[QUOTE=SoCo KungFu;1281386]Achieve anything? Not a realistic goal. Achieve something? Sure he can. What is his goal? Its not to be mystical monk dong hang lo on the golden mountain. Nor does he seem to care about becoming the next title fighter. And frankly, no one is going to get that from kung fu these days anyways. He’s trying to have some fun while getting his health back. As far as “achieving anything” if you can’t fight semi competently in 3 months or less, you’re being ripped off.[/QUOTE]
by achieving i mean the minimum of doing a form decently without looking retarded or mentally disturbed.
[QUOTE=boxerbilly;1281385]
Dashing the guys hopes for his desire to start again serves no purpose. You don’t know his reasons and by no means do they have to be for the same reasons you train.[/QUOTE]
i am speaking the plain truth. at 30 years old your youth is ending. if you wanna do a physical activity hobby you better put focus and energy into it. your testosterone is dropping every single day, there is no going back.
[QUOTE=boxerbilly;1281385]
So, even if it a hobby. So what? It offers many physical benefits and gets him off the couch[/QUOTE]
its about making a mockery of colored fellers culture and history.
Thanks for the replies again everyone! Very much appreciated, even yours bawang. I’m not afraid to put myself out there and have others tell me in their view weaknesses or not.
Pretty much one of my long time high school friends started up a gym. Mostly geared towards bodybuilding/powerlifting, and at one time they did offer boxing. I joined up at about 400 lbs., a few months before the boxing ended. So my workouts would be 3 days of weightlifting, with the 2 days of boxing, 1 day of heavy cardio and one day off a week. After the boxing ended, a friend and I would still spar to fill in those two days of boxing, with my other workouts pretty much staying the same.
As far as other schools in the area, I suppose it has to do with me searching for traditional schools and that was one I found. I like the idea of traditional schools, I understand where they have their weaknesses but I’m sure they can provide me with a lot of knowledge, and discipline that I don’t already have. Which I’m sure MMA schools could do as well. Based off of what the research I’ve done, traditional schools are more appealing.
And bawang, I really don’t care what I look like doing something. I didn’t when I was 400 lbs. standing against my 220 lb. friend in the boxing ring, with others watching (someone recorded and yeah, I looked rediculous, slow movement, sloppy punches, but I learned from it, kept going, got better and became a better person because of it) and I won’t when I make my decision on which school/art/etc. I join either.
EDIT PS: [QUOTE=bawang;1281387]its about making a mockery of colored fellers culture and history.[/QUOTE]
Honestly, out of everything you just said on this thread. This has been the first thing to cause you to lose respect. Good day.
its very good that you are lifting weights and doing boxing but u can even drop the boxing and just focus on dropping fat and complete one goal at a time.
if kung fu didnt interest you enough to learn for the past 20 years then its not gonna be now either. your excitement is temporary spur of the moment. is better to focus on losing fat so u live longer.[QUOTE=Edmorian;1281388]
And bawang, I really don’t care what I look like doing something. [/QUOTE]
then why u wanna learn kung fu, its a performance art
[QUOTE=Edmorian;1281388]
Honestly, out of everything you just said on this thread. This has been the first thing to cause you to lose respect. Good day.[/QUOTE]
It was your notion that me choosing something that has a racial and/or cultural significance at my age, having not lived that lifestyle, as in somehow being a mockery. I view it as something as much more respectful, that out of all things I could choose to continue building a healthy lifestyle at my age I would choose a traditional martial art that has a rich history.
I will continue to add things to the lifestyle I am building from here on out. I have always believed that life is about finding balance (something I was living without), and I will continue to add more and more to my life that I deem will be beneficial until the point that I either become unbalanced due to taking too much on. Right now I can weight lift, box, focus on stretching and cardio without sacrificing important areas outside of physical well being (ie. work/family/education etc.). So a martial art, whether it ends up being traditional or another, will be the next tool I add to the toolbox. The important thing about this toolbox I’m building, is I’m learning how to use the tools and developing my skills with them into a productive lifestyle, so these tools will always be with me.
[QUOTE=Edmorian;1281388]Thanks for the replies again everyone! Very much appreciated, even yours bawang. I’m not afraid to put myself out there and have others tell me in their view weaknesses or not.
Pretty much one of my long time high school friends started up a gym. Mostly geared towards bodybuilding/powerlifting, and at one time they did offer boxing. I joined up at about 400 lbs., a few months before the boxing ended. So my workouts would be 3 days of weightlifting, with the 2 days of boxing, 1 day of heavy cardio and one day off a week. After the boxing ended, a friend and I would still spar to fill in those two days of boxing, with my other workouts pretty much staying the same.
As far as other schools in the area, I suppose it has to do with me searching for traditional schools and that was one I found. I like the idea of traditional schools, I understand where they have their weaknesses but I’m sure they can provide me with a lot of knowledge, and discipline that I don’t already have. Which I’m sure MMA schools could do as well. Based off of what the research I’ve done, traditional schools are more appealing.[/quote]
Sounds good. Best of luck and have fun. Just keep this in mind; most traditional martial arts schools spend little, if any time, on actual conditioning. Unlike the boxing group you were involved with. This was the point of my comment about kung fu potentially getting in the way of your personal fitness goals. So, that being the case, if you understand this fact and take the now extra time necessary to maintain that activity level that those 2 days of boxing gave you, you should be ok. Not saying you aren’t dedicated to your goal (I don’t know you, would be dumb to say). I’m just saying, don’t get in the habit of thinking the forms and such are enough. It won’t be. It will fulfill your other goals. As long as you keep it in the realm of an addition as opposed to a replacement, then I think you’ll be fine with whatever you end up choosing.
Of course someone can start martial arts in their 30s. You work at you own level of accomplishments, don’t compare yourself with other people ,places or times.
[QUOTE=boxerbilly;1281385]Bawang, it seems your lifestyle allows you to do nothing but train and live the MA life. I can think of nothing as boring. I’d rather spend my WHOLE day F-ing. .[/QUOTE]
Start with the Tai Chi until you get into better shape. it will give you general skills and balance. As your fitness improves move to something else if you are interested. Wing Chun tends to attract or produce nuttiness. read some of the Wing Chun section here.
Sifu Chan is the real deal. Back in my competitive days, I hated it when one of his students was in my division. The Jow Ga stuff is cool to see but very athletic hence my comment about age - but at 30, you should be able to do it. One of his students had a pretty decent career in San Shou: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhrRVMAYqH8
Basically - if you put in the effort, you’ll get good martial arts training there… doesn’t matter which style you pick.
I did private instruction for many years back in the late 80’s early 90’s. It took some effort but I always found a person here and there who was willing to train me for some cash. My family moved around a lot when I was a teenager and we were never in a place longer than a few years. It was a former boxer in one place, and a former Green Beret and Savate competitor in another. In all I trained in about six different styles. Some of it was good some not. Missouri was not the Mecca of martial arts instruction back in those days and it still isn’t. I eventually went to work in South Korea where I studied Taekkyon and Hapkido the later of which I earned a Black Belt. I then went to Thailand where I trained in Muay Thai, Xingyi Chuan, and 7 Star Praying Mantis. Private training can be good or bad depending on the teacher but I’ve been thinking about opening my own school so I’ve dropped in on some local places to get a feel for what’s out there. I haven’t been impressed thus far.
[QUOTE=Brat;1281442]I did private instruction for many years back in the late 80’s early 90’s. It took some effort but I always found a person here and there who was willing to train me for some cash. My family moved around a lot when I was a teenager and we were never in a place longer than a few years. It was a former boxer in one place, and a former Green Beret and Savate competitor in another. In all I trained in about six different styles. Some of it was good some not. Missouri was not the Mecca of martial arts instruction back in those days and it still isn’t. I eventually went to work in South Korea where I studied Taekkyon and Hapkido the later of which I earned a Black Belt. I then went to Thailand where I trained in Muay Thai, Xingyi Chuan, and 7 Star Praying Mantis. Private training can be good or bad depending on the teacher but I’ve been thinking about opening my own school so I’ve dropped in on some local places to get a feel for what’s out there. I haven’t been impressed thus far.[/QUOTE]
I recommend you drop in on Springfield Fight Club. Despite the rough sounding name, they run a clean, friendly place with quality instruction. But you are right, there are no other schools to speak of in Springfield MO.
You all washed up. 