Temples in China: Worth it or tourist trap?

Discussion in 'Kung Fu' started by Dai323, Aug 25, 2016.

  1. ned

    ned Valued Member

    You have'nt elaborated much on what you've already learnt. My advice would be to get a thorough grounding in a particular art/style from a decent teacher first (I'm talking specifically about CMA's).
    That way once you decide to go it's usually straight forward to arrange reliable contacts and continued progression with your training.

    I'd be careful with how you spend both your money and time. Maybe do a little more research here first and save yourself a bit of both. :)
     
  2. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    A couple of other posts here have hinted at what I wonder about.

    Listen, I fully encourage you to follow your dream and train in this manner.

    But I wonder, 6 hours a day is a LOT of training! A LOT! How many hours a day do you train now? And how many days a week?

    I do 11 to 16 (always trying for 15)a week with a full time job and it is very tiring! Average about 2 and a half hours a day, with 4 to 5 hour sessions on my day off of work when my school is open.

    I wonder how many hours a day/ week the pro or amateur fighters here train? Unreal combat? Chadderz? Southpaw?

    What I am getting at is how big of a jump will 6 hours a day be from what you currently do? Do you have a realistic understanding of the toll that will take on your body?

    And what is your plan to make Kung Fu an important part of your life when the experience is over? How many hours a week will you train AFTER the experience? And will you change schools to one more like your China experience or stay where you are? How do you make Kung Fu a part of your everyday life for YEARS and DECADES- not just the 6 months? Kung Fu is skill achieved over a long period of time. 6 months isn't long in a lifetime of practice. So your follow up plan seems important to me.
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2016
  3. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    The fighters at my gym are there 11:00 - 21:00+ everyday.

    Not all of that is training though. Generally they train 3hrs evening and 2-3hrs afternoon/morning.

    No idea what their specific fighting camps look like though.

    6hrs a day is a lot though if you aren't accustomed to it. I think I'd be toast in under a month.
     
  4. Dai323

    Dai323 New Member

    Sorry. Yes I forgot to mention that. I have so far been at 2 schools, one Nanquan Kung Fu, the other, although advertised as Kung Fu, was a watered down Jeet Kune Do. First school taught only forms, no sparring. Second ONLY trapping and again no sparring. Not one time a kick. Students in both schools despite "years" of training were definitely not anyone that takes things seriously as you can see with their progress. I have less than a year experience in both, but I want to really really learn. I wanted to train with Sifu Emil Martirossian and reached out to him. Amazing guy and one of my heroes, but as hes in the UK, 250 euros a month for Skype lessons...I just dont think its the right way to go.

    Great points! Sadly, its only possible here to train in a school around 4 hours a week 3 times a week. Im in the gym 6am 4 days a week for weight training, and then 3 times a week in the evening for Jeet Kune Do where we train around an hour and a half. 6 hours a day is a TON of training if you work a full time job as I do now. But if I really went for 6 months to Asia, i would ONLY train.

    The plan after...you really got me there, as I didnt even think that far. I think my desire to learn is a bit too much sometimes and keep me from realistically thinking forward :-(

    So would I! But people manage to do it. As you said, I dont believe its 6 hours pure training. Its broken up to 3 sessions a day over a 9 hour period, with breaks and meals in between. Im sure it would be very rough though.

    Oddly enough though, its all i can think about lately.
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2016
  5. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    I don't mean to be harsh, I promise you that and we were all new once (and didn't know better) but Emil sucks. Don't bother with him. If you see him as a benchmark then I'd say you are vulnerable to being easily mislead and ripped off, so it's a great thing that you are here asking questions etc.
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2016
  6. Dai323

    Dai323 New Member

    WOW o_O

    Can you elaborate why? I mean, his trapping technique is NUTS!
     
  7. Pretty In Pink

    Pretty In Pink Moved on MAP 2017 Gold Award

    Are we talking about that Wing Chun guy that attacked the old WC guy? Botzepe or something? That guy is crap. I actually have video proof.
     
  8. Pretty In Pink

    Pretty In Pink Moved on MAP 2017 Gold Award

    Eh, I meant Muay Thai camps in Thailand. They're excellent.
     
  9. Hannibal

    Hannibal Cry HAVOC and let slip the Dogs of War!!! Supporter

    No, that is Emin Boztepe

    Emil is a UK based JKD guy.....that is all I am saying about him for now
     
  10. Hannibal

    Hannibal Cry HAVOC and let slip the Dogs of War!!! Supporter

    If you go to China to a "temple school" for six months you will learn very little other than how to "suck it up" by staying in a stance for prolonged periods

    To a western paradigm 6 hrs a day for six months is a big deal....from an Eastern paradigm you have learned nothing, nor will they probably give you anything beyond basic stances and rudimentary chi gung
     
  11. Simon

    Simon Administrator Admin Supporter MAP 2017 Koyo Award

    One thing I've learnt is that you have more time than you think.

    Sure if you are going to compete a camp is going to make you better a lot faster, but if you are a lifetime martial artist then don't try and cram it all in before you are 30.

    The most important thing you can do to improve is keep turning up.

    Days turn into weeks, weeks into months and before you know it you have a few years under your belt.

    Keep going and you'll be senior student, then instructor and then you'll start looking around for cross training to supplement your understanding.

    You'll age and look to expand your grappling, trapping or weapons skills.

    You'll not be able to spar your senior students for long periods, or maybe even get the upper hand in sparring, but you'll have something deep inside they won't and when the going gets tough they'll know you aren't to be underestimated.

    You'll not get this in a 6 month trip abroad, but you can start the above journey with a one month holiday to something like a Thai camp.

    First off get a good school and keep turning up.
     
  12. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    No problem. He is a self promoting, self aggrandising individual with low level of demonstrable skill, zero hard evidence to back up his claimed credentials (used to claim JKD in Inosanto lineage) and a low level of demonstrable skill. His stuff is movie-fu flash, which bears zero resemblance to actual fighting/violence.

    You can see by how he promotes himself that he is purely looking to carve his identity out as a bruce lee type figure and live in his own mythology.

    If you have ever met anyone of a high level of martial ability you would see the difference in their skill and their demeanour.

    The fact he is offering skype lessons at the cost you mentioned is at once laughable and damning.

    Here is an interview with him where he chats nonsense. read the comments underneath too...

    http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90171

    here is an investigation into his claims...

    http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=76563

    here is a documentary about himself, narrated by... himself and quite likely made by... himself.

    [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_0Fr4z5fBc"]JKD Documentary - Preview - YouTube[/ame]

    He was quite known around the web a fair few years ago and has managed to forge some journalistic work from essentially self promotion... I don't know how many of his claims he ever backed up.

    just looking at his can tell you everything.


    [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV61ASkzbjY"]The Art of Urban Combat (Modern Jeet Kune Do) by Sifu Emil Martirossian (HD) - YouTube[/ame]

    not your fault for being suckered into flash though.
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2016
  13. Hannibal

    Hannibal Cry HAVOC and let slip the Dogs of War!!! Supporter

    On video evidence - having never trained with him nor having any inclination to do so - his trapping is not good
     
  14. Hannibal

    Hannibal Cry HAVOC and let slip the Dogs of War!!! Supporter

    Ye gods that last video is horrible....his form is so poor
     
  15. Simon

    Simon Administrator Admin Supporter MAP 2017 Koyo Award

    He said he has trained his reflexes to a high standard and as you can see from 2.40 it's all reflex and no strike.

    The problem with this type of action is it gets all slappy hands.

    It's quite obvious he doesn't have the power or intention in these strikes.

    Students get blinded by the speed and believe it's good technique.
     
  16. Hannibal

    Hannibal Cry HAVOC and let slip the Dogs of War!!! Supporter

    Agreed...no form, structure or pressure...in a couple of the clips it basically collapses under itself and he covers by losing balance and pressing in
     
  17. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    It's like someone injected a vial of #wushurichard into Chris Crudelli.

    Its **** poor bilge through and through.
     
  18. Dai323

    Dai323 New Member

    Wow...now do I feel stupid for almost doing the lessons with him :-( I'm so glad I found this forum.

    I wondered myself how someone could charge that much for Skype lessons...and you are right..it was the speed that got me. He also told me that Tommy Carruthers refused to spar him, which I found a bit odd.

    Any opinions on him or Philipp Bayer?

    And yeah...maybe a month in a camp would be nice for the experience and then take it from there. Sadly here in Dresden there is a lack of good schools. I'm a "young" 35, but I want to learn as much as I can as I realize I'm a really late starter.
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2016
  19. Hannibal

    Hannibal Cry HAVOC and let slip the Dogs of War!!! Supporter

    If Emil says good morning then look out the window to see if the sun is up.....very little he says has any veracity

    Tommy is a physically skilled individual, but his politics leave me cold (and he is also under no illusions as to what I thinknof him) and I have yet to see anything from him that is done against a live human being as opposed to willing stooges
     
  20. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    I wouldn't feel one bit stupid if I were you. We all start from a place of not knowing in myriad areas of life. Martial arts is one of those things that's so steeped in mythology, illusion, esotericism, delusions and charlatanism that it's hard to penetrate as a new starter. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone here that didn't buy into some level of bs at some point.... I know I did. I blame Michael dudikoff and Capcom.
     

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