On Fri, 5 Nov 1999, Michael Audette wrote:

> I never saw a chimp do progressive weight lifting.

That's probably true, but we are not chimps.  We come from a long
line of *bipedal* primates, for whom it is important to be able
to lift things with both arms and carry them for significant
distances.  If I kill a boar but can't carry it, or a significant
part of it, back to my family or clan, then I am at a
disadvantage in comparison to the brawnier guy who can do it.

> All movements in
> marshal arts, mimic animals.

So tell me, how often have you witnessed chimps imitating the
movements of cranes, praying mantises, or dragons?  When have you
seen a chimp executing a rising block or roundhouse kick?

For a human to imitate the fighting moves of other animals is
exactly as natural as it is for humans to imitate the eating
habits of other animals, such as cows.

Don't misunderstand me.  I appreciate the martial arts, and
trained actively until fairly recently.  I *like* karate, but in
any case I have no interest in restricting my activities to what
can in some sense be considered "paleo."

Todd Moody
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