>> Today's episode is brought to you by
>>> BOTH: Raycon
>> That was awful. That's--
>> That was terrible.
>> No, but if you go to buyraycon.com/rogue
you can get 15% off, and it'll sound great
in your earbuds.
>> You get to hear that but not us doing it.
>> Oh!
[cracking]
Oh!
[staff click-clacking]
[drums beating]
[staff cracking]
Whoa!
[drums beating]
[staff cracking]
Huei!
>> JASON: How hard can it be?
>> Instructor: Follow me.
>> Yep >> Okay
So, stand together. Feet together.
Stand straight. Open.
Push out.
Circle your hand.
Bow.
First move.
>> I'm going to stand over here. [laughing]
>> Ugh. You cut my butt.
>> Just going to back up over here.
>> Hup. Almost hit myself in the boing-loins. Okay.
>> What happened?
>> No, I'm good.
[laughing]
>> What happened is reality set in.
That's what happened. [laughing]
[static]
>> We are at the Shaolin Temple Cultural Center
of Austin Texas, and we are meeting
>> We've got laoshi.
>> Scott Pettengill.
Mario.
>> Mario Alvarez.
>> JASON: And Jennifer
>> It should be noted a lot of people right now are like,
"Isn't Mario the guy that taught you
to fake awesome guitar skills?"
>> He's got guitar skills and Kung-Fu, which gives him
two abilities up on us, which is zero.
[guitar]
♪ 'Cause I'm a Modern Rogue ♪
>> Goodnight ladies and gentlemen.
>> So we previously learned about
fighting with quarterstaffs in the medieval tradition
and those are much larger than this one.
>> Okay
[Brian laughing]
>> He's like, "Cool story bro."
>> So this is a Japanese staff
commonly referred to as a [speaks in foreign language].
A lot of people also refer to the Chinese staff
as a [speaks in foreign language] as well.
But the correct terminology in Mandarin is
[speaks in foreign language] G-U-N, like gun,
but [speaks in foreign language].
>> [speaks in foreign language]
>> Yes. So, if you'll notice the Japanese staff
is a little bit heavier.
It's made out of oak.
>> Oh wow.
>> That's more momentum. That's more head-splitting.
I assume this is faster, or more maneuverable or
>> This is a traditional staff. >> Uh-huh.
>> This is a manufactured staff.
Traditionally you'll notice that this
still has the knots on it
from when it was a tree.
Also, you'll notice that there's a big end
and a little end.
These are made out of a substance called waxwood.
Now waxwood is very strong, yet very pliable,
so you can bend it.
It has a lot of flexibility, but yet it's still strong.
[cracking]
>> Oh jeez. [laughing]
>> Now if I take this staff and I do that
>> Yeah.
>> This staff will probably shatter.
>> Yeah, I would imagine it
wouldn't feel good on your wrists either.
>> Yeah.
>> Is this more of a primarily defensive weapon,
or offensive?
>> The staff is a defensive weapon.
It's also a non-lethal weapon,
considered a non-lethal weapon,
whereas you know swords and bladed you know
weapons are lethal.
Shaolin Temple is Buddhist and so abhors violence.
So the teaching is that you know we don't want to kill
the opponent, we just want to take care of them enough
to where we can get out of the situation
if we have to defend ourselves.
>> And plus if someone comes asking you,
"Why are you carrying a weapon?",
you've just got a walking stick.
>> Exactly. [chuckles]
>> And plus also this is a much more credible threat
because if you flash a sword, then you're implying
"I'm about to murder you," whereas this is like
"No no no. I'm just going to give you a real big ass-whooping."
And it's like, "I believe you will use that. I may not
believe that you're going to use a sword."
I said as if I know anything.
>> Now different techniques can be employed
with this as well.
So traditionally in the Japanese martial arts
you fight from the middle of the staff, using the ends,
so on and so forth.
Chinese martial arts we like to fight from
the end of the staff to keep our opponents at a distance.
So if I hit you I have a further reach, you know,
rather than here, although we do come into the middle
and use all of them.
>> I'm surprised to see that it it really is just
a straight-up baseball swing to take at somebody.
>> It can be. It can be a poke like that.
It can be a hit like that, up to the groin, you know,
or the jaw.
>> So where do we begin?
>> First thing we're going to start out with is just
learning the most basic spinning technique that we use.
So if you'll stand like this, arms at shoulder length,
we're going to fold it under our arm like this.
>> Okay
>> Okay, try to keep your feet closer in.
There you go.
So I'm going to go down.
I'm going to open up on this side,
in here to this side, then I come down again
to the other side.
>> Got it. So we're starting momentum--
>> Right
>> Following it through to the terminus.
>> Exactly. And then to maintain the spin,
we just keep on going with it.
>> Now how much of it is in your chest?
I assume--
>> It's in your waist.
>> Okay.
>> So the spin actually takes place on the sides.
So imagine that you're standing in a hallway
and you have two walls here.
You don't want to spin like this, because you would
mar up the walls and hit the walls.
So you want to spin on the side actually.
So the spin take place here.
Yes. Good. Very good.
>> So if I were to punctuate it, would it be
Is that correct?
>> Yeah, that's correct.
And then just keep going. Don't stop.
>> Okay.
>> Just keep a flow to it.
[chuckling]
>> Be careful.
>> Okay, now I'm seeing--
>> Yeah yeah yeah yeah
>> It's like there's two different dances
being done with the two different hands.
>> Relax your shoulders.
That's the most important thing.
Keep your shoulders nice and relaxed.
Sometimes it helps to think about what you're doing
and why you're doing a spin, because a spin
is really a series of blocks and strikes.
>> Is that anywhere close?
>> Mmm yeah, it might be nicer to have it a little
closer in to your body.
>> Okay.
>> So you've got it right here.
Just point it down, turn your waist, but don't turn,
don't dip your body into it, just point it down,
turn this way,
swing it around, get back here,
point it down, turn this way.
>> Okay.
>> Washing machine.
>> Washing machine? Okay.
>> You want to make sure this is a strike down.
You're striking back down here, strike down,
striking back down here.
So think about where you're hitting.
>> Some [mumbles]
>> Oh my god. Don't. Oh, you guys.
Perfect.
Yes.
>> That's all part of it.
>> Excellent.
>> That's the learning curve.
>> Ah, nice.
>> Oh no.
>> Now the trick is to not use your shoulders.
>> Ooh, that's tough.
>> Keep your back straight.
>> Nope
>> You guys are brave.
>> I am a tree. I am a tree.
>> Oh, she is the brave one, and the smart one.
So I can feel my body not cooperating and over-correcting.
So I'm trying to dial in on that awareness.
>> That's looking a lot better though
because you seem more relaxed.
>> Concentrate.
>> SCOTT: Yeah, your shoulders aren't so tight.
>> Oh and also I'm not so afraid of hitting you guys.
Like we've learned in other martial arts,
it comes from you center of gravity.
You're the one that is rooted and grounded
and this is just the effect.
The motion begins
>> SCOTT: That's correct, yes.
>> Right here.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Keep it close to your body and then you
won't struggle with it as much.
>> Ah.
>> JENNIFER: Hey, we've got some determination here.
>> SCOTT: Uh-huh, look at that face.
>> I know, right?
>> That's awesome.
>> [muffled] hard work.
>> Good zen, good concentration.
>> You look smooth Ben. You look like water.
>> It feels
like
smooth water.
[laughing]
>> SCOTT: Well, like Bruce Lee said, be like water.
>> Feeling a little bit more like a Slurpee.
[Brian laughing]
A little sluggish.
>> So from the spin, we'll turn that into techniques
to strike with, okay, and block with.
We go horse stance--
>> Horse stance?
>> Horse stance. [speaks in foreign language] in Chinese.
[speaks in foreign language]
So feet double shoulder-width apart.
You're going to have one hand at the end of your staff,
the other hand's here loosely holding it.
What you're going to do is you're going to push the staff through
and we're going to turn to [speaks in foreign language], okay,
which is bow stance.
So your front leg is bent
slightly.
Your back knee is locked out.
Foot faces 45 degrees, and we're going to pull back
to horse stance from [speaks in foreign language].
So this is how we develop our power.
The power is utilized in the waist.
So you go here
and
push
through like that.
And pull back.
Push through like that.
Yes.
>> So there's really no extension of the body.
It's all the staff.
>> Good. Extend your arms fully.
Yes. And try to keep that foot flat on the ground
so you're stable.
>> So that back part >> Your heel
>> I've got you.
>> Yeah, heel on the ground.
>> What's the preferred like level here.
Is it up, my shoulders up?
>> Shoulder level low.
>> The shoulder level? >> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> Okay, turn your hip so it's forward,
and push this foot out like that.
>> Oh, okay. >> Yes.
>> It feels more like a lunge.
>> So you're going to be here.
Like this.
turn, and push like that.
Pull back.
Push.
>> You're pushing this, and getting into here.
And you want to stay straight.
When you thrust, everything is going to come
from this twist right here
to here.
>> That's probably where most of my power comes from.
>> Right, but for this one the pivot is right here.
For this one the pivot's back here.
[exhaling]
Oops, I lost my
>> And then back.
>> That's a lot better. That's a lot better.
>> They arrive at the same time.
>> Oh, got it. So you strike and then you're back.
>> This more around your
>> Got it
>> And then this just stays straight and relaxed.
>> Got it.
[whooshing]
>> BRIAN: You know what's crazy is I
feel it in my hip flexors.
Like I can feel myself running out of steam
and not able to hold the stance, and I'm
getting sloppier and sloppier.
>> That's why we will use the staff to develop
our leg strength and our core by
setting the staff here.
>> MARIO: That's it. That's all you're doing.
>> Like this.
>> MARIO: You're pivoting, but you're kind of pushing.
>> Oh my goodness.
>> You're still driving power from the ground
right here, and going pfoo [whooshing].
>> With your back straight.
>> Yes.
>> And then balancing it for various periods of time.
Not bad.
>> You want to try this one? >> What are you doing?
No.
>> I'm strengthening my core.
>> Are you getting punished?
What did you do wrong?
>> [chuckling] I'm becoming strong sir. Join me.
>> What what what.
>> Double shoulder width apart.
>> Oh god.
>> Sit down till your thighs are flat, and then
balance the staff here.
>> Laoshi, this sucks.
>> Back straight. >> Already.
>> Back straight.
>> If I poop myself, make sure
the camera are rolling, all right.
[Brian laughing]
Oh Lord.
>> It hits you pretty [speech drowned out by moaning]
doesn't it?
>> I'm going to need some orange slices.
[Brian laughing]
Oh god.
All right.
>> So that's one method we use to develop our core strength,
to be able to generate the power
that we need when we do this.
>> This is what my doctor was talking about.
Core strength.
>> So let's go over some basic blocking techniques.
So again we're going to utilize [speaks in foreign language]
for this, so say somebody is coming in
swinging at your head.
You're just going to go like that,
and then like that.
Or you can do this in a retreat as well.
Mario is going to swing at my head.
So I go like that, then again.
>> So we learned a little bit at the
Historical Weapons Guild about the difference
between stepping in versus
stepping back.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> How present are you in the distance
between your opponent are you at all times?
>> It just depends on you know what you want to do.
So if I step in to a swing, I'm taking the power away.
So if he swings, I step in like this.
Then I can come down. Sorry.
Then I can come down like that on top of the head,
or I can come underneath here, and then follow up here.
This is just purely defensive.
If we're moving backwards, he's pressing the attack,
but at some point I want to come forward.
Part of that's the spin too.
So if he attacks me, swing again, here, I come here,
I use this end to come down like this, and then I hit here.
So you see how the swing works.
>> Oh yeah. It's just a derivation of what we were doing.
>> Yes. Basically the spin is just a series
of blocks and strikes.
One person can be the attacker.
>> Okay.
>> The other person can just do blocking.
>> Do you have any really smelly purple body armor?
[laughing]
>> That's been a hallmark of our previous
Okay, so I'll slow-motion, so
>> Good.
>> And then you complete. Up. >> Yes
>> Like that >> That's good
>> But it's all--
>> Try to shove the staff down more out of the way.
>> More of the spin?
>> Yes yes yes.
>> Yeah. Okay.
So bam. Out of the way.
>> There you go. And then come over the top.
>> Hut.
>> Oh heck.
What was one move becomes two moves.
Like down, and crack.
>> Hut.
>> Okay. Okay. All right. All right.
>> Okay.
>> Hut.
>> Like that.
Should chest be chest-to-chest, or should you be
kind of side-saddle.
>> You should be giving him as little body
as possible as a target.
>> Oh, yes.
>> There you go.
>> Yes.
>> Hut.
>> Oh, oh [speech drowned out by laughing]
I didn't expect that. I didn't know what to do with that.
How would you block against that strike?
>> I'd step in.
>> Yeah.
>> And down like that, and then I could
move that out of the way, come around and hit there.
Like that. And then I could follow up to the knee.
>> So much like we learned in
Austin Historical Weapons Guild,
you're just guiding your enemy's weapon
slightly out of the way, so that you can get in
and nail them.
>> It really is like a game of chess. Of feints.
Of getting into somebody else's like
I'm talking like I know what's going on.
I don't know what's going on.
>> You're right, it is a game of feints
because I can use that as a feint to come around
here like this, and then come down like that.
>> But I got it. You see that though.
[laughing]
>> He did. He's learning good.
>> He looked away. See that's our thing. That's our thing.
>> The secret is >> Brian asked a question
I hit you in the head.
>> The students >> All you need
>> become the masters >> is three cameras,
a soundman, a co-host,
and a successful YouTube channel,
and you can take down a master.
>> I'm pretty sure the temple is mine now.
Right? That's the rules.
>> Okay.
>> JENNIFER: Now you have to challenge me.
>> Okay. Good luck.
>> It was his idea.
>> So we learned how spinning is a form of both
blocking and attacking at the same time.
We learned how striking originates from the core
from the hip, and you go straight in.
>> That's correct.
>> We learned how the same moves of the spin
can be both a block and then a strike.
You were doing some fancy like
double second tertiary moves there.
>> Yes. So the move that I just did stems off the spin.
We come here like this, we turn, we switch,
and then come around.
One, two, and then
[staff cracking]
slam down onto the ground.
>> If I didn't know better, it sounds like
you're saying that there's more to learn
than in a 20 minute lesson on a YouTube tutorial.
>> Oh yes.
>> If people want to learn right here in Austin,
where should they come out.
>> They can come to us at 10401 Anderson Mill Road,
Shaolin Temple Cultural Center,
or internationalshaolinaustin.com.
>> I'm already sore, and I thought that I
would be in pretty good shape from
all the Kung-Fu movies I've watched.
>> Like dude, let's go back to this contest
is all I'm saying.
I've got you on this one.
>> SCOTT: Who can last the longest?
>> Oh, it's Brian. Oh it's Mario.
>> If Mario's in the competition.
>> Mario's already out in the warp zone or whatever.
He's just gone.
>> SCOTT: It's only been 25 seconds.
[triumphant chuckling]
>> No shame.
>> Brian's--
>> SCOTT: 30 seconds
>> Oh I've got you man. Ready to go.
>> I think Brian's going to beat me because
>> What >> my staff is falling
[Brian laughing]
>> Oh my god. Do you want me to play guitar
while I'm doing it as well?
[laughing]
>> Brian, the new hotness has arrived.
>> Oh my god, I don't know how to feel.
I fell in love with my E-50's, but now the E-25's are out.
[Jason humming]
Guys, how are we doing?
Look at that little pill.
They're just so sleek. I love that it fits in the pocket.
Even better, six hours of non-stop play time.
You get to recharge it multiple times in the case.
You get 24 hours out of this little tiny pill
that stays in your pocket.
>> Usually when I'm trying to sync the Bluetooth
with something, it's hold down this button
and hold down this button.
Okay, wait. Nope. Is it syncing?
Wait. Listen. Listen. Okay.
Redo my router. Stand and hold your arms out
and recite the Gettysburg Address,
and okay, now your Bluetooth is paired.
This is so easy. Not with this.
>> It is so so easy, and on top of that
I love the fact that it doesn't overdo it
on noise cancellation.
You pick your own side of the silicone plugs.
You decide how much of the outside world
you want to have go away.
>> So good. And they're so affordable.
I love that they are reasonably priced.
I thought this was something only for fancy people.
>> Dude, I love the fact that it's not an outward statement
of what kind of person you are.
I love the fact that it's like, "You know what I value?
I value good sound, and not wasting money."
The only thing I value more is getting 15% off
by going to buyraycon.com/rogue.
>> I like that I can ignore people in public.
[giggling]
>> Every so often I look around to see what people
are saying about the Modern Rogue.
One of my favorite things that I found
was a comment in the wild on Reddit
of somebody just unironically talking about how
yeah no Raycons are freaking great. Use this promo code.
I'm not affiliated with these guys.
And I was just like, "Yes, you made me so happy."
Thank you anonymous redditer.
>> Buyraycon.com/rogue
>> Going to try it?
>> Uh. No.
>> Okay.
>> We're good. No no no.
♪ Because I'm a Modern Rogue ♪
[laughing]
>> Not yet.
>> Okay. Okay.
>> Aaaaah. Oooooh.
>> You messed with his mojo man.
♪ Because I'm a Modern Rogue ♪
[laughing]
>> Congratulations.