Why are you studying Kung Fu?

[Bryan Feagin]

An interesting article I found on KungFu Magazine online:

http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=535

Please read the whole article first (it's not that long), then post your thoughts here.

Specifically, I like to know why some of my Kung Fu brethren are studying Kung Fu? Some questions for you guys:

1) Why bother? What are your personal reasons?

2) What was the defining moment that got you involved? (some thought,event, etc.?)

3) What keeps you motivated day in and day out?

4) What do you hope to accomplish?

[Armin]

Hi Bryan,

the author of this article seems to struggle to separate Gung Fu from sports. Hm, IMHO he sometimes sounds like he doesn't like Gung Fu, than on the other hand like he doesn't like sports.

To be honest, at first I had the notion, that he has no idea of Gung Fu. Well, I think, it's not the real way to compare pro sportsman, that earn billions of money, with the "usual" Gung Fu-expert. The goals and the ideas of the daily training differ too much.

He writes about Olympia 2008, where Wu Shu will be olympic dicipline. As far as I understood, this will be "modern" Wu Shu, right? Isn't modern Wu Shu the answer of the chinese government to the Gung Fu-movies, whereafter everyone was asking for "real Gung Fu"? I know some guys, that train modern Wu Shu, and it really looks like some sport - like mat-work. :)


1) Why bother? What are your personal reasons?

At first? I wanted to kick a**. Than it changed from fighting to "mastering the technique". Now, hm, well, it's something like "personal evolution" through "hard work". I think, you know what I mean, don't you?!

2) What was the defining moment that got you involved? (some thought,event, etc.?)

A friend told me that he started training, showed me some moves and did talk about training. That was when I decided to start, too.

3) What keeps you motivated day in and day out?

Well, all my students are my friends. In fact, I don't see them as "real" students - we share our time together. And after all this years, training is still fun. I'm into martial arts now for over 18 or 19 years, but there's still yomething to work on and still something new to discover.

4) What do you hope to accomplish?

Wow, that's one big question! At first, of course, "technical mastership". It would be fine, if any technique would work in the instant I use it. And afterwards? Hm, enlightenment? Sounds nice, but I don't think of it. I just go ahead and look, where my way will lead me to.


Armin.

[Andrew HFYofAZ]

I have been studying yip man wing chun for about 2 and a half years, and HFY for about a year, and the benefits of the training are obvious when i compare who I was before training, to who i am now, even in my adolescence and short time of training

1) Why bother? What are your personal reasons?
I do it because kung fu provides a grounding framework in my life, a discipline, both theoretical and physical. And most of all, it provides a reality check. I know when my kung fu can protect me, and I know when I lack something that would let me do that

2) What was the defining moment that got you involved? (some thought,event, etc.?)
For me it wasn't a specific moment, but a driving motive after watching kung fu movies, and seeing forms and stuff. I wanted to be able to fight, and just boost up my ego and be awesome.

3) What keeps you motivated day in and day out?
the fact that i still have so far to go. i have only been a student for 2 and a half years, and the fact that people can still hit me is enough for me to keep learning.


4) What do you hope to accomplish?
ultimately, i want to be able to truly protect myself, and for that ability to be real, not an illusion provided by ego and the knowledge of a few techniques. beyond that, i'll realize my goal as i walk further on my path