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University Daily Kansan, September 16, 1981
Gung Fu Ancient martial art stresses peace, harmony
Rich Ramos, Leavenworth junior, demonstrates a kick during a workout with the KU Gung Fu club. Ramos, whose brother, Dave, also belongs to the club, says the sport actually teaches non-violence.
BOB GREENSPAN/Kansan Staff
By DAVE McQUEEN Sports Writer
Thanks to Bruce Lee's movies and David Carrindale's television show, the ancient and mystical Chinese martial art, Gung Fu, has been popularized as a fury-fisted, athletic,腿-skicking form of self-dense and entertainment.
But instead of looking for boards to break and skills to crack, the members of the KU Gung FU Club practice their skills.
"THESE FORMS that they are doing are moving meditation," Dave Ramos, Leavenworth junior, said as a group of beginners worked out at Robinson Gymnasium when you do a form, you should relax; it calls you down."
Gung Fu (or Kung Fu, they're both the same thing), dates back to 15th century B.C. when it was developed by Chinese Buddhist monks as a means of exercise, meditation and protection. It remained fairly obscure in this country until television and movies made it a fad in the early 1970s.
The KU Gung Fu Club got its start in 1972 when Robert Sprackland, a KU student who learned Gung Fu in his native New York, started giving lessons in the basement of Hashinger Hall.
Spraickland, who left Lawrence after graduating but still visits the club frequently, said that what the club tried to do was to get them out of trouble.
Shaolin Gung Fu is based on the teachings of Lao-tse, an ancient Chinese philosopher who believed in the fluidity of nature and man's desire to be in harmony with something higher than himself. This philosophy is reflected in the graceful, fluid movements of the different styles of Shaolin, which are used to develop strength, tenacity, grace, breath
SPRACKLAND SAID that learning the different styles was much like learning a foreign language.
"But it's more like learning mime than learning the precision of good German," he said.
Unlike juko and karate, which are more aggressive in nature, Gung Fu stresses avoidance of confrontation,
"The first thing we'll teach them is how to avoid using it." he said.
Ramos said the main idea of Gung Fu was to avoid rather than hurt, hurt rather than main, and main rather than hurt.
BUT WHEN ITS use cannot be avoided, Gung Fu is an effective means of self-defense, Ramos said, because it teaches a person not to block on oncoming force, but to control and work with it. This eliminates any advantage of strength or size an attacker may have over his victim, he said.
Sprackland said that great physical strength was not an advantage in Gunar Fu.
In fact, 80-year-old men and women can do it better than a 25-year-old man because they learn to do it without having to study.
Because of Gung Fu's non-violent philosophy, Ramos said the club shied away from competition and discouraged sparring. Occasionally, he, members will enter the tournament on demonstrations "just for public relations reasons."
required in this art is much different; it doesn't increase the muscle mass."
"A LOT OF PEOPLE think of us as soft." Ramos said.
"They consider it a form of gymnastics. That's fine with him."
Although the club has been on campus almost 10 years and is allowed to use University facilities, it has received little financial support from KU, Ramos said. Last spring, Mr. Baldassari started for advertising, the only money he received was he said.
"But it was such a hassle, it wasn't worth the effort," he said. "We don't need that much money anyway. The people
The traditional Gung Fu uniform, unlike the familiar attire for judo or karate, is black. It consists of a black T-shirt, loose-fitting black cotton pants that are similar to a skirt, and casual spots occasions, a baggy-sleeved shirt with buttons and hooks.
But the only necessary for learning Gung Fu,
Ramos said, is the right frame of mind.
Most people start learning Gung Fu for self-defense, but
"IF YOU COME in with the wrong attitude, you'll get weeded out." he said.
soon get hooked on the philosophy. Such was the case with Robert Wiedmaier, Atchinson graduate student and KU Gung Fu Club president.
"I started with the idea of self-defense and continued
to believe I still found it increasing." Wiedmaier said.
"But I am not sure that we are confident enough to do it."
Wiedmaer said he enjoyed Gung Fu because it wasn't as violent, aggressive or competitive as the other martial arts "I just think it was more appropriate for my temperament" he said.
Although he has never had to use Gung Fu to defend himself, Wiedmair said he was confident enough that he could handle it.
"I HOPE I NEVER have to use it for that kind of situation," Wiedmaier said. "If there's absolutely no other way, then it's to be used. But I'm basically pacific."
Because Gung Fu relies more on agility than strength, it is ideal for women, according to Gloria Mann,
Manhattan.
"It's something anyone can do," she said.
Manney said she recommended Gung Fu as an excellent means of self-defense for women, if they are willing to put in the time it takes to learn the art.
"If they want to learn to defend themselves immediately, they might be better off taking something else," she said.
Manney said the thing she enjoyed the most about Gung Fu was the way it made her feel.
"It makes me feel good after I've worked out for an hour-and-a-half," Manney said.
BOB GREENSPAN/Kansan Staff
Ramos stretches before practice with another member of the club.
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