to get a different subject on here whats the most important thing to you about learning your art?
what did you start
why did you stay
what part do you like about it
what parts dont you like
- I started with tcma in my youth.
- I enjoyed it, I stayed because I was enjoying doing it.
- I like the abilities acquired and I like when the training pays off and shows.
- I don’t like the face games in tcma and the political or personal deceptions are low.
what did you start
TCMA, Kung Kuen.
why did you stay
DIdn’t, because of moving to a different country ended up doing karate, judo, boxing and wrestling, then moved back to Canada and did TKD, kenjutsu, Judo and FMA.
Finally came back to TCMA with WC, then returned to Hung Kuen and also SPM.
what part do you like about it
The specialty kungs and forms.
what parts dont you like
The BS that is propagated by those that have little to no practical experience fighting trained fighters.
[QUOTE=EarthDragon;1207675]what did you start[/QUOTE]
cocaine
[QUOTE=EarthDragon;1207675]why did you stay[/QUOTE]
I can stop anytime I want
what did you start
The original Karate Kid movie, in elementary school, the idea of doing karate was fascinating.
why did you stay
Didn’t, the instructor had to move away. A few years later, a friend told me about an amazing old man teaching some cool “karate” stuff. I went to see for myself and was amazed when I first watched 7* Praying Mantis Kung Fu. Stayed until I had to move about a decade later. Somewhere in that mix I saw UFC 1. Couldn’t find BJJ and knew I had to cross train to keep it real, so I chose the next best option for ground fighting - Judo. Ironically it’s the big throws that keeps me in that art.
what part do you like about it
Friendships that I’ve built through the years.
what parts dont you like
The constant in flow of newbies that have you reteaching the same ol’ all the time. and veterans that are afraid to spar… and Higher than Thou attitudes.
what did you start
American Karate
why did you stay
Made it to blue belt then moved away. Took about ten years before I found Aikido which tne moved to Jui Jitsu / Judo / Kenjutsu / and finally Wah Lum and Batto Do. As you can see there was an odd progression but I had the martial bug. I stayed with the judo / jui jitsu for 10 years, achieved instructor rank then the school closed down and work ramped up, children were born etc. Now I study Wah Lum and Batto do.
what part do you like about it
The friendships that I’ve built through the years, learning and teaching.
what parts dont you like
MightyB, you and I think alike!
The constant in flux of newbies that have you reteaching the same ole all the time, and veterans that are afraid to spar… and Higher than Thou attitudes!
Do you guys feel the need to leave your art or style to fill in gaps or holes that your style doesn’t fulfill?
[QUOTE=EarthDragon;1207675]
what did you start
why did you stay
what part do you like about it
what parts dont you like[/QUOTE]
-
Shuai Jiao and Tan Tui.
-
extra curriculum, from high school onward.
-
able to do it right every time.
-
get hurt trying to do the throw or strike
plenty of 4.
however learn from 4.
[QUOTE=EarthDragon;1207743]Do you guys feel the need to leave your art or style to fill in gaps or holes that your style doesn’t fulfill?[/QUOTE]
In my case it’s not a matter of leaving one art to find another that fills in the gaps but enlarging upon one through experience in others. For example, my jujitsu training has good ground work and submission techniques but the movements are based on grappling with little attention to strikes and a stylistic concern for safety. My cma has strikes, grappling, throws and even a little ground work but is not readily applicable to extended grappling on the ground. Given a choice I would stick with the cma because it is more inclusive and has better transitions among the various skills. Adding the ground work from jj to my base is easier than trying to add boxing and weapons skills to the jujitsu.
[QUOTE=EarthDragon;1207743]Do you guys feel the need to leave your art or style to fill in gaps or holes that your style doesn’t fulfill?[/QUOTE]
Even if I hadn’t of left because of re-location I probably would have cross trained no matter what.
If combat effectiveness is paramount in one MA training then cross training ( or at least cross-testing) is crucial, indispensable really.
EX:
Judo has ground work but nothing to the degree of BJJ.
Hung Kuen had some edged weapon work but nothing to the degree of the FMA.
And so forth.
what did you start
I’m not sure if I started taekwondo as a kid before or after the karate kid movie, but it was pretty close to then. I did this until I was 18 and moved to university.
why did you stay?
I didn’t. In university, I was introduced to TCMA (7stars mantis) through the university wushu club. It was fun and interesting. That experience was good. After the teacher left, I tried several other TCMA schools but found the intensity and the experience of the teachers to be very limited.
After university, I moved to Japan for six years where I practiced mostly Aikido and kickboxing, got some good experience in Judo and Kendo. Also during that time I traveled a lot in China and got a good introduction to Shaoliln gongfu. I managed to find a group in Osaka that trains Shaolin and met with them about once a month for fun.
Then I moved to Wuhan to teach at the sports school there for three years. I mostly trained with the professional Sanda program, but I was able to informally train Shaolin, Baji, qigong, etc as well. For one month I trained Wugulun Shaolin full time which was a very interesting experience. During my time in China, a lot of the traditional training I did was informally with friends and I taught them things like Aikido as well.
So, in essence, I train whatever I can where I live.
what part do you like about it
I enjoy the friendships I’ve made. TCMA itself is fascinating to study, and provides some historical context to the modern arts that I do.
what parts dont you like
Passive-agressiveness, superstitions, superiority complexes
The groupies.
uh, there ARE groupies, aren’t there?
[QUOTE=RickMatz;1207772]The groupies.
uh, there ARE groupies, aren’t there?[/QUOTE]
Nah man, they always want you to share the cocaine.
[QUOTE=wenshu;1207773]Nah man, they always want you to share the cocaine.[/QUOTE]
I suppose opium isn’t the thing anymore, is it?
I ask because it seems as though TCMA are being beat up on these boards with the MMA guys and I feel my system has everything I need with the exception of some higher level ground work which i usually work in with other teachers in my school.
But if you feel your gretting what you need and it works then whats the need to jump on the MMA bandwagon
[QUOTE=EarthDragon;1207780]I ask because it seems as though TCMA are being beat up on these boards with the MMA guys and I feel my system has everything I need with the exception of some higher level ground work which i usually work in with other teachers in my school.
But if you feel your gretting what you need and it works then whats the need to jump on the MMA bandwagon[/QUOTE]
Most systems have what most people need, as long as they are TRAINED properly.
That said, unless you test yourself with the highest level available to you, how do you know if your systems has what you need from it?
Granted for most that is a moot point BUT for those that are combat oriented, it is THE point.
[QUOTE=EarthDragon;1207780]I ask because it seems as though TCMA are being beat up on these boards with the MMA guys and I feel my system has everything I need with the exception of some higher level ground work which i usually work in with other teachers in my school.
But if you feel your gretting what you need and it works then whats the need to jump on the MMA bandwagon[/QUOTE]
Because TCMA hasn’t been able to prove its effectiveness compared to other proven effective arts for the past few decades at least.
I train in traditional arts in addition to more modern arts but I am aware of where they are strong and where they need supplementation, or replacement of their methodology entirely.
Effectiveness is first and foremost what matters. If others can prove their art effective in full contact fighting repeatedly then they have more evidence for their style being effective. Heck I’ve seen Vale Tudo matches where there were literally no rules. It doesn’t make it that different from MMA with the exception of soccer kicks, spine strikes, back of the head, etc. Eye gouges and the like don’t really make a difference and the guys who won with no rules are the same who would win with rules.
[QUOTE=EarthDragon;1207780] …it seems as though TCMA are being beat up on these boards with the MMA guys…[/QUOTE]
One of the reasons I started the “Observations” thread was to point out what TCMA has that is valuable. I didn’t mean it had to be compared to mma or any other art in particular, but it is a different animal and worthy of being praised for what it can offer. You just can’t separate it from its inherent cultural values without degrading it into something that belongs to pop culture.
[QUOTE=EarthDragon;1207780]
But if you feel your gretting what you need and it works then whats the need to jump on the MMA bandwagon[/QUOTE]
I think cross training is very good, it gives you more perspective. I think it’s important to spar with people from different disciplines and backgrounds, it makes you better, more well rounded. People from the same school may have a tendency to approach sparring/fighting in a very similar fashion.
I like the MMA guys because I know they’re combat oriented. With TMA guys you have some that are and a lot that aren’t. Sometimes the ones who are combat oriented don’t get enough of what they need/want on account of all the other students with different interests.
what did you start
This and that.
why did you stay
The effectiveness.
what part do you like about it
That part that let’s me know what is b.s and what is legit.
what parts dont you like
The parts that are b.s.