If you read my post, I was a little kid and my great uncle paraphrased something that apparently many people have said. I shared a memory of that. It’s the kind of thing any uncle might say to a 10 year old. I wasnt implying that I am anything or anyone special. Just for the record, I can arrange a bouquet as well as any mediocre florist.
"Dave Lowry’s ‘Autumn Lightning’. True warrior should be skilled in flower arranging (chaban), the way of tea (sado) and poetry."
Disagree with what? I’m not conflating a childhood memory with martial arts, or warrior codes, or anything at all. Simply an aside, a story, nothing more. I never should have posted it. I certainly smell good, I have some flowers tattooed here and there, but I am neither soft nor pretty.
With Dave Lowry and the "true warrior" stuff.
I see, I wouldn’t know because I haven’t read that and I’m not a warrior, but reckon I could play one on tv.
You're kidding, right?
kickasssuec.blogspot.com
Am I?
Well what can you do
Huāquánxiùtuǐ, I like that one..... there is another one I am trying to remember that my Sanda shifu said when he was referring to my first shifu...... translated to something like, your Kung Fu is pretty, like an embroider pillow.... he also said Huāquánxiùtuǐ in reference to him tooYou're kidding, right?
Because sorry, no.
"Flowery fists and embroidery kicks" ( 花拳绣腿 ) is an idiom. It has nothing to do with being able to arrange flowers.
Besides, you've heard of ikebana?
Ikebana - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Ikebana and Martial Arts - a shared philosophy
Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arranging. Ikebana means arranged flower but is also known as Kado - the Way of flowers. Ikebana ...
Correct me, that sounds like he was insulting your first Shifu? As in calling him a dancer? Whenever Sifu Woo called someone a dancer it was a certain type of insult to their fighting capacity.
He was
The "true warrior" during the middle Samurai era belonged to the aristocratic class and was skilled in combat, strategy, the Chinese classics, calligraphy and other arts to produce a well-rounded individual. A combination of hard and soft. Miyamoto Musashi, a warrior of some note, also engaged in wood sculpture, painting and some poetry. To be immersed in an environment where violent death lurked in every corner, such training would help cope with the pressures of being a warrior, ready and willing to accept death at any time it was called for. Arts such as sumi-e ink painting and flower arranging require a spiritual calmness and emptiness that can aid in dealing with such a lifestyle. Yin + yang = balance and completeness.
It's just the reality of things. Some places are like that. If it's the culture of the place then you'll either accept it or move on. By accepting, I mean you adopt the culture. So if they stand tall, then you stand tall. They want to be a jerk with the kicks then be jerk with the pads. If someone wants to flick you in the head. Ask them "What are you, 5 years old?" Come in serious like a warrior in training. And if they aren't serious then you be the bigger warrior. If a person doesn't want to go through all of that, then go train somewhere else. It just depends on the person.
I’m just wondering how so many so called experts didn’t know you need to protect your joints, be careful with sparring partners etc
When you're right you're right. Maybe the next request for advice will be more positive.
I didn’t mean to compare myself or my great uncle to any samurai, or warrior, or anything at all. I should mention that my great uncle was born and raised in Hawaii circa 1920, so maybe Asian influences on the island culture at that time affected his beliefs? Maybe it was just something he had read and identified with? In any case, I was a delivery boy for a high end florist as a teenager where I learned to arrange flowers. My wife loves the bouquets I arrange for her and my mother did as well. If nothing else, that skill has made many people in my family happy over the years.
