[QUOTE=Ray Pina;896105]Karate was awesome. I started young. Taught me proper attitude towards life, training and others. Solid foundation in every range, including some free play on the ground.
By 11 I was over forms …competing with them, and hungry to get more to increase my rank. I lost a real fight for the first time in my backyard alleyway by a kid 1.5 years older then me. He bloodied me up and I was embarrassed to have my mom put a frozen steak on my face and later explain to my dad why his karate prodigy son (by this point I had more trophies than we had space) got his a$$ kicked. This was the beginning of my questioning of all training.
Kung Fu: I appreciate the sticking I learned. Priceless if you can find people to train it for real… I didn’t have such an easy time doing that. Even at the big Kung Fu tournaments. Does it make sense to stand your ground, intercept an incoming strike and then tap somebody on a chest protector which may or may not be registered as a “point”? It quickly didn’t for me.
As for my teachers: Let it be registered right here… when I started training BJJ, my first class was with Renzo Gracie. I see out the best of what I want to learn. Master David Bond Chan is a warrior. He was a very good teacher. Taught me the principles I learned so well I could go jump into a San Da ring twice with no corner, no extra training, just show up and give it ago. Same with my last two cage fights.
Now, that is retarded. Obviously… and I might have lost, but I didn’t get busted up. And I learned. And it forced me to improve.
My Master’s Ba Gua lineage is like this: Dong Hai Chuan —> Gueng Bo Tien –> Wang San Fe –> Master Chan. Fu(k you if you think there’s better. And put your sniper rifle down and I’d be down to play with you.
My Wing Chun is pretty good. Played with some guys on the island. Trained with another guy under Robert Chu. Actually learned alot and was humbled challenging Emin Boztepe years ago when he was in NYC. Chinatown cats.
S MAntis from Milton and Norman Chin’s student.
I’ve probably been exposed to as much good kung fu as anyone on this board and more than most.
Present training/ability: I love BJJ and will always train it even when I grow tired of fighting. It makes me feel like a super hero. I jumped off a deck like it was no thing last night because it was just easier than going down stairs. Things like that everyday.
My boxing needs a lot of work.
Bro, the difference between me and most of the guys on this board is that I KNOW I’M A KOOK. I’ve already kicked so much karate a$$, kung fu a$$, wrestling a$$… I’m trying to push through to that next level: elite fighters. And I got news for you. Even at amateur level these MMA guys are top notch. Sharp. There are no easy fights anymore.
You guys can blow smoke up your a$$. Guys were doing it here 5, 8 years ago when I first said I was going to fight in the cage. Most of those guys are probably fatter and slower today. I have now fought in the cage and don’t sweat it and am preparing myself for my first victory. I don’t care about style. I care about being open and honest in my life.
I honestly view “Kung Fu” lower than Tae Kwan Do. They’re both useless by themselves, but at least Tae Kwan Do produces some donkey kickers at the higher belts. Crisp, accurate kicks.
I honestly haven’t met another Kung Fu guy besides Master Chan that has impressed me. How’s that for keeping it real? Most are flat out phonies. They may have trained, even for years, but you know when someone is down to throw the fists and when they’re not… they’re not. Which is why they don’t.
Well, this has been a lot of words and time devoted to, what, explaining what I’ve already explained and justifying myself?
What is there to explain? Look around. There are no Kung Fu guys doing di(k! That’s reality… the little place I like to live.
As for me: I’m doing the best I can to grow as a martial artists while remaining balanced in other areas of my life. But I tell you what… I feel real GOOD. I’m a fu(king much better fighter than I was 2 years ago… and I was whupping much a$$ then.
Keep talking. That sort of thing motivates me. A couple guys on here used to ride my nuts a bit and I kept my mouth relatively shut… and these are guys selling themselves like crazy. Kung Fu guys who haven’t done di(k. No fights. None. Nada. And they’re regarding as experts in their field… internal kung fu experts who’ve never fought. Imagine that?[/QUOTE]
I can feel Ray’s pain, I know where he is coming from.
Don’t agree with his conclusions, but I was there not to long ago myself.
Fact is, and we all know that, there is too much dilusion in the MA world.
We all know guys that can make ANY MA work, every system in the world has at least 1 guy that can kick ass.
But we also have to be honest that, some systems have more ass kickers than others.