Posted by: Anonymous
my MA journey. - 11/01/04 02:36 PM
Seeing as how most of the stories on this board are about some tremendous fight that changed thier life... I decided to change it up a bit and post how I got started in MA. Being a student for approximately six months, I look to anyone with MA experiance and try to draw from them. So, here is my story.
Ever since I was younger (probably about 6 or 7 I'd say) I saw a Jackie Chan movie or the Karate Kid or something, and thought, "I want to be able to do that." However, my mother was an overbearing one. Not allowed to play any "contact" sports, MA was certainly a no-no. So my dreams of wanting to take it up were pretty much crushed from the start. When I turned 18, my friend told me how she has been taking Shaolin-do for about 6 months and wanted me to come check it out. Due to my schedual at the time, it proved impossible to get to a class (taking college courses, not to mention the lack of money associated with college and unthrifty spending). About a year later, I took a semester off from school due to a much needed break. During this time off, I stopped in the class. On the first day I went, the instructor was gone (had to go to his daughter's graduation) so one of the highest ranked students taught for the day. I did some basic punch and kick combos and often find my eyes wandering to see what the other students were doing. It is really interesting to see chain whips whipping through the air, drunken spear forms, and pa qua. The following week, I was allowed to spar. Dan. A second degree black belt was my first opposition. (they make the newbies spar the black belts the first couple weeks that way the new students can get a grasp for the rules without in-advertantly hurting someone.) There stands Dan. Not a man, but a beast. Before I climb in, my friend tells me a quote from The Last Samuri. "Too many mind. Mind the sword, mind the people watching. Too many mind." I am standing before someone that looks like they could tear me from limb to limb, and eat me for dinner, raw. Despite his intimidating appearance, I found he is actually nice. Not only did he let me hit him a few times,(him letting me is the only way I would get an attack in edgewise) but he would tell me that I was leaving an opening, (and then proceeded to kick it.) I was hooked. for the following two weeks, I was searching for any and all information I could get. I rented more kung fu movies during that time than I care to count. I am pretty confident that I've seen every jet li movie ever made(jet being my favorite). And six months later, I am just as enthused(spelling?) as the first day I started. I even found myself scheduling college courses around kung fu. I know I have a lot to learn, and many experiances still to be had, and to tell the truth, I am looking forward to it. I am looking forward to the time when I can do pa qua, and chain whip, and drunken forms. But until I can, I just want to be the best that I can, and learn as much as my brain will allow.
Hopefully you find my MA journy enjoyable, and if not, I appologize for wasting your time.
Ever since I was younger (probably about 6 or 7 I'd say) I saw a Jackie Chan movie or the Karate Kid or something, and thought, "I want to be able to do that." However, my mother was an overbearing one. Not allowed to play any "contact" sports, MA was certainly a no-no. So my dreams of wanting to take it up were pretty much crushed from the start. When I turned 18, my friend told me how she has been taking Shaolin-do for about 6 months and wanted me to come check it out. Due to my schedual at the time, it proved impossible to get to a class (taking college courses, not to mention the lack of money associated with college and unthrifty spending). About a year later, I took a semester off from school due to a much needed break. During this time off, I stopped in the class. On the first day I went, the instructor was gone (had to go to his daughter's graduation) so one of the highest ranked students taught for the day. I did some basic punch and kick combos and often find my eyes wandering to see what the other students were doing. It is really interesting to see chain whips whipping through the air, drunken spear forms, and pa qua. The following week, I was allowed to spar. Dan. A second degree black belt was my first opposition. (they make the newbies spar the black belts the first couple weeks that way the new students can get a grasp for the rules without in-advertantly hurting someone.) There stands Dan. Not a man, but a beast. Before I climb in, my friend tells me a quote from The Last Samuri. "Too many mind. Mind the sword, mind the people watching. Too many mind." I am standing before someone that looks like they could tear me from limb to limb, and eat me for dinner, raw. Despite his intimidating appearance, I found he is actually nice. Not only did he let me hit him a few times,(him letting me is the only way I would get an attack in edgewise) but he would tell me that I was leaving an opening, (and then proceeded to kick it.) I was hooked. for the following two weeks, I was searching for any and all information I could get. I rented more kung fu movies during that time than I care to count. I am pretty confident that I've seen every jet li movie ever made(jet being my favorite). And six months later, I am just as enthused(spelling?) as the first day I started. I even found myself scheduling college courses around kung fu. I know I have a lot to learn, and many experiances still to be had, and to tell the truth, I am looking forward to it. I am looking forward to the time when I can do pa qua, and chain whip, and drunken forms. But until I can, I just want to be the best that I can, and learn as much as my brain will allow.
Hopefully you find my MA journy enjoyable, and if not, I appologize for wasting your time.