First, I've never been much into martial arts movies. Like so many (as I've gathered), that's how they get introduced. Sure I've watched them but were never drawn to them. What REALLY got me into martial arts branched from my love of Philosophy. I think I was studying religion, and came across Shinto, and then Buddhism, and then Confucius, yin and yang theory, taijiquan, and the rest is history. Boxing was always what I wanted to get into.
Fast forward a few years (never had the nerve to try boxing). Met some people who trained in Kung Fu and recommended it, over boxing, cos I are short, and they said a style with low center of gravity would be good. I hadn't connected the dots yet on all of the internal behind kung fu that I was already enthralled with and the stuff they were teaching me. Horse stance. Hawk stance. Aggravating but surprisingly effective forearm excersizes.
Fast forward few more years. Met a guy who's studied Jeet for 15 plus years. Die hard Bruce Lee fan (what Jeet practitioner isn't?). This guy sported the haircut for the majority of his youth-- pics to prove it. Bruce Lee introduced me to the mechanics of martial arts-- the kinetic movement. Took the philosophies and theories and what little physical training I'd had to a whole new level. So the basic philosophy of kung fu (repeat. check. repeat. adjust. repeat. hone. repeat. check. repeat) was pretty much instilled into whatever art I could get into.
Few months later I walk into a Tae Kwon Do school and fall right into the pitch. I learn stuff, but the school didn't pan out. We (the boyfriend and I) shop around for more schools, and are amazed at the heightened quality of the two other schools we visit. The unison of the students, the commitment to the form, and the quality of instruction were all there. Because of my decision to tour country, he's decided to join a dojo again (trying to talk him into the message board). I found a kung fu place, and we checked it out last night.
All I can say is, wow. Not that I had any type of solid archetype as to what a dojo should be, but man did it feel right. No trophies lining the walls, no primary-colored modular flooring... the atmosphere was not meant to stimulate like tae kwon do, but it was relaxed. Almost like a home. But the instruction was what really got me. (Note: this is definetly not a nod to the betters or worse's of tae kwon do over kung fu, rather the depth of investment on the part of instructor).
This guy was just about as anal and meticulous as I'd have wanted my TKD instructors to be with me. And hearing him count! He had such good energy that the numbers just rang out from his throat and sang through the room. ONE! twO! thrEE! I can hear it as I type and it's wonderful. And he'd stop to instruct his students and walk through them and adjust their hands and fingers and as he needed feedback he'd make this sound that seemed to eminate straight from the diaphragm, somewhere within, and quickly rise out, like "uUSH!", and they'd always respond in unison "USH." Took his time, repeated every step as they drilled till every one got it and then again. Slow, uniform, precise.
This was my very first experience witnessing a kung fu school after having it be sort of put upon a pedestal reading of its histories, the philosophies behind it, having a bias from my boyfriend's perspectives and passions to it, and of course Bruce Lee's foundation in it also. Seeing it firsthand and the nature of it being taught was fascinating. I could go on and on.
It was a great experience and that's the school we went with. I am excited to see more of this form as I will be sitting in on a handful of classes. (Hope I posted this in the right place)
Fast forward a few years (never had the nerve to try boxing). Met some people who trained in Kung Fu and recommended it, over boxing, cos I are short, and they said a style with low center of gravity would be good. I hadn't connected the dots yet on all of the internal behind kung fu that I was already enthralled with and the stuff they were teaching me. Horse stance. Hawk stance. Aggravating but surprisingly effective forearm excersizes.
Fast forward few more years. Met a guy who's studied Jeet for 15 plus years. Die hard Bruce Lee fan (what Jeet practitioner isn't?). This guy sported the haircut for the majority of his youth-- pics to prove it. Bruce Lee introduced me to the mechanics of martial arts-- the kinetic movement. Took the philosophies and theories and what little physical training I'd had to a whole new level. So the basic philosophy of kung fu (repeat. check. repeat. adjust. repeat. hone. repeat. check. repeat) was pretty much instilled into whatever art I could get into.
Few months later I walk into a Tae Kwon Do school and fall right into the pitch. I learn stuff, but the school didn't pan out. We (the boyfriend and I) shop around for more schools, and are amazed at the heightened quality of the two other schools we visit. The unison of the students, the commitment to the form, and the quality of instruction were all there. Because of my decision to tour country, he's decided to join a dojo again (trying to talk him into the message board). I found a kung fu place, and we checked it out last night.
All I can say is, wow. Not that I had any type of solid archetype as to what a dojo should be, but man did it feel right. No trophies lining the walls, no primary-colored modular flooring... the atmosphere was not meant to stimulate like tae kwon do, but it was relaxed. Almost like a home. But the instruction was what really got me. (Note: this is definetly not a nod to the betters or worse's of tae kwon do over kung fu, rather the depth of investment on the part of instructor).
This guy was just about as anal and meticulous as I'd have wanted my TKD instructors to be with me. And hearing him count! He had such good energy that the numbers just rang out from his throat and sang through the room. ONE! twO! thrEE! I can hear it as I type and it's wonderful. And he'd stop to instruct his students and walk through them and adjust their hands and fingers and as he needed feedback he'd make this sound that seemed to eminate straight from the diaphragm, somewhere within, and quickly rise out, like "uUSH!", and they'd always respond in unison "USH." Took his time, repeated every step as they drilled till every one got it and then again. Slow, uniform, precise.
This was my very first experience witnessing a kung fu school after having it be sort of put upon a pedestal reading of its histories, the philosophies behind it, having a bias from my boyfriend's perspectives and passions to it, and of course Bruce Lee's foundation in it also. Seeing it firsthand and the nature of it being taught was fascinating. I could go on and on.
It was a great experience and that's the school we went with. I am excited to see more of this form as I will be sitting in on a handful of classes. (Hope I posted this in the right place)
