yeah, no doubt it’s hard on the body, but I’m willing to bet if you were sparring at the same intensity in your longfist class, you would be just as banged up.
We did spar with the same intensity. I have no qualms about the way I was taught to fight.
However, we did not train with the same intensity. And there’s the big rub. Everything in MMA is balls-to-the-wall, which is great because the other, younger, guys motivate me to push myself harder. At the same time, since the intensity level is higher, there is more risk of injury. We’re all hurt in one way or another…wrists, hamstrings, groins, whatever. But like my football coach used to ask: Are you hurt or are you injured? The difference of course being that you can still play hurt; in fact, we were expected to.
In kung fu, being the senior student, if I didn’t feel like going hard, I just took the night off. I guess I took off a few too many.
I think that kung fu school on Blanco moved to Austin depending on how far back you’re talking. My parents went there back in the 80’s.
this is their current location http://eastwindtraininghall.com/index.html
Anyway I plan on moving to Austin myself when I get back to the state, because of San Antonio’s sever lack of CMA’s.
I did here of some bagua in a park some where though.
Thread from the dead…
The bagua in the park…I checked it out a few times, but it’s no more.
I’ve pretty much lost interest in martial arts. I have renewed my love for drag racing though. 
Thanks for tainting my beliefs golden mountain.
odd, this is a Kung fu forum.
One day many years from now, I will open a CMA school in SA. Till then, live somewhere else.
Or train what’s available till something better comes along. If it was me, i’d just move.
And I love kung fu. If you open a school…lemme know. Since I moved here almost 12 years ago, there has been little to no CMA, and nothing’s changed.
I can’t just move, since my family is here. The day when martial arts is more important than my daughter, is a day I don’t want to see.
Many, many years from now :o
Thanks for gettin my hopes up.
ewallace: you could always do what I do and drive an hour and a half to Woodcreek to train with Sifu Gary Stier (Taijiquan, Baguazhang, and Xingyi). It’s quite a way to go, but it’s a pretty drive and the kung fu is worth it IMHO.
Good luck.
isn’t that like an hour drive?
Yes, as I mentioned before it is a 1-1/2 hour drive from San Antonio, but I make the drive anyway because I believe that it’s worth it.
Btw SanHeChuan, I notice you are in NC. Sifu Stier’s top student, Sifu Jordan P Whitfield, is in NC also (Charlotte, I believe).
Peace.
Charlotte is like 6 hours away:o
I’m resurrecting this thread (again) because I just got some interesting news for those interested in CMA in San Antonio.
As I stated previously I currently drive an hour and a half from San Antonio to Woodcreek to train with Sifu Gary Stier. Sifu Stier is now interested in getting a group class going in San Antonio, to teach Yang Imperial (108 Long Form) Taijiquan. Class would meet once a week. Sifu also teaches Bagua and Xingyi, so I am sure that there will be an opportunity to learn that at some point as well.
PM me if interested, and I will keep everyone up to date on the details as they develop.
I might be interested in the Xing Yi.
Cool, I sent you a PM.
you shoud still get a ground game … it will help your kung fu.
i regret i didnt start on one sooner.
Yeah I might do it at some point. Right now though, I’ve got so much on my plate with work, kids, training, etc that it seems like I barely have time to do what I’m already doing. Good advice though, thanks.