"Who cares about china anyway? What the hell do they know about kung fu? After the cultural rev, they were left with slops.
Want kung fu? Go to Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada or California. Its all about the pacific rim, china made wushu. And then collected the heartless basics of random styles"
-Stacey
Now, I have wanted to train in China for ages. First I was going to a place in Siping (too expensive), then a private school near Shaolin (disappeared off the face off the earth) then Richard Russels master (too expensive). Now, the options I’ve got are:
The Wushu Guan. I don’t really want to go there, the rate domestic Chinese learn at will be too slow for me to really gain anything after a couple of months. So what I need is a private school at the right price. And then I read the above, and whilst I think it is a bit strong, do you think maybe I would be better off widening my net? I would really prefer to learn in China or Hong Kong, maybe Taiwan, for the whole cultural experince deal.
Actually, come to think of it, Hong Kong would be cool, as I was born there (old man in the Army) but left when I was 3 months old. Plus then I’d have the night life as well.
i’d certainly say don’t limit yourself to China , but go where you find the best school/style/sifu etc. for you.
it’s also very true IMO that there a great masters outside of China (who fled cultural rev. etc.), and if you go to china you run the risk of winding up in a “tourist trap” school.
on the other hand i also think there’s still good kung fu in china too (if you can find it).I’ve been to china many times and enjoyed it (inc;. on a cultural level as you said)
I think as long as you don’t have your expectations too high you can enjoy/benefit from it where ever you go
first off, don’t listen to anything stacey says. he’s a guy pretending to be a woman who likes to talk out of his a$$ allot.
fish brings up a good point though. if you are unframiliar with the country, i think it would be mighty hard to find a place in china that isn’t tourist-fu. you need a buddy there you who’s mas opinions you can trust.
good luck though man . .. . i think allot of us have wanted to train in china at one point or another . .. kinda feel like your going to its roots .. and it’s cool that you are doing something to make a reality of it.
But that’s kind of what I don’t want to do. I would ideally like to learn in the ‘correct’ cultural context. Plus I’ll be in South East Asia anyway so it kind of seems like a waste not to do it, seeing as how obsessed I am with CMA. I could probably go to London and find a Master.
Also, training is cheaper in China, both the actual instruction and the accomodation/food while I’m there. Two months in San Fran’ll cost a hell of a lot more than two months in a Chinese town.
Oh, and did I mention I don’t mind what style I learn?
Dood.. hong kong! If you can find a decent school(good luck hah!), you got the kungfu, the nightlife and fine babes, and city! Hotdang! You cant beat that! Well if you fail in finding a decent school, at least you got the hotbabe nightlife part
