"The army likes to recruit people with a background in Martial Arts, so I t many skilled martial artists in the military: Long Fist, Piercing Kick, Tan Tui, but most practiced Shaolin Fist," Gu Qing said.
"Back then, almost all the Military Combat instructors were from Traditional Martial Arts, and the army even specially invited experts from Shaolin Temple to serve as temporary instructors."
"There are several versions of military boxing in the military, I can’t say much, but when I first enlisted, the military boxing we learned was modified from the Nine Posture Fist of the Old Red Door of Southern Shaolin, all moves were killing moves, but it wasn’t promoted throughout the entire army later."
Wu Li nodded, he knew a bit about Southern Shaolin Old Red Door Fist—specifically designed for real combat. It required practicing Finger Strength and Palm Force daily by hitting wooden posts. With persistent training, not only was the Palm Force incredibly strong, breaking wood and bending iron, injuring a person on contact but also developing proficiency in martial combat, readily deployable in face of an enemy without hindrance.
This was a typical practice thod that also served as the fighting technique, indeed well-suited for popularization in the army.
"Every year during the major military contests, those of us with a martial arts background like would easily stand out. When it ca to hand-to-hand combat, it was usually us, the martial arts practitioners, who end up in the final rounds," Gu Qing said.
"Later, when I went to other units, I indeed t many experts, but there are regulations in the army, I can’t say specifics, and even if I did, you wouldn’t be able to et those people."
Wu Li felt sowhat disappointed; most of the military units did not spend ti developing top-level fighting experts. True experts were definitely special talents with unique statuses, and he indeed would have a hard ti eting them.
Gu Qing looked at Wu Li, "However, I can introduce you to soone who’s retired. His na is Li Changsheng, he resides in Luo City, practices Baji, and is a person worth respecting."
Wu Li was surprised and asked, "Would this senior Li be willing to appear on cara?"
Gu Qing nodded, "He has been interviewed many tis before, there shouldn’t be any problem."
Wu Li was relieved and sowhat excited. A person described as an expert by a Bagua Palm Grandmaster like Gu Qing was very likely to be a Master Level Martial Artist, thus giving him another opportunity to complete his system task.
"The warrior’s greatest act is to serve the nation and its people, us martial artists all share this sentint to so extent. Although my Bagua lineage isn’t from Cheng School, my decision to join the army was also influenced by Cheng Tinghua’s deeds," Gu Qing suddenly reflected.
Wu Li knew that ’Cheng Public’ Gu Qing referred to was Cheng Tinghua, the ancestor of Cheng-style Bagua.
Strictly speaking, Dong Haichuan’s true Bagua Palm disciples were only Yin Fu and Cheng Tinghua, and their Bagua Palm lineages later each developed its own characteristics, forming the Yin School Bagua and Cheng School Bagua, the two main factions of Bagua Palm.
Cheng Tinghua made a na for himself in the capital with his Bagua Palm, even Cixi had heard of his na and wanted him to serve as her personal guard, sending a gold-inlaid plaque on his mother’s 70th birthday with the inscription ’Exemplar of Virtue and Filial Piety’. However, Cheng Tinghua was unmoved.
Later, when the Eight-Nation Alliance entered Beijing, Cheng Tinghua couldn’t bear the foreign powers’ wanton humiliation of the innocent and bravely fought back, dying under dozens of foreign guns.
A similar fate befell the renowned Great Saber Wang Wu, who also died fighting against foreign invasion.
Martial artists who knew this history rarely lacked respect for these two Grandmasters.
Gu Qing, who had been studying Bagua from childhood, though not a Cheng School descendant, held utmost admiration for Cheng Tinghua, influenced by his deeds when he chose to join the military.
"In my life, serving the country, I consider myself justified in everything I’ve learned. Yet compared to Li Changsheng, when it cos to serving the nation and its people, he is more deserving of these words," Gu Qing said solemnly.
Wu Li was curious, "What does this senior Li do?"
Gu Qing replied, "You’ll know when you get there."
...
On June 16, Wu Li and the production team went to Luo City, near the border of Yun Province, while Zhao Lixin stayed in Li City to accompany the master.
"Hello everyone, I’m currently in Luo City, Yun Province, and in this episode of Seeking Martial Arts, I am going to visit a forr military expert who practices Baji Fist."
Wu Li said this while in the car towards the cara, the address where Li Changsheng lived was in the outskirts of Luo City, still a drive away.
"Wow, a military expert?"
"Nowadays, maybe only in the army you can find real experts in Traditional Martial Arts?"
"Visiting Special Soldiers? Excited!"
"Ha, the theory that Special Soldiers can beat everything, please be realistic, purely in terms of hand-to-hand fighting, a Special Soldier might not even compare to a national level sports competitor!"
"Bullshit, Special Soldiers train for real combat, do you think it’s a match on a ring?"
"In reality, the military brings in fighters as combat instructors. If military combat skills were so formidable, why would they need to hire fighters as instructors?"
...
The director looked at the comnts section, surprised by the controversy that arose from Wu Li’s single statent; he looked up at Wu Li.
"Wu Li, the audience is debating who has stronger combat skills—Special Soldiers or professional fighters. Can you share your views?"
Wu Li thought for a mont and began, "Alright, let start with the conclusion. Purely in terms of combat skills, fighters are definitely much stronger."
His statent stirred further turmoil in the comnts, with ssages flying rapidly.
Wu Li continued, "Let’s start from a simple point. Think about it, how many people are there in special forces worldwide? Several hundred thousand? Or millions? Now think about those who have achieved recognition in fighting competitions, fa in venues like the UFC. The UFC has signed less than a 1000 fighters, and even fewer have won championships; the reason these numbers are so low is because combat also requires talent. Thus, just on the basis of numbers, it’s clear that the natural talent of fighters far surpasses that of Special Soldiers."
"So might say that so of the world’s most elite special forces, or so unknown special forces, also have very few personnel, chosen from millions, and they are highly talented; but I want to point out that specialization matters. Just like Special Soldiers can’t outrun professional athletes, nor can they outlift champion weightlifters, the sa goes for fighting."
"Special Soldiers have to learn many things—shooting, driving, reconnaissance, using electronic devices, etc., leaving them with very little ti for hand-to-hand combat. Even if we assu the top Special Soldiers are not less talented in combat than top fighters, the amount of ti they dedicate is different. Fighters spend a considerable amount of ti each day training in combat, and if they couldn’t outperform Special Soldiers, that would be embarrassing."
"Wu Li, an audience mber is asking, what about in real combat? Would Special Soldiers still be outperford by fighters?" the director suddenly asked.
Wu Li nodded, "Real combat can vary greatly, but the ’real combat’ most people envision involves bare hands, both sides prepared, and in a normal environnt—similar to a ring fight but without rules. I’d say even if their physical capabilities are similar, fighters still have the advantage."
"The reason I already ntioned—specialization. The purpose of training Special Soldiers in unard combat isn’t to overpower an opponent head-on; their principle should be never to use knives if guns are available, never resort to fists if knives are available, always out-number rather than duel, and to minimize casualties while maximizing enemy damage. So, in a one-on-one, front-facing, unard confrontation, their experience, awareness, and skills are inferior to those of fighters. Even if they learn so killing moves, they might get knocked out before they can use them."
"Of course, if we modify real combat conditions to allow weapons, even just knives, or put them in a complex environnt allowing for stealth, reconnaissance, and surprise attacks, then fighters are far inferior to Special Soldiers; ultimately, it’s about specialization, and we shouldn’t generalize every issue."
Wu Li’s words silenced many viewers who had high expectations of Special Soldiers’ capabilities due to the influence of movies, TV shows, or urban military novels which portray them as all-capable masters.
"Then, according to you, with Traditional Martial Arts constantly being touted for real combat effectiveness similar to military combat skills in the Special Forces, why is Traditional Martial Arts considered effective in real combat, but Special Soldiers’ combat skills fall short against professional fighters?"
These words resonated with many viewers:
"Indeed, isn’t it said that much military combat skill derives from Traditional Martial Arts? Doesn’t that contradict your point?"
"Your previous stance was that in real combat, modern combat sports are inferior to Traditional Martial Arts, so how co military combat skills don’t asure up now? Isn’t military combat supposed to be more combat-effective?"
"Exactly, isn’t this a double standard?"
...
The director, sweating slightly, looked at Wu Li unsure whether to relay the question.
Wu Li noticed the director’s hesitation and asked, "What are the viewers saying?"
"They are asking why you previously said that Traditional Martial Arts was superior in real combat to modern fighting, yet now when it’s about military combat, you’ve changed your stance to favor modern fighters?" the director slowly asked.
Wu Li smiled, not hesitating as he replied, "My point from the start has been that in face-to-face unard combat, Special Soldiers are not as good as professional fighters, not that military combat skills lack real combat effectiveness compared to modern combat."
"If a Special Soldier were to spend significant ti each day practicing military combat skills and had extensive real combat experience, and if he were similarly fit as a fighter engaging in a life-or-death struggle, then certainly, that Special Soldier’s chances of surviving would be higher. But then, if he spends that much ti on combat, can he still be called a Special Soldier? For the military, he definitely would be unqualified."
The director heaved a sigh of relief and gave Wu Li a discreet thumbs up.
Wu Li continued, "The premise of my statent that Traditional Martial Arts is superior in real combat effectiveness to modern fighting is based on both parties being skilled fighters with similar physical condition, having spent extensive ti practicing and studying combat."
"It’s the sa old saying; do not generalize when looking at issues."
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