For those of you who don’t know who I am I used to post under the name Hua Lin Laoshi. For the record I am not a representative of the Wah Lum organization nor do I teach the Wah Lum system.
A serious back problem has reached the point where I can no longer cover it up and it’s derailed my training. I have not kept up my Wah Lum membership so I guess I’m officially out of the organization.
However I will still answer any questions I can about the school and the style just as long as everyone realizes I do not speak for Master Chan or the Temple.
My time spent at the Wah Lum Temple in Orlando was a positive one and I learned a lot while I was there. I made some friends and got to do things I probably would not have done otherwise.
Contrary to the feelings of some ex-students I went there with previous knowledge and training and with my eyes wide open. I feel I got what I wanted and although I would prefer some things a little different overall I’m satisified.
Anyone wishing to discuss any of it can post here, send me a pm or email me at hualinmantis@yahoo.com. I don’t know much but hopefully I can contribute something to these discussions..
David,
Sorry to hear about the back problems.
My L4 and L5 are deteriorating. It stinks to not be able to do the things I used to do. So, I can feel ya!
Richard
The worst part about it is no waist power. Movement is not limited but it’s painful plus my posture and alignment is off. Not good for Kung Fu.
I’m basically unemployed, no money, no medical insurance so I’m still trying for figure out how I’m going to correct it. It’s progressive. I was told about 8 years ago that it would keep getting worse until I was in constant pain and unable to stand or do anything.
Of course I ignored all that and just trained my butt off. Actually there are multiple reasons for not addressing it at the time. I covered it up as long as I could and about a year and a half ago I could barely get off the couch and couldn’t get through the few feelance jobs I do.
Anyhow, I think I’m going to go back on a Yoga routine. I tried to keep the Tai Chi going but even that hurts. Sitting around hoping to heal hasn’t helped and just made me lazy and out of shape.
Bummer about your back, I know this pain ever so well. Deep tissue massage keeps me going, but of course that costs money. So have you ever thought about getting back in the work force? It could help you with this back problem. I reflect back on something my Grandma told me when I was young. “you have everything if you have your health”, I think about that a lot.
I to had some good times at the Temple, trained and met some great people. Man, there use to be some hot ladies training there back in the day. Me and 18 Elders were ate up with testosterone, so it was pure torture.
Gee,
Perhaps we should get together and form a new style of Praying Mantis Kung Fu designed for crippled, old geezers like ourselves.
Some of the patterns could be called:
Praying Mantis Throws Out its Back
Praying Mantis Catches Arthritis
Praying Mantis Wheezes Out What Little is Left of its Qi
Thanks for the support guys, I’ll figure something out. I’m not the type to go to doctors anyhow (which unfortunately got me where I am now). I just turned 52 last week and I’ve been to a doctor about 4 or 5 times my entire life. Two were due to motorcycle accidents and two were from my back problem.
I rarely get sick and when I do I treat it with vitamins and herbs (occassionally antibiotics if it’s bad) and move on. I’m the type to stitch my own cuts (actually I super glue them). Most doctors seem to be quacks that just take your money and operations are last resort efforts which I prefer to avoid. It’s possible I may have to adjust my beliefs to accomodate aging.
I just need to find the right pattern to undue what’s been done.
Oh and Bob, we all push the wrong buttons. Subservience is not a martial attribute.
[QUOTE=Yao Sing;705148]Most doctors seem to be quacks that just take your money and operations are last resort efforts which I prefer to avoid. It’s possible I may have to adjust my beliefs to accomodate aging.[/QUOTE]
It is true that a lot of doctors have no business being in the medical profession but please don’t write off modern medicine as a whole.
It’s possible that something may be done to improve your quality of life.
Do you know what is wrong? Have you had x-rays or an MRI?
I’ve been x-rayed and spent a year with a chiropractor that just took the little money I had. The disc is compressed but not ruptured yet although it’s pinching a nerve and I’m in constant pain. Sometimes it runs all the way down my leg. It’s twisted in 2 different ways.
I don’t have a job, I do some freelance computer work plus work in the TV/film industry. Mostly background in commercials and marketing spots for the attractions.
I didn’t want to say but I couldn’t get through a day of work without pain killers. Without them my limit on my feet or sitting is less than an hour plus the distraction that comes with constant pain.
The job situation is bleak for a number of reasons. Like I said, I’ll figure something out. My life has been a constant cycle of ups and downs. I’m at a low period right now but I know from experience it won’t last.
I’m one of those guys that just flips through life doing whatever interests me at the moment. Every obstacle provides an alternate route. I’ll tell you all about the success story when i get there.
To quote the Black Night “It’s just a flesh wound”
Be careful with the stretching. Stabilization of your spine is something you should actively pursue. I was doing well with a hyperextension machine and abdominal exercises. My back pain did not flare up until I tried stretching last week. Unfortunately, an aspect of the pain I now have is chi trying to push through a point. The combination hurts like heck.
I’m basically unemployed, no money, no medical insurance so I’m still trying for figure out how I’m going to correct it. It’s progressive. I was told about 8 years ago that it would keep getting worse until I was in constant pain and unable to stand or do anything.
[/QUOTE]
Sorry to hear about the health problems. This is maybe not the right place for this, but when I read those words I can’t hold back.
It is an outright shame that the richest country in the world cannot (or better certain groups are not willing to) offer its citizens a basic, comprehensive health care! In most European countries you would certainly not be in this situation. Although neoliberals keep attacking this institution here too, I do hope and I am rather confident that they will not succeed in scraping it completely.
Sorry for the off topic and get better soon.
Hey guys,
Don’t forget that the Old Mantis Form also has “Mantis Blows out its knees” and “Mantis gets a prostate exam”. I messed up my MCL on my knee. The doctor could move my foot about 20-25 degrees to the side. It was a sunday night when I got injured. Because we didn’t have insurance in my job, I had to go to work and teach class on freaking crutches and military issued 800 mg ibuprofren. Those things are awesome although I’ve been told they do nothing for back injuries. Good luck Yao Sing, my sympathies brother to you and all the other injured fighters out there.
Israel, man sorry to hear about your injury, how did you do it? Or did you see it coming? I know how long you were in WL and there is a history of knee problems there.
Christoph, I have this conversation with my kf brother all the time. We mostly here about the medical coverage in Taiwan, same though, pretty much FREE. This is absolutely ridiculous how the American public is ripped off from the medical/insurance field. You ought to see how much comes out of my pay check each pay period, sickens me.
[QUOTE=mantid1;705511]If I were that upset with the way things are in the US I would just go to one of the wonderful countries you speak of.
Im sure if the US did not back Taiwan you it would have even better health care when the Chinese take over.
I here Candadian health care is wonderful…NOT.
Take care[/QUOTE]
Actually, I’ve heard many good things about Canadian health care. I’m sure it depends on where you are at and what the condition is.
The fact is, health care in this country is a mess. But I’m not sure if it can be fixed. Look at Social Security for crying out loud. Now there is a system that has never worked. And here I am paying into it every two weeks. I’m sure that I will never see a dime of that money.
Back on topic, a friend of mines sister has back problems. They first started from a snowboarding accident. There were times when she couldn’t even move. In pain all the time just like you described. Since then, she has had two surgeries, I believe, and is now up and working and doing fine.
Me and 18 Elders were ate up with testosterone, so it was pure torture.
