Why did you decided to learn kung fu?

[JadeDragon]

People begin to study martial arts for various reasons. Within the martial arts there are many many different styles to choose from. Why did you pick kung fu over say TKD or Tang Soo Do or Shotokan Karate etc... etc...????

Was it for the exercise? For self defense? For self confidence? Other reason?

[pstevens]

I decided to learn kung-fu because I grew up watching "Kung-fu Theatre" and wanted to fight like the heroes from those films. Also, the styles of kung-fu looked very cool. I was a kid, so the superficial aspects of kung-fu were appealing. Also, my older brother was already enrolled in a kung-fu school which made it that much more interesting.

[ggg214]

as a chinese, CMA is my only and best choice.but i started my CMA after four years experience in karate do.
even in china, if you don't want to waste your time in CMA, the first and most important thing is to find a good instructor.however, it's not a easy thing. beacuse good teachers always keep a simple and quiet life.only few of them teaches in public. maybe this is different with the situation out of china.
it's fortune for me that i don't spend so much time on finding a good teacher. then i began my CMA training.

[Garth]

I actually didn't "decide" to choose Kung Fu. I simply went to many different schools in my city and choose the best one which just happened to be a Kung Fu school. Some of the schools I looked at had an atmosphere I didn't like, others put too much emphasis on tradition, others had unimpressive looking students (I realize this is conceited of me but if I walk into a school and see that most of the students are kids, women, or older out-of-shape people, it does not instill confidence in me), others instructors were not able to answer my questions (eg why do you do this move this way), and so on. When I walked into my current school it was different. First thing I noticed was that most of the students were fit men. No kids, only one woman (the girlfriend of one of the guys). Next thing, it was a very relaxed atmosphere, everyone was friendly and talkative. The training was done not against the air but with other people, and there was sparring (though not for beginners). When I ask a question about why a certian move is done a certain way, the instructor gives a detailed answer and encourages more questions, rather than being offended that I would dare question his wisdom. I decided to stick with this group and haven't regretted it.

[Tant01]

Looks like you found a good one!

[PandaMan]

I got into CMA, for a few reasons.
Like pstevens, I grew up watching Kung fu movies. Bruce, Jet and Jackie were my role models. I'd even practice their moves by myself. fail. haha

For the more obvious reasons, self defense. I had taken TKD with my uncles (naturally, since I'm Korean), but I found out very quickly it didn't really work that well for me and the bullies beating me up were 2nd degree black belts in TKD. (typical karate kid stuff)

Lastly, there was only one Kung Fu school in my area at the time. Lau Fat Mang's Eagle Claw School, did some research and got my intro classes. The teachers were nice and helpful. Almost even number of girls and guys, old and young. There were a lot of instructors and it was constantly busy. They had a strong emphasis on application (using forms in combat) and sparring (on fridays). Also sparring other types of styles was explored , which helped me a lot and I got to fight off the bullies quite easily.

I got hooked right away, especially when used for demos or when Sifu would teach us a new application... once the move was done on me, I learned it a lot quicker.

It sucked that I had to move, then the school moved and then my Sifu passed away a few years ago after I had more time and $ to learn.

[Ben Grimm]

5 years ago, when I first started I was like one of those guys in those "Build muscles like Charles Atlas" ads. I was about 120lbs, soaking wet. Tried weightlifting, but it still didn't give me all of the answers. I still felt very uncomfortable about myself even though I currently weigh 170lbs, but after training in various arts, primarily Wing Chun and boxing, I must say I feel good about myself.

[jubaji]

Anyone else find the title of this thread amusing?

[clfsean]

Anyone else find the title of this thread amusing?

Only if you're into proper grammar & spelling...

[jubaji]

Oh yeah, that...

[kingoftheforest]

..........

[bunnyfufuman]

I saw "Enter the Dragon when I was 5. That's all that needed to be said.

BTW I actually saw it when it was released in theatres.

[csc]

Why did you pick kung fu over say TKD or Tang Soo Do or Shotokan Karate etc... etc...????

Was it for the exercise? For self defense? For self confidence? Other reason?

Because CMA can teach you how to:

- Execute a move.
- Train that move in 2 men drill.
- Train that move in solo drill.
- Enhance that move by using special designed equipment.
- Counter that move.
- Recounter the counter of that move.
- Recounter the recounter of the counter of that move.
- Build up a tree by using that move as root.
- Build up a forest by using many roots as described above.

Is there any other MA styles that using this kind of scientific method in training?

[hybridmartial]

kung fu is good and interesting to learn!

[jubaji]

Because CMA can teach you how to:

- Execute a move.
- Train that move in 2 men drill.
- Train that move in solo drill.
- Enhance that move by using special designed equipment.
- Counter that move.
- Recounter the counter of that move.
- Recounter the recounter of the counter of that move.
- Build up a tree by using that move as root.
- Build up a forest by using many roots as described above.

Is there any other MA styles that using this kind of scientific method in training?

Um...yeah...ALL of them do.