I know kung fu

[vincechan]

Our association charge about ?50 per month. In terms of classes, we're quite lucky as we have a permanent training venue (not in a rented church hall or the like), so there are classes pretty much everyday. An advanced student could train 5-6 times a week.

Me? I've been a bit lazy of late, so somewhat LESS than that!

[chojin]

My son turned 6 in August so he's now able to compete in most sports as he's passed the "insurance" age..

He loves anything kung fu related, so decided I should look into it.

I have hit the weights in the gym for years and know most of the regulars in there, including a Mr Roger Lawrence, who up until last week I had no idea he was a 4x world champion Tae Kwon Do fighter.. he's got a few schools in the north west, so after speaking to him, myself and my son have had our first 2 lessons this week.

I absolutely love it, considering I cycle to work every day and I have consistently hit the gym I thought I was quite strong, but today I am hurting in places I have never done before. I was blowing after the first 20 mins on day one!!

I googled my instructor he was know as Roger "The Don" Lawrence and he has achieved a lot in his time!..

As a teenager I dabbled in Judo, Karate & Wing Chun, but playing rugby and training as much as I did I never really stuck with them as the rugby took up most of my time, so its really good to be able to dedicate time to learning Tae Kwon Do.

The goal I have set myself is to achieve my Black Belt by the time i'm 40, I turn 36 in January.

Did a light session in the gym today as i'm feeling it today, plenty of stretching and practicing my 10th Kup this weekend

[Finsbury Girl]

Top stuff Chojin. I'm contemplating going back to practice chow gar tong long or start hung gar after a *cough* 15yr *cough* break - as I also concentrated on playing rugby and cricket.

I'm sick if the gym and I reckon a few months of chy sau will achieve better results (as well as a lot of pain!)

[chojin]

Hung Gar is a style that I always thought looked fantastic, I imagine it would be a difficult style to learn?

I've not heard of the other style you mention.

This week I did:

Mon: Tae Kwon do
Tues: gym weight circuit
Wed: Tae Kwon do
Thur: a very trimmed down weight circuit as I was struggling.

I'm feeling a bit broken today, think lots of stretching and a sauna is in order..

It's a good feeling though as I know pushing myself will improve my overall fitness, gotta love the DOMS!!

[Finsbury Girl]

Chow Gar Tong Long is a southern chinese praying mantis style. Very close combat oriented, strong fast upper body, very circular (as most kung fu is in essence) low kicking (not a lot of it). Similar in some respects to some bits of wing chun. I've haven't studied Hung Gar, although I learnt some of the tiger crane form from a mate many moons ago. Used to do a bit f Tai Chi as well and dabble in bits and bobs, escrima, kali, southern kung fu, grappling, had some chinese peeps come over and work through some animal forms (those guys were nutters - strongest chi I've ever seen. Watching them you could see it radiate off them - very powerful internally).

[chojin]

took my first belt grading "10th Kup" on 20th Jan, haven't been that nervous in a long time!..

passed it easily, got my 9th Kup grading in April hopefully, really into this now, bought a full set of sparring gear and i'm looking to enter competition once i'm at a high enough grade!..

stretching is killing me though, i'm doing it every day, think the splits is still a way off, but i'm getting more flexible for sure

[k0pp0]

If you're doing loads of split stretching ensure you do HUGE amounts of leg strength work - otherwise you'll knacker your knees and hips.

[k0pp0]

Bit gutted to see that GM Jae C Shin (Tang Soo Do Grandmaster) passed away recently. Seemed a nice bloke when I met him and his martial art managed to get me out of the pub when I was on a pretty steady routine of boozing every night.

Incidentally he was Chuck Norris's instructor dontchewknow

[chojin]

Wee update, passed my 8th Kup grading on Sunday, I actually found it easier than my previous belts, putting it down to my confidence growing and my techniques getting better. One more grading and then the difficulty steps up a gear.

Good luck to Team GB in the Tae Kwon Do starting tomorrow

[charlesr]

My almost 6 year old son wants to do something. His school does Judo and we can get Karate or Kung Fu locally and probably some others (Chichester area). He's into power-rangers so wants to hit stuff, so Judo isn't impressing him. What's the best martial art for little kids to get going with?

[chojin]

My almost 6 year old son wants to do something. His school does Judo and we can get Karate or Kung Fu locally and probably some others (Chichester area). He's into power-rangers so wants to hit stuff, so Judo isn't impressing him. What's the best martial art for little kids to get going with?

Depends what style of kung-fu it is, karate would be easier for him to get into and he'll learn all the kicks and strikes which if he loves the power rangers, he'll want to do my son was exactly the same which is why I took him to Tae Kwon Do..

On the subject of Tae Kwon Do, my son and I passed our latest gradings on Saturday, I'm now a Green Belt 6th Kup and Lucas is a Green Stripe 7th Kup..

Hoping to enter competitions in the new year as I'm a lot more confident with the fighting and feel I wouldn't just blow my top due to frustration and maul my opponent

[charlesr]

I don't know what style it is (they told me but I forgot). They train here: http://www.zdlmartialarts.com/

Apparantly the classes for kids are a mix of Kung Fu and kick boxing. It's a really great class, teaching them to move in the style of mantis, crane, monkey etc. and then moving on to kicks (front, side, turning) and punches (basic, hook, uppercut) against pads. I've never seen them so tired. My daughter (4) does it too now.

[chojin]

Sounds awesome!... If they're enjoying it then thats all that matters, my son can't wait for Tae Kwon Do training, we're just off now for a flogging!

Speaking of Mantis.. my pal just sent me this link as we're having a chat about styles..

[k0pp0]

Thinking about starting up TKD as there's a class across the road from me. I packed in teaching my club as numbers were low (that's running a relatively unknown martial art in a village for you), but need to keep my hand in. I've also got a 1st Dan in Tang Soo Do so all the kicking etc will be familiar. Just need to get off my arse and wander over there.

I do think I'm going to find it very hard going from a full contact style to semi/no contact...

[charlesr]

I have visions of a room full of floored people like in Kiss of the Dragon or something.

Also, my son (6yrs) is coming along well. In Cotswold camping shop, I turned around to see him doing spinning dragon kick* (or something - I have no idea.) on their coat display.... I told him off while telling him how cool it looked. He got his white sash now Classes are a mix of Kung Fu forms and Kickboxing.