Chang Dong Sheng Interview

Chang Dong Sheng interview 1980.

An approximate translation:

INTERVIEWER: You looked amazing during your demonstration! How old are you this year?

Chang Dong Sheng: 72

INT: Where are you teaching at the moment?

CDS: At the Jun Guan Xue Xiao (military academy)

INT: before you were national champion. Can you make a comparison between guo shu now and how it was previously.

CDS: Previously guo shu was spread slowly, but from 1928 onwards it started to become more popular; after that martial arts schools began opening everywhere.

INT: Comparing guo shu rules in former times with current ones, which are more preferable.

CDS: In my experience, I would say that martial arts referees in former times were more respected - after a strike, if they said stop, people would stop. Now you can see for yourselves how it is, so I don't need to say .

INT: So now it's more like brawling?

CDS: (laughs) I'd rather not say.

INT: What method can we use to make guo shu more popular?

CDS: I often say if our government (Taiwan, The Republic of China) can support guo shu and organise famous teachers together, then this would be better. It would be easier for more people to study, and it would make gou shu more successful.

INT: In wrestling and boxing you are really amazing. Can you tell us younger practitioners any secret methods you have?

CDS: Before most people were farmers and had more time. It was possible to practice for many hours, but society has become too busy and demanding. It's not possible to practice that much anymore. Now, even though people may have the interest, they must work from 8 to12 and from 2 to 6; it's no longer possible for people to study gong fu during these hours. Even if they practice early, after 8.00 am they must get ready for work in order to make money for their future. It's not possible to practice gong fu. Just when you have free time, go to the Wu Guan (martial arts school)

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• chinese
• wrestling
• chang
• dong
• sheng
• gong
• fu
• guo
• shu

[theshadowboy607]

He's 72?

[twgongfu]

The interview was in 1980.

[drex1john]

Chang was undisputed champion of all of china during his life time! This is real combat & it does really work! MMA is sloppy

[sweetsweatyfeet]

I know of Cung Le and he IS good. But I do not observe him using any one style. He fights much like most other MMA fighters. He does not restrict himself to this style or any other. To do that would limit his potential. The best fighters are instinctive and adaptive. They cross train with all possible techniques yet are not married to any one of them. Bruce Lee said "the best way is no way". When combined with a high degree of speed, strength and athleticism this produces the best fighters.

[quanjiahao87]

Go watch Gracies doing there demonstrations of there BJJ it's quite similar. I don't see why you're so ill about it. Plus look at Cung le. He's a example of someone who uses Shuai Ciao in MMA.

[sweetsweatyfeet]

And you know this - how? None of us know how very old men would do in a fight because they are old men and not even close to what they were when they were young.

I think in their primes, Helio (RIP) would have defeated him because he defeated every other man anywhere near his weight. That is my only reason for thinking that.

[joe6041887]

He would whoop Helio (R.I.P 1913- 2009) or any other 72 year old grappler easy

[sweetsweatyfeet]

"Looked amazing in a demonstration". What about a real combative fight? I don't think it would go quite his way.

[Xxwolfpack707xX]

That is one of the greatest masters I have ever seen before.