Kung Fu Fighting

[MrBump]

Just spent a long weekend on our annual Wing Chun summer camp, over at Loughton in Essex.

Absolutely fantastic.  Friday through to Sunday, residential, two 2 hour sessions per day, plus individual training in between the sessions and in the evening, plus beers and Kung Fu flicks!

Feel totally re-energised!

Mark.

[Fourth Feline]

Sounds great Mark !  :)

If finances were better, I would have liked to study either Wing Chun, or Krav Maga in the months ahead. I studied Shotokan many, many years ago - and now am using / enjoying my long term 'hobby' of weighlifting ( that is functional strength at minimum body mass, not 'Bodybuilding ) - and Kettlebell training, to get back in top shape. I once had the chance to watch and interact with Wing Chun practitioners - and liked the efficiency / pragmatism of sticking hands, trapping - and general close up work.

However, now local clubs are either too many bus rides away, and / or payable by £50 monthly direct debit - it looks like weighlifting, aerobic/ anerobic kettlebell conditioning ( the materials and knowledge for which I already have ) - and revision of previous skills, will have to be the way to go.

I did feel enthused by your post though, as yours is an art that fascinates me, and it's nice to hear of our 'other' hobbies and passions on the forum.

Keep up the good work !  :D

[Nadz1lla]

Damnit I REALLY need a well paid job! Used to love studying Chang Chuan (Long Fist) under my old Sifu. He also practised Northern Mantis too, which I think would have been fun to learn (love the animal styles!). But doing real martial arts AND watching movies about it all weekend? HEAVEN!  :lol:

[gwEm]

Sounds great Mark !  :)

Sounds to me more like it was a little bit frightening

[Philly Q]

Sounds great Mark !  :)

Sounds to me more like it was a little bit frightening

 :lol:

I've always had a bit of a fancy for learning a martial art, but (a) it looks difficult (b) it's time-consuming and (c) they never seem to have beginners' classes.*


(* I know they always say "beginners welcome" but that means you have to into this completely intimidating environment and try to keep up with a load of big macho thugs so you feel completely humiliated after about 3 seconds.  I'd want to go there with 5 or 6 other total-noob weedy nerds, at least one of whom is even punier than me.... )

[MrBump]

I guess it can get a little expensive, but then I rarely go out, and my only other outlet is the guitar (another drain on resources!!!)

PQ - if you REALLY want to give it a go, most decent WC schools won't intimidate you.  I guess that there are nutters around in WC, but I'm sure I could recommend a kwoon near you...  The style was invented by a woman, so the whole macho thing shouldn't really come into it.

Mark.

[Sifu Ben]

Most large clubs will have a beginners class. If they don't, there's no need to feel intimidated, there's also no need to try to keep up. No-one's going to expect you to perform at the same level or intensity as someone who's been doing it for years (if they do, it's not a good club).
It's always tricky for martial arts instructors, as it's difficult to offer a perfect program unless you've got 100 plus students, and if you've got 100 plus students, some people will be put off because it's a large school and they equate successful with overly commercial. It really is a no win situation.

[Philly Q]

Thanks guys, but I'm a bit too old and knackered to take up anything so strenuous now.

I did actually try WC a long time (20-odd years) ago but it was a tiny little class with just me, one other young kid and the teacher.  I was hopeless.  But anyway, the guy gave up when he eventually realised the class wasn't going to get any bigger.

[Fourth Feline]

Sounds great Mark !  :)

Sounds to me more like it was a little bit frightening

 :lol: Top 1970's reference there gwEm ;  nice one ...  :)

[ToneMonkey]

Used to love studying Chang Chuan (Long Fist)

Does that come with noodles?

I used to watch them practicing Kung Fu at uni as my mate did.  Too much waving about of the arms and looking like a tit for me. :lol:

I used to study traditional "just kick them in the nuts until they stop moving" karate (Wado Ryu).  They came round knocking on doors the other week to get new recruits.  I was going to do it until they said it was no contact sparing.  Where's the fun in that?  Semi contact is a bear minimum requirement.  I'd love to get back into it, but don't think the knees could take the punishment (blocking a kick with one of them when I was younger did quiet a lot of damage and they were already shot by about the age of 12 anyway)

[Davey]

i got a week long iaido seminar next week.. should be fun

[38thBeatle]

I think Philly expressed exactly my views. I do admire martial artists because of the skill and discipline. I'd be scared of being beaten up by a ten year old. 

[Mr. Air]

I practiced Aikido for a short while when I was a little kid. Today I can't remember anything of it.

Now days I'm enjoying kickboxing. I trained at a small club where we did a mix of kick and thaiboxing and even though it was supposed to just be excercise and nothing serious I ended up at the class which trained for fights in the ring.

Unfortunately I had to leave the club, but fortunately it was because i got a job in another town. They got a kickboxing club too and I hope I can find the time to begin again.