h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A600085

This disappeared. Rather appropriate. But it's back now.

H.

Hi, Hoovooloo!

An interesting article and I like the links. However I am left wanting more.

I am also interested in learning about where it is taught.

This entry is just as good as it was last time I saw it in peer review. Nice to see you back Hoovooloo!

ZSF! No doubt Hoovooloo will put me right on this one, but I would guess it's a key subject in the School of Hard Knocks

yeeeha

it's back, and YOU are back

As an exponent of T'ai Chi and small time teacher, I have a reasonable understanding of its principles (although I am *very* far from perfect), however I would still like to know more about Run-Lak Fekh, which I can't get a grasp on. I would like to know a little more.

PS: Is it just a coincidence that it sounds like 'Run like f***'?

On closer examination, the Sensei's name can be read as 'Got to go now' . Like it! Slow to catch on!

Hiya!

Yes it's back

Will we have to wait a week for this to be rec'd? I'd rec it, but I'm not a scout

Stay ,
WD

I would reccomend it right now, except for the fact that I think it encourages people to rely on fleet-footedness as the only sound means of self defense... when your attacker runs faster than you do, then you'd better have some other tricks up your sleeve.. I also don't care for the bit about martial arts not being useful in real confrontations because it can't adapt to the reality. Utter rubbish. If you learn to add by just saying 2+2=4 then when asked what is 2+3 you will stumped...this is because you haven't learned to add you've only learned to repeat something...does this mean that if you need to add 2 and 2 the answer won't be 4? The idea is to learn the whole art and science of defense. Here is a simple test: Who would you rather escort your dear old mum through a bad part of town? a fast runner, or a skilled martial artist? Hope you can keep up, mummsy

You have a point - this is about *self* defence rather than defending anyone else though I wouldn't put bets on not being outrun by 'mummsy'. (If she ever heard me call her that I'd need all the martial arts there are.)

As to other martial arts being of little practical help, the entry says some critics say this, not that it is so. Also that this is due to methods of teaching rather than the principles of the arts themselves. Which I suspect is a fair point.

Whether it works might depend how good your 'all seeing eye' is, how much of a start you get, and how much you've practised your technique (running ), just like any other martial art.

If you can take to heels it seems the better option, afterall you don't know your attacker isn't better at martial arts than you are, anymore than you know whether he/she is a faster runner. Nor do you know if she/he is armed.

I like this entry, its a good defense option to consider and deserves a place in the guide, as I said on its original peer review thread.

It's back!

I heartily recommend this entry for inclusion in the edited guide.

yes!

To Harim,

Ever heard of using humour to make a valid point?

The point is valid, the humour is funny. This article is well written, and it's well past time it was in the Guide. Goodness me, I wrote my Tai Chi article on the strength of this article, and my article has been recommended!

THE ULTIMATE MARTIAL ART DESERVES TO BE IN THE GUIDE !!

Whoa! I hear you Geoff!


*scurries off to find out more about the threshold of herring...*

Stay ,
WD

you might like to mention that the most well known exponent of this art is rincewind the wizard in terry pratchet's discworld novels. a significant part of his character is based on it.

Good to see you, Hoovooloo, and also good to see this article back in place.. Both were sorely missed!

BTW, did you ever hear of an equivalent Western martial art, called, I believe,

G'it th' heyall outta Dodge...

I agree that it is better to run when you can..and yes I have heard of using humor to make a point....

The way it was explained to me is that there are three levels of self-defense, and you always use the lowest level that any situation will allow. The first level is escape...when you can you always should...the second level is control... if you can't get away then you attempt to control the attacker... the third level is destroy... if you cannot get away and you cannot safely control your attacker, you are left with no choice but to use damaging force.

I never said I didn't like this entry, in fact I said I would have chosen it right then if it wasn't for one point...this is not stopping anyone else from picking it... I am just picking something else...is that OK with you?

Fine with me. I was joking, BTW, hence I used a smiley.

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'Peer Review' to 'The Ultimate Martial Art'.

This thread has been moved out of the Peer Review Forum because your entry has now been recommended for the Edited Guide.

You can find out what will happen to your entry here: http://www.h2g2.com/SubEditors-Process

Congratulations!

All Right!

Congrats to Hoovooloo.

I can't stop smiling - this is truly a great day for the Guide!

Congrats H!



Stay ,
WD

Absolutely! The Guide needs this one.

Congratulations, Hoovooloo!