Martial Arts obsession

Wai Jia: The Kung Fu Forum Kung Fu Forum
21

"other kids would get punished by not being able to go out with friends, i would be punished by not being allowed to train…it was horific!!! martial arts was my life, i spoke about it day and night, it still is my life now, but not as much. "

same. indeed it got to a point in wing chun a few years back that i was banned from going all the way to covent garden in the centre of london to austin goh’s everyday (1hr journey there, 1 hr back, 1:30 long lesson, and it was late, and we lived in a ****e area) and my grades went downhill and all i did was practice and practice and practice… tehy stopped me from going… it was costing $£$£$ too cos of teh train journey everyday… we didn’t have much moolah then.

then i started at a place closer, a kamon branch, and they kept stopping me from going, and it got to a point where it was like, if you get A’s then you can go… but i was practicing (and other stuff was on top of me too) and stuff and troubles at home so they kept banning me going to kung fu… man i could be amazing now if i had been going consistently for all that time. bah!

now i have my own place and that’s in the past, i can do what the FECK i want :slight_smile:

22

see!! eventually things do work out!! lol

But i dont like to dwell on what couldve happened and afterall, things do happen for a reason (thats what i think anyway)

Tae Li;)

But exactly! now we can train 24hours a day seven days a week if we wanted to… I declare myself in complete control mode.. hehe

23

Having taken friday’s advice (thanx mate) I can now reply to thread properly. :cool:
Its easy to become obsessed with gongfu, my school marks used to suffer when I got seriously into it. But I guess if you have your priorities set firmly, it shouldn’t really become too much of a problem.

24

Hi.

I have always succesfully resisted becoming obsessed with MA or anything else in my Life.
For me Priorities are as follows:
1.) Family
2.) Work
3.) MA and other Hobbies.

Why do I place Work & Family before MA.
Simple, Work pays for my MA training and other things I need in life.
Family is there to support me.
Regardles if I loose MA or my Job my Family is still there to support me.

Also I know it is easier finding a new Dojo/Kwoon/Dojang than a good Job and a new Family/Friends.
A good Fighter/MA will value his MA the highest, a successful MA knows that MA is only one aspect of Life but it can be used to enhance the other aspects.

Just my 2 Cents worth.

25

hello,
my name is paul, and I’m a wing chun addict.

I train for 4 hours, about 3(some times 4) times a week. So it pretty much leaves me waisted, so I can spend my other time not completly fucused on WC. But every once in a while I don’t get a my WC fix because I’m busy with school or somthing, and it just leaves me messed up the next day, all I do is WC, even at school, everywhere. I sit in class consintrating on relaxing, yet keeping my structure, straight spine and what not, “forword energy”, and even start going through the from, or working on technique intill some one starts to notice…

26

I have to disagree with you red fists. A good job may be replaceable and I’ll agree with the family thing, but a good school and a good teacher are not always easy to come by. In fact I would put that up with family. IT is almost irreplaceable.

As for ego, he’s an idiot. Obviously no humility and no respect. Proplably trains at a Mcdojo or a Temple Kung Fu.

27

Tri2bmt.

Agree and disagree with you. But it really depends on your current school and style.

I am lucky that I got a few Kwoons of my style in my greater neighbourhood, so even if my Sifu died (pray she does not) I could till study in my style under a Sifu I know and that knows me.
Plus, sijo will also still be there.

So, yes in MY sitaution it is easier for me to find another Kwoon.
Even if my Style died totally, I would still have access to a lot of other high level Kwoons in Tokyo.

One of the reasons why I said finding a new Kwoon is easier as being part of a MA, another opening should be already known or become known soon enough.
Many Sifu do introduce their students to other Sifu from same style or other styles.

Have a good one.

28

I agree on tri on this, It is really hard to find a good master and a good school. I have been shopping around a few years back and I have seen people teaching eagle claw in two ways. First they teach you the form and tell you that it is nothing but performance and then they teach you the fighitng part. Which is basically kickboxing.

And I have seen much worse. I have seen a master who STATES that CMA is NOTHING BUT health and exercise with no fighting value behind them whatsoever.

I have seen masters which are excellent fighters. But have absolutely no idea about the principles and theories behind the style. It is almost as if they trained MA on a face value. And tries to induce that kind of attitude of “don’t bother with the research and principles, just focus on fighting” into the students.

It took me really long to find a decent master.

29

Hi.

Getting back on track with “Obsession in MA”.
I think a good Sifu should prevent his Students from becoming obsessed and thus neglecting other aspects of his Life.

I have seen it many a times in multiple styles and training places.
Newbie joins up and trains his butt off, every single minute of his Life is dedicated to MA.
After 3~4 yrs he/she quits as the reality train finally railroaded him/her.

He/She now has spend years on doing MA, his/her Job prospects look bleaker than before he/she started, the GF/BF or Wife/Husband might have given him the choice, University grades are down,
Kids started to arrive, etc the list goes on.

So now we good a Student that might be top of his class, and just disappears. ( JMA after getting Shodan). I think we have all seen this.

So I think one of the repsonsibilities of a good Sifu is to make sure that his Students don’t neglect their Life outside the Kwoon.

Just some thoughts.

30

red fists

your new icon looks cool

31

Re: red fists

Originally posted by neito
your new icon looks cool

Thanks.

Just glad the Chinese Characters can still be deciphered at that size.

32

Am i obsessed with Kung fu???

1 I do a course in it and practice for a minimum of 3-4 hours a day and usualy more.

2 I have very few friends left as i never have anything other than kung fu to talk about.

3 The girl im dating obviously thinks im a little insane and the weapons on my bedroom door give her the creeps.

4 Im not working at the moment but im looking for a job and the my compleate wish list includes - hours that still let me attend class.

5 Old people in Chinatown are starting to recognise me.

6 My master knows EVERYONE so most of my contacts are now also in the kung fu world.

7 Several of my better friends are kung fu instructors

8 Ive never learnt any chinese formaly but im picking it up at a rate of knots.

9 I have Yum Cha several times a week with other students and my sifu.

10 People KEEP thinking i speak chinese dispite obviously being a westener. I get constant questions IN Chinese from Chinese tourists and they still look supprised when i motion i dont understand them.

11 My best friend…
I drive an hour to go and see him and then when i do we spend the rest of the day belting each other up.

12 When i play fighting games on PS2 i get angry becouse i cant simply enter the game and fight the way ‘I’ would.

13 I still answer the posts by trolls

14 The majority of the people i hang out with are Chinese and i spend most of my time in Chinatown. Im becomming an egg :frowning:

15 I read profiles of anyone i like a comment of and then spend the rest of the day wondering how they would fight.

16 I come here everyday and usualy several times, for some reason i seem to think if i dont check the boards every few hours the world may come to an end.

17 I hit EVERYTHING, as i walk along i punch walls, poles, signs, walk signals, lamp posts, trees - if its in my path it will proberly cop a hit. Ive even learnt to do it so hardly anyone notices :rolleyes:

18 I look around at my surroundings and try and work out Jacky Chan inspired stunts i could pull off.

19 I walk strait though the middle of large groups of guys - i simply dont care anymore:(

20 I seem to be constantly flexing my forearms, when im not making tiger claws im spinning my wrists around.

21 I have loads of weapons in my room, i found out today this is NOT a way to impress women :frowning:

22 My dogs are both scared of me and are sick of being ‘sparred’

23 All the movies I watch are Chinese and i have over 30 HK
action films on DVD:D

24 Ive broken all of the punching bags ive ever owned, the last one tore in half after a side kick… pffft knew i should have got leather:rolleyes:

25 I have gotten to number 25 and could easily keep going…
For eg
My martial arts book collection
My collection of ornamental dragons
My total inbility to hold a converstation with someone without at some point relating it to kung fu.
The fact i seem to now enjoy being hit
I like watching old men move slowly

What do you guys recon, am I obsessed?

33

er…yes

You know, before this minute, I thought I was obsessed. Now I know what it means to be obsessed.

Although I could apply most of what you have said onto my own life, I bow down to you jon. For you have gone way beyond my league. You should either see disiples following your devotion or a doctor.

But there is something I have done which I see you have not. I have avoided a romantic relationship all my life because i know it will take up the valuable training time I need. I have avoided video games, parties, celebrations, etc too for the same reason.

Your humble servent

Chinwoo-er

34

BALANCE… Danielson… BALANCE
(insert yelling Pat Morita voice)

35

Iim jealous…my obsession has become quite pathetic.. BUT NO ONE beats my obsession with Jet Li, and EVERYONE on this forum knows that… so take that!!!

plus, my so called on again off again Boyfriend is as Chinese as they get cos he is from HK, but in aust now. plus im taking mandorin class at uni…plus i can use chopsticks…ok thats a dumb one but still, its a skill you know…for a westerner.

Tae Li;)

36

Tae Li
“BUT NO ONE beats my obsession with Jet Li, and EVERYONE on this forum knows that… so take that!!!”

  • He is all yours :slight_smile:
    Leave me Han_Jing and ill be happy :slight_smile:

“my so called on again off again Boyfriend is as Chinese as they get cos he is from HK”

  • Hehe that makes him a Honky not a Chinese;) Does he wear heaps of Jag and CK too:p

“plus im taking mandorin class at uni”

  • You are lucky :frowning: Ive tried before but i was young and didnt have the attension span. Starting to need it, my sifus English is not exactly first rate.

"plus i can use chopsticks…ok thats a dumb one but still, its a skill you know…for a westerner. "

  • lol, im developing the full bowl to mouth shovel rice effect like a real Chinese… Ive even eaten a chickens foot… A CHICKENS FOOT I TELL YA!!!
    Im also trying to figure out how to fight using chopsticks:)

Next time you see me i will proberly be dressed in silk carrying a sword and talking like a taoist :rolleyes: Not much a change really:p

Gawd i need help!

Least the new girl likes my forearms i guess:D

37

need help

Jon,

You truely live your life like a B grade Shaw Brothers movie coming to life. You’ve even got a sifu who speaks very bad english. Why not ask him / her to take english lessons rather than you study chinese, or mime in chinese but speak in english.

Do you relate well to the main character in the movie Kung Pow or better still the fighting cow?

38

Jon: have you ever tried ducks feet? or baby octopus?
Very Nice! :slight_smile:

Ego: how can you ‘mime in Chinese’:confused:

david

39

Martial arts is a lifstyle not a sport, you can’t get too obsessed you do what you have to do, and if people don’t understand that then too bad for them, all my friends and family know that that is my life and they will never try to hinder it in every way, I would give up all my material possesions and live in the forest if it was requiered of me, and I really hope that I am not the last one that understands this. We need to keep the spirit alive and not let it die. This is our job to keep at least one thing just like it was. There is a reason it was so strict in the old days and now everyone trys to change everything in martial arts, that is why real harcore people like the stereotypical old-guy-in-the-park probably will never reaveal that he trains because he knows what will happen to the art if he trains anyone other than his children and grandchildren. The world makes a industry out of whatever they come across. I mean how many of you teachers here teach for free, every time I come across someone who knows something they always want to charge me and that shows what has happend to the art forms.

40

Nightair, while I admire your devotion and spirit, I find it rather hard for me to believe in the practicality of what you are talking about. I agree to basically all the ideals you have said. but at the end of the day, we are still living in a civilized ( acutally, “modern” would be a better word ) world. And in this world, we still need to put food on the table, roof over our head and clothes on our body. And I really don’t see going out and living in the woods all alone will be valid unless you have a goldmine to support you.

True, given the availiable conditions, I have no doubt that i will do the same, but reality stands that it is not possible.

Which lead me back to my original question. What place would you put MA ? On a practical level. Not an ideal level. To be honest and with utmost respect, I really doubt that you will be willing to give up ALL you material poccessions as this in itself will stop you from your common daily life. If you don’t have the fundamentals of a surviving being, there is not much point to talk about martial arts. For one cannot train if one is not fed and warm.