult time preforming forms as the Chinese do, it is like it is in their DNA but some get close. At the very start of the Video he circles out with one leg and then circles out with the other. That comes from very old Classical Kung Fu (many styles) it is honoring the Buddhist Monks. They all wore robes, that was the way they came out of those robes when they prepared for combat, the robes were then behind their legs. Watch the video many times and practice the moves until you understand them. He calls out the names they are called, I will try to find a list and put it up. Here is something you may miss without deep thought, why did he tell Bill when he asked how to step first toward the other foot prior to stepping down he would have stepped up with that foot out without recentering his balance would have been compromised and the opponent could move in.
Ron Gatewood
I feel it would be useful for there to be subtitles added to this video even for myself as an english speaker but especially if you consider that San Soo as we should wish is now becoming more international since the audio and Jimmy’s thick accent are in parts unclear which leads to confusion which confuses also the automatic subtitles on youtube that are just godawful. i would agree that a proper understanding of the basic 8 and their wider significance to the art should be a prerequisite to all students of San Soo as an understanding each student should be able to physically demonstrate, as Bruce Lee said, “it’s not enough to know you must do” or in this case demonstrate that you know, understand and can do.
Hi Lewis,
I am not a computer guy, someone helps me with set up, I did not know these posts were here I just found this. Yes, it is a problem but we had to learn to understand him but we did. I am older and running out of time, I want to leave a couple more books along with editing some films. So sorry, I just don’t have the time but at least you can see it, the names are posted down below.
Thanks,
RG