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Myths and Logic of Shaolin Kung Fu
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List Price: $19.95
Our Price: $17.99
Your Save: $ 1.96 ( 10% )
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Manufacturer: Tai Seng
Starring: Myths & Logic of Shaolin Kung Fu
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0601641294843
Format: Color
Label: Tai Seng
Manufacturer: Tai Seng
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Tai Seng
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2003-02-11
Running Time: 50
Studio: Tai Seng
Theatrical Release Date: 2001
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Disappointing "documentary" unfortunately full of nonsense
Comment: This is a rather amateurish documentary wherein the 50-minute running time is filled out by repeatedly showing the same footage over and over. Some of the footage is impressive, but you will not learn much about Shaolin from watching. I would say there is about 30 minutes of footage, which is dragged out to a 50-minute film by showing the exact same demonstrations over and over ad nauseum. Further, the title of the documentary is nonsensical, given that neither the "myths" nor "logic" of Shaolin are really ever discussed. Aside from a couple impressive demonstrations of martial skill the film has little to recommend. Unfortunately it also contains misinformation, as when the narrator claims (without referencing any particular study) that scientists have found empirical evidence for the existence of "chi." This claim is actually not true. Scientists have tried for years to find empirical evidence for the existence of chi, and never have. It is generally concluded by scientists that it doesn't exist, and that "chi demonstrations" amount to little more than parlor tricks. Some of these stupid tricks unfortunately appear in this documentary. For example, the film shows people who have supposedly mastered the "iron skin technique," rendering them "impervious to attack from bladed weapons." Note that when this claim is made it is never backed up. We are never treated to footage of people trying to cut someone with a sharp knife to no avail. Rather we are shown the old trick where a dull spear is placed on the throat and pressed until the shaft bends or breaks, or of someone balancing himself on a large spear placed at the abdomen. As Penn and Teller demonstrated in Bull$i#t, anyone can do this trick. You don't have to be a Shaolin monk. It's an old carnie trick, plain and simple. Also, when the kid is "smashing" bricks with his hand, pay attention to how he lifts one end ever so slightly before hitting it. This is also an old trick anyone can do. Same with the placing of boards against stones on the ground, etc. I do not mean to say that Kung Fu is nonsense but am rather pointing out that most traditional martial arts unfortunately contain a large amount of charlatanism, and that some of this rubbish appears in this film. I witnessed this firsthand when taking lessons in Wing Chun. The instructor fancied himself a Chi Gung expert and would incapacitate students without laying a hand on them. They would feign an attack and he would wave his hand over them, or some such nonsense, and let out a grunt, and they would, having been operantly conditioned to do so through repeated demonstrations in class, obediently fall to the ground and twitch around. When asked if they "felt it" they would say, "Oh yes." One day a kid off the street came in and asked for a demonstration. The teacher said the kid wasn't ready (meaning, he hadn't "learned" how he's supposed to respond). The kid was persistent and the teacher gave in. When the teacher shot his chi, or whatever, the kid of course said he didn't feel a thing. The teacher said he would need training. Tell that to someone attacking you with a knife!
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Great Look Inside The Shaolin Temple!
Comment: Suitable for viewing by beginners and advanced martial artists alike. The producers definitely got a look inside the temple and the training that goes on there -- a look that is rarely given to outsiders. While this well-produced documentary gives a brief and skimpy outline of the history of Shaolin & martial arts in China, what it does best is show what the current state of training is like at the temple. Typically, boys enter the temple training at age 4 or 5 and within 5 years of training (at the most flexible, adaptable age) are already incredibly skilled. Also clear is the Chinese professional sports approach -- also adopted in their olympic and other sports programs -- of starting with thousands of applicants and winnowing it down to the best performers. From this DVD you get a good look at basic training, and could even try to learn some of the basic forms (which are presented VERY quickly) of Shaolin, which are difficult to find from authentic sources elsewhere. Fun to watch, well done, and a good martial arts documentary.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Documentary on Shaolin
Comment: One of the best documentaries I have seen on the shaolin temple and the shaolin life style. This documentary touches on the art of kung fu as well as chi gung and chi. Great DVD.
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