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My Search For Kung Fu Heaven Begins!
May/19/2010 11:48 PM Filed in: Martial Arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Kung Fu, Jeet Kune Do, Karate
The first time I saw a Kung Fu movie, I knew that's what I wanted to learn, but finding a Kung Fu school on Long Island, NY at the time was hard, in fact I don't remember there being any. All of the Kung Fu schools I knew about were in Chinatown. So it was a choice between Karate or Tae Kwon Do, I chose Karate because at that time I thought all Korean Martial Arts copied the Japanese and were fake. So I started taking Karate.
One of my first Karate Lessons I took the instructor sat all of the students down and told us that only 1 in 1,000 of us would earn our Black Belt (talk about discouraging. When you are kid and you hear that, it sounds like you will never earn your Black Belt). But being the stubborn person I am, I kept going back. I don't remember a lot from those classes but I do remember standing in horse stance and having other students stand on my legs and the instructor would walk around with a bamboo shinai and wack us (not to hard though) with it. I also remember the unbelievable amount of reverse punches we had to do. Oh well, that was Karate back in the early 80's.
Even though I was taking Karate, I was still not satisfied and I ended up quitting. I wanted to learn Kung Fu! So, on my own when I was at home I would watch Kung Fu movies and try and copy what I saw on TV. I would practice my Tiger Claw Kung Fu, Dragon Claw Kung Fu, Monkey Kung Fu and of course Praying Mantis Kung Fu. Basically, I could make all the hand gestures I saw on TV and tried to make up moves. I would imagine fighting in a battle like the ones I saw on TV where the hero took on 20 guys and would win. In my mind I was on my way to becoming a Shaolin Monk. But to be a monk I needed a monks robe. Due to the fact that I was just a kid and had no money, I had to make do with a regular robe. I would pull the robe tight and tie the belt knot on the side. I would also wrap my calfs with string like I saw in the movies. I was obsessed with Kung Fu. Needless to say my Kung Fu wasn't the best. I needed a Kung Fu Master. I wanted to learn hardcore Kung Fu with a Sifu (Chinese for teacher) who shared his wisdom with me but could also kick some serious butt.
One day I saw a school and it had a tiger and dragon for an emblem. It was a Kenpo Karate School. I managed to talk my mom into taking me there. The lesson was a private lesson which was weird to me. Where were all the students I thought, but that didn't matter because I learned how to bow "Kung Fu Style" thats what the instructor told me. Here is how the bow went, I would bring my right hand up in a fist to my left hand which was open and simultaneously step my left foot forward into a cat stance, push my hands out and I would say, "I come in peace but I will fight if I have to". That was cool stuff! I ended up not joining that school for some reason (I am not sure why. Probably because we couldn't afford it) But, I was hooked, I needed more Kung Fu! So my search for Kung Fu heaven continued.
One of my first Karate Lessons I took the instructor sat all of the students down and told us that only 1 in 1,000 of us would earn our Black Belt (talk about discouraging. When you are kid and you hear that, it sounds like you will never earn your Black Belt). But being the stubborn person I am, I kept going back. I don't remember a lot from those classes but I do remember standing in horse stance and having other students stand on my legs and the instructor would walk around with a bamboo shinai and wack us (not to hard though) with it. I also remember the unbelievable amount of reverse punches we had to do. Oh well, that was Karate back in the early 80's.
Even though I was taking Karate, I was still not satisfied and I ended up quitting. I wanted to learn Kung Fu! So, on my own when I was at home I would watch Kung Fu movies and try and copy what I saw on TV. I would practice my Tiger Claw Kung Fu, Dragon Claw Kung Fu, Monkey Kung Fu and of course Praying Mantis Kung Fu. Basically, I could make all the hand gestures I saw on TV and tried to make up moves. I would imagine fighting in a battle like the ones I saw on TV where the hero took on 20 guys and would win. In my mind I was on my way to becoming a Shaolin Monk. But to be a monk I needed a monks robe. Due to the fact that I was just a kid and had no money, I had to make do with a regular robe. I would pull the robe tight and tie the belt knot on the side. I would also wrap my calfs with string like I saw in the movies. I was obsessed with Kung Fu. Needless to say my Kung Fu wasn't the best. I needed a Kung Fu Master. I wanted to learn hardcore Kung Fu with a Sifu (Chinese for teacher) who shared his wisdom with me but could also kick some serious butt.
One day I saw a school and it had a tiger and dragon for an emblem. It was a Kenpo Karate School. I managed to talk my mom into taking me there. The lesson was a private lesson which was weird to me. Where were all the students I thought, but that didn't matter because I learned how to bow "Kung Fu Style" thats what the instructor told me. Here is how the bow went, I would bring my right hand up in a fist to my left hand which was open and simultaneously step my left foot forward into a cat stance, push my hands out and I would say, "I come in peace but I will fight if I have to". That was cool stuff! I ended up not joining that school for some reason (I am not sure why. Probably because we couldn't afford it) But, I was hooked, I needed more Kung Fu! So my search for Kung Fu heaven continued.
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