Martial Artists Unite! Options

I'm sure there's a lot of martial artist here, so let's hear your story, background, experiences and whatever you'd like to share about martial art (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

When I first start to practice martial art when I was 14, what motivates me - foolishly enough - is that I'd like to be able to do those fancy moves I've seen in the movies and to kick ass. I thought flexibility was key so I spent my early days stretching left and right up and down until I can finally do a full split left and right, and between chairs, after some persistent pain management for like about year.

Martial art was my passion above most things I enjoyed and when you truly love doing what you do, you become great. I've earnt it.

Back then, I started with Kyokyushinkai Karate for a year basically practicing the basic kata. There were weekly sparrings and meditations and it was a nice introduction to the art for me. Out in the street, I got a chance to practice it with 3 encircling opponents of little rascals about my age trying to bully and beat me up. Well, the good thing is that they all can't land a single punch or kick because my reflexes remembers the kata well. The bad is that I also cannot land anything since the basics I learned had been passive.

When our family moved to the capital, I studied Wing Chun under my uncle on a weekly basis at his home practicing the basics with his Muk Yan Joong (wooden dummy) until he finally introduced me to his sifu and began my study under him along with other private students. There were only about 5 of us and most of them are in their mid 30's and I was only 15 at the time. My sifu was a good teacher regardless how sly, rough and immoral he can be. He was actually a runaway from Hong Kong for some naughty things he did there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) He also tought me other things beside Wing Chun, from Kali (phillipino art of fighting using a pair of sticks), nunchaku, and balisong. Even though later I also studied other arts, Wing Chun concepts, practice and philosophies really was the core of my practice. By then another 3 rascals on the street trying to mug me but this time I strike back without giving them a chance to land anything. They should be sorry picking a wrong victim and become the victim instead. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/922.gif)

I enjoyed studying how my body would move, testing different kinds of strikes, and techniques. Asking myself persistently how I can maximize the efforts to execute it in the fastest, effective and most efficient way - and artfully whenever possible. Back then, I'd spent hours at a time with my punching bag and my muk yan joong honing my speed and techniques. And through time, I began to combine things I've learnt little by little into my own unique fighting style.

Sparring had become a thing that would excite me most, I seek it, I challenge it, I welcome it without much thought. Not that I like "fighting" and hurting my opponent, but it's simply a sport, a game and a learning tool for me. Pain is a tool to move forward and be better next time. In 10 seconds we'd move and attack eact other so fast that about 20 punches and kicks will be thrown at full speed that we should be in one of the Jet Li movie (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Everything in the beginning will be a blur, but with practice, time will somehow slow down and the eyes adjusts itself to see through the actions and this is where training my reflexes pays off. No mind.. the body will move automatically based on my conditionings. Wing Chun was an effective and efficient form of art and moves without any commitment to a specific form. It will greet what arrives, escort what leaves and rush upon loss of contact. The lower animal mind will command where to attack, defend, and strategize accordingly. I only have to maintain my focus towards my goal and let my reflexes takes charge.

Winning or loosing a spar was not really a big deal. It is not how much I've learned, but how much I can absorb from what I've learned that really improves my game in reality. And the chance to experience a great sportsmanship and honorable fighters I come to respect was fun and enjoyable. We'll "beat" each other up black and blue and later we'll discuss about improvements on our flaws over dinner or tea before trying again the next time we meet.

My best sparring partners was from Wushu Sanshou national team including the teachers whom I usually hangout with. My toughest opponent however was a one time South East Asia Asean Games Tae Kwon Do champion. I simply cannot penetrate his defences. He has the most perfect footwork I have a damn hard time to even penetrate. Well, I definitely owned the fist fight and score multiple hits whenever I sacrifice myself to let his kicks in just to get inside his defence for a close combat I specilized in, but that doesn't happen often and I usually back probing his defences while being wasted with his multiple roundhouse kicks I felt difficult to anticipate. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/black eye.gif) What a perfect timing and great defence. He usually manage to caught me when I will be too slow to defend and counter attack. No wonder he's a champion.

Oh, how I missed those days. I haven't been practicing for about 7 years now and definitely rusty!

Im a Shodan in Aikido(6 years), and a Nidan in Gosoku-ryu style Karate(8 years). They both work very well together, and one of my instructor's is also a former Shaman, present Druid.