Sunday, December 27, 2009
Another relaxation method
A relaxation method I like to use goes something like this: You can sit in a comfortable chair (one that you like or a favorite chair/couch), close your eyes, start with your toes and imagine the outside of the area from toes on up "filling up" on the outside...then after your whole body is filled (of the outside skin) from toe to head, imagine that it is filling up from toes to head but on the inside of toe, foot, leg, etc....all the way to top of head. By then, you should be fairly relaxed. Then, I like to imagine that I am entering a corridor that travels slightly downward. It is only me there so no distractions. I imagine I am floating down and as I float down I am relaxing even more. I arrive at five deep steps and imagine going from step five on down relaxing at each step on the way down. When I get to step one, I am very, very relaxed (almost hypnotized) but then, I get to an "airlock" which I open and, when inside, get relaxed even more. When I open the airlock I am at "relaxation station" where I am so relaxed it is almost a shame. This part is personal to me and you; I go through "my" door and enter "my" room where I (as my own fantasy) have a relaxation reclyner. I sit in it and recline and am looking out a large, thick glass window where the oceon is there and small waves or rolling in. It is the only sound I can hear and nobody else can get in my room. I listen and watch the waves for about five to ten minutes. When leaving, I sort of go through the steps backward. When I am out of my cooridor and into the sunshine, I rub my head, eyes and face and get back to normal.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Relax!
One tremendous thing that Sifu Dan has taught me over the years is basically to relax! Many times while doing drills or Chi Sao, Dan always noticed how tense I was being and would just say "relax"...That has always been a fairly difficult thing for me to do, but with his help, and the fact that it was said or told to me so many times (probably hundreds), everytime I get tense about anything, I try to recall his voice and expression while saying the word. It always works because I get into a relaxed state each time. Not that I would ever be attacked, but you never know? If it did happen, I am sure that this word would be the first thing I would think about. It has to help! Of course there are other ways to handle a realistic opponent, i.e., attacker. One way that I have come across comes from "Attack Proof" and is something like this; You are standing alone with your eyes closed, when you open your eyes, attackers are in front of you with broken bottles and knives. You close your eyes again (because it is imaginary) and imagine the most vile thing you can think of in front of you and that this vile giant (or whatever) is trying to take your child! You open your eyes and scream the loudest scream you have ever used and with both palms open attack the vile thing until it/he is in shreads. There are other methods and I will discuss a few of those in coming posts.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Change of Blog (but Good change)
I have been thinking somewhat about changing (slightly) the nature of the blog! By far, the nature of it will remain the journey, however, I have decided to tweek it a bit and start adding bits and pieces regarding what I have learned about Wing Chun (and perhaps a few other arts). Some of this information and maybe opinion will come from many books that I have and some other information may come from actual experience in Lafayette and New Iberia with Sifu Dan Terrell (and occasionally Sifu Fong). I realize that you generally cannot learn Wing Chun from books, but you can learn ABOUT Wing Chun from books and DVD's. There is certainly nothing wrong with learning about the art. Much of the discussion (and I hope we have some) will center on actual learning and principles of Wing Chun. Certainly, if I am wrong about some of this information, my Sifu will join in and correct it, but hope I don't add any disinformation. As mentioned, sometimes I hope to add information and discussion of some other arts. I know perhaps only a limited amount about some of them so others may want to put their 2 cents in from time to time. I hope so! We may talk about Pekiti Tersia, Muay Thai, BJJ, and may some Karate (from my past experience with it). I am also an 8th level in Preying Mantis Kung Fu, so we may talk about that and maybe Sifu Chuck Perry in Alexandria will join us. I also may bring up some discussion of "Attack Proof" which I have been learning recently. All of this will start next time, so stay tooned!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Knife Seminar (2)
Just a few things that Sifu Dan and Gene Guidry went over in the seminar. Gene started with some good hand and arm stretches that you can't skip when dealing with the knife. He then went into the necessary Pekiti stepping and turning techniques that are also essential. Sifu Dan took over and started with the basics which included knife taping. This is extremely important when learning the knife. Both Gene and Dan made it very clear that taping is not necessarily how you fight or defend with the knife. Later, Sifu talked about emergency techniques (if you want to call them techniques). As always, these things are based on principles in the system which is vast. Later, Sifu Dan delved into takedowns and strips which was very helpful to me. This, to me, is something that has to be practiced over and over, not to memorize but to make sure that they are understood. I am hopeful that there will be more seminars like this one to both emphasize what we have already learned and to gradually add to what we have already learned. By the way, both Gene Guidry and Sifu Dan worked with me a lot in the seminar and I am very grateful for that. Actually, Sifu Dan used me in a few of the demontrations (since I had learned some of this before) and I was very proud that he did. Hope I did well? He said that I did! Check out the picture of me and Sifu Dan in this blog! Next time, some pictures of pit stops and also a picture of Gene that was taken at the knife seminar!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Knife Seminar (Today!)
I was surprised to hear from Sifu Dan several weeks ago, although I think I started the conversation on his page. He said he had a knife seminar coming up on November 21 and was to be in Lafayette. I have always been interested in knife because the knife is probably the most used weapon and knife defense can be learned and used if necessary. Naturally, the day of the seminar was raining and raining a lot for me is fairly bad because it is an hour and half trip in bad weather. Today was no exception but I was surprised to find that the rain was not too bad, at least on the trip down to Lafayette. I had directions but when I got to Lafayette, the rain was realy bad and frankly, I got lost. I finally got to the park where it was being held but was 10 minutes late. I had to call Sifu Dan on his cell to make sure I was in the correct place. When I got into the room, which was about a 20 by 50 foot room (about), exercises were already in progress. A student of Sifu Dan, Gene Guidry was leading the group. He has been with PMATC for about 8 years or so. Gene worked with me a lot of the time and was extremely helpful and I really learned a lot, especially takedowns which is my weak point. The seminar went on for about 4 hours and I think was enjoyed by all. I got to take some pictures and will have them up soon. Hope we will have more of these seminars, especially Pekiti Tersia knife ones. More knews on this seminar next time and hope to have the pictures up then too!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Sifu Fong Seminar
The first time I saw Sifu Francis Fong was about 3 or 4 months into my Wing Chun journey. Sifu Dan told me that Sifu Fong was going to be coming to New Iberia for a seminar at a certain date. He did not indicate what was to be in the siminar, such as Sil Lim Tao, or Chum Kiu or whatever because Sifu Fong always generally decided the day of the seminar what he was going to teach. Sometimes it depended on who was there and how much knowledge and ability the members had. Frankly, it did not matter to me because I was just excited about meeting him! The seminar was held in a concrete building, sort of like a room, at the edge of the park in New Iberia. There was ample room for the number of students attending which was about 30 or so. Dan brieflly introduced me to Sifu Fong and the seminar started with exercises to "warm up" and the heat was on. We went through a number of principles that Sifu Fong introduced and broke up many times to practice exercises learned in the seminar. I came out of the seminar with both a much better understanding of some Wing Chun principles and an even better understanding of the terrific abilities of Sifu Fong. The best way I can say it is: it appears that Sifu Fong has "eyes in the back of his head"...I do know that I would never attempt to surprise him. I know that I would shortly be landing on the floor, probably upside down! In my ten years, there would be many of these seminar which I enjoyed very much!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Trip, part 3
There is not that much interesting about an Interstate trip of about 75 miles so I had to make it interesting myself. I took advantage of the internal CD player in the various cars that I had over a ten year period and used it to: partially learn a language, spanish, learn a lot about Qi Gung, or as some say, Chi Kung, which is a Chinese relaxation method and some say a method of centering that can help to develope your power, strength, and of course relaxation. I also got to listen to lots of music, some that I had not listened to since I was in the military service in Hawaii around 1970 to 1973. Most of it was rock but some was classical and easy listening. My favorites were "Best of Doors' and some "Jethro Tull" that I had not heard for many years. I also listened to "The Who" and "Led Zepelin 4" a lot. Eventually I was hearing a 2 volume set of "The Rolling Stones" which I liked a lot (although cd 1 was much superior, in my opinion to the 2nd cd). It is called "Forty Licks"...I don't really know why. I just liked it because it had many of the songs on it that I grew up hearing and liking. At any cost, the trip was "a trip" and was almost always enjoyed and sometimes relaxing. Next time: Sifu Fong seminar (the first one).
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The Trip Itself Part 2
I had several other pit stops too. The next one after the Exxon station was a normal interstate rest stop and was located about 15 miles north of Opelousas. When I arrived there each time I knew that I had only about 15 minutes to Lafayette and then another 15 or 20 minutes to New Iberia (depending on which way I went). The rest stop was nice but was not "live"...it was just a place to stop, go to the bathroom or get a resfreshment and some needed rest on the way back. I almost always stopped there because it gave me a needed breather from the highway. After that stop, the next one was a station in Lafayette itself. I usually stopped there because I knew they had good coffee and it really kept me going. On the way back, I always stopped at another Exxon station but in Lafayette because they had good capuchinos which I love. After a heavy workout (described later) the drink made me feel a lot better. I also usually took a large coffee container with me from home, and by that time, it was empty so I needed more juice. After the Lafayette stop, the only other one on the way back was the rest stop that I stopped at on the way. It was always a welcome sight because I was usually very tired by that time and maybe needed a quick 5 minute nap. That nap would be enough to get me home...more later.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Trip Itself
I don't know how many trips I have made from Pineville, Louisiana to both Lafayette and New Iberia over the past 10 or so years, but there were a bunch of them. Generally, I went every other Sunday although there were exceptions if one or both of us were unable to make it that day. The trip itself consisted of a short trip north of the Red River in Pineville and later Ball, Louisiana to Alexandria (where I was born), then to Interstate 49 south to either Lafayette or New Iberia which is about 15 minutes south of Lafayette. I had favorite places to stop. I called them "pit stops" and they were mostly for relaxation and to get some coffee or capuchino. My first pit stop was at an Exxon station near Woodworth, La which is about 10 miles south of Alexandria. I got to know the clerk lady there, I will call her Susan and her adopted dog, Pete. Pete was a scroungy mutt but very friendly, especially when looking for a meal. Susan got to the point whereby she recognized me and that I came in every two weeks or so on Sundays. I usually got a candy bar and coffee and she always joked with me about it being my breakfast or lunch. We always had a big laugh over it. The next pit stop was actually a regular rest stop about 15 miles north of Opelousas, La. That is over half way through the trip and a welcomed sight for the weary. I'll tell you more about this stop on the next post.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Permission Granted
I now have permission to use Sifu Dan Terrell's name and school. He and the school is located in New Iberia, La. which is about 15 minutes south of Lafayette, La. His school, which is very spacious, is located in a business area with other stores, etc. nearby. The addressi is: 910 E. Main Street, Suite 31, New Iberia, La. His phone number is: 337-376-6509. Dan is a very personable guy and even though he is a well-qualified Sifu, he usually has all of us call him Dan or Danny. I feel that in more formal settings, he should be called Sifu. He is married, with 2 grown children who are also on their way to success in life. Dan works very hard because he works all day in a management job and then runs his school at night and weekends. His school is called PMATC which stands for Progressive Martial Arts Training Center and it is truly that! The training includes: Wing Chun, Pekiti-Tirsia (Kali), Muay Thai, and Grappling Arts and Dan is expert in all of them. Dan's Sifu for Wing Chun is the famous Francis Fong of Hong Kong fame. Although Sifu Fong was younger, he knew Bruce Lee in Hong Kong. Actually, Bruce Lee's first art was Wing Chun. He used Wing Chun basically to learn how to fight and he fought many times on the rooftops of Hong Kong. Anyway, more about Dan and the school later.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Wing Chun Den (Ex-Garage)
Usually, Don and I met on his "back screen porch" at least for several months until it got colder, and even in the South, it did get colder! When it did, we moved to Don's "extra den" which had been converted from a 2 car garage years before. There were many great Wing Chun times and moments in this converted garage and I enjoyed tremendously every moment of it! In this den, I began to learn the rudiments of Wing Chun such as centerline, rooting, sensitivity via chi sao and many other famous Wing Chun principles that I still carry with me. The den was about 24 by 24 or so and was just a big, open room very suitable for great workouts. During my first year and half, I was learning Wing Chun from the ground up without the benefit of striving for belts or shashes and it really felt good. Later, I would decide to add the belt level curriculum to my endeavers. While I enjoyed learning the style that way the first year and half, I eventually felt that I should get the benefit of all that was offered by Don and his school. Later, I regretted not doing that from the beginning, but, you can't go back. Some of the things that I started learning in the den helped me realize how great an art Wing Chun was and is. I will always remember the fun and interesting things I learned and did there! Later, the lessons would move to a more formal setting. More on that later so stay tuned.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
After Chum Kiu Seminar
Later, after the seminar and on my way home (which takes about 2 hours), I had plenty of time to think. Some was about what I had learned in the seminar but most was how impressed I was with the use of the wooden dummy at the seminar. Although it wasn't necessarily a "wooden dummy" seminar, the dummy was used often to help explain things like certain principles in Wing Chun. Some in the seminar, including Don had indicated that people they knew built and sold dummies but most sold for over $1000. At that time (and even now), I just could not afford that so I started looking around and also check the martial art magazines and on-line. I came across a "dummy" that was being sold by P. Holder, who is considered a "Grand Master" by many and who also puts out a lot of Wing Chun videos. It was considered a "half dummy" because the body was not round but basically a 2 by 8" body with the arms and leg (or knee if you want) protruding out the front. The basic difference between it and a regular dummy was the round body. I purchased it for $300 and it was sent to me in about 3 weeks. The package was very heavy but I managed to move it and eventually put it together. I screwed it to a wall so it was stationary and began to practice. I really didnt know anything but I was learning and I enjoyed it anyway. Later, I came to find out that the half-dummy was not considered very good because it did not move the way an actual, full dummy should. The movement and sound it makes is very important to a Wing Chun person as I later found out and the "real" purpose of the dummy is to learn structure and positioning and not to toughen your hands, legs, and arms.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Chum Kiu Seminar
The day of the seminar, I had to get up early because it was basically a two hour trip from Cenla. I arrived at the gym fairly early since I had been there before for a previous meeting. Don and gang were busy loading a large wooden dummy from his truck and I helped. The seminar leader(I will call him Mike for now), was there and greeted me. I had talked to him on the phone when I first called about Wing Chun months earlier. His name and school name was given to me by the travelling Wing Chun teacher. Don introduced us and Mike did remember talking to me on the phone. Since then, Mike has moved to Atlanta to pursue work as a computer person. He still keep up with the Martial Arts though. The seminar was tremendous! He went through the segments of the form, not teaching the form, per se, but explaining the principles as he went to help us understand the nature of them. Don, and his son, helped demonstrate (usually the dummy stuff) and we all broke up every half hour or so to use the information that we had received. I already knew a few guys from previous meetings, so I was able to use them as helpers. One of the guys was about my height so we got together quite often and one of the few ladies (I will call her Doris for now) was also instrumental in helping me, especially on the dummy. All in all, the seminar was great. It went on for about 6 hours and one of the best things about it is that it was taped and I was able to purchase the tape. I still have it!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Invitation
Soon, I was headed down south every other Sunday and it truly felt like an adventure each time. The trip was fairly boring, but later, I will tell you about some things I did to make it more interesting, to me, at least. One Sunday, at Don's house during one of my private lessons, he asked if I wanted to attend an upcoming "Chum Kiu" seminar which was to be held in the town at a local gym. I was thrilled to be invited! Don then started teaching me a few things related to the upcoming seminar. Chum Kiu is the second form in Wing Chun, and usually a trainee doesnt get training in it for at least a year. For our purposes though, Don usually stayed with the first form, Sil Lim Tao, for well over a year. Learning these things about the second form gave me a tremendous sense of pride and I also learned much more about Wing Chun, sort of ahead of time. We were still meeting on Don's back screen porch since the cold weather had not arrived as of yet and the training was beginning to click a little. The "Chum Kiu" that I learned that Sunday has stayed with me since then and I still think about many of the principles that I learned. Whenever I get bored at my office, I still practice some of the turning involved in the form. More about the actual seminar next time!
Friday, September 25, 2009
First Wing Chun meeting down south
After the first meeting in the small town with "Don" I was hooked! I knew that I wanted to learn more about Wing Chun! I arranged via email to meet with Don the next Sunday in the city about 15 minutes south of Lafayette, Louisiana and I was on my way to a 10 year journey! It really felt exciting to me, sort of like a coming adventure. That next Sunday, I drove down to the city which took about 2 hours from where I lived in central Louisiana. It really wasnt a bad drive, mostlly Interstate. When I arrived, I went to Don's house since he had earlier given me directions. It was fairly easy to find. The city wasnt really that big but was a very nice place to be. The people seemed very friendly there. I met Don and we went directly to his back screened portch. There was a "wooden dummy" there which was made famous by Wing Chun people long ago. There was also a few heavy punching bags, one for hitting and kicking, the other for knee work. The rest of the portch was fairly empty except for a wooden swing. Don wanted to know if I wanted to just learn Wing Chun or use a "directed" approach which could lead to a "Black Belt" or "Black Sash" in Wing Chun. I chose the "just learn it" approach at that time but later regreted it. I will explain more about that in the next blog.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Frank
One day when my daughter, Sarah and I arrived at "American Kung Fu Academy" for a private lesson (we usually went every other Sunday at 10 A.M. for a long time), we came into the Kwoon and a guy we didnt know was there. He introduced himself as Frank from New York. At first, I thought he was just a visitor, but as time went on, I found out that he was somewhat permanent in terms of being at the Kwoon (and maybe teaching). Frank was almost frantic about learning Preying Mantis and all the other forms of Kung Fu taught at the Kwoon. He learned it very fast and eventually, started teaching at the Kwoon. All of this happened in probably less than one year. Frank had been an Golden Gloves boxer back in New York, so he was also basically teaching a side course on boxing which I attended. A few times, though, I was scheduled to come to a class and somehow Frank was not there. He sometimes used an excuse that his in-laws in Natchitoches called with a flat time or something similar. I soon found that I could not count on him. He did seem to possibly have a shady past. Eventually, he used some money that he brought with him and started a fight school in Lafayette. I have not seen or heard from him since then. He is (was) a likeable guy though and he was good to Sarah which I appreciated.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Preying Mantis
The first time I saw "American KungFu Academy" in Alexandria, I was impressed. It was neat, and well represented with numerous Kung Fu weapons to be seen clearly through the large glass window. It also had a dummy with the school T-shirt on that was impressive. The outside was brick and glass and a very large Kung Fu sign was displayed at the top of the front of the building. Inside, the area was very spacious with plenty of room for students to stretch while others were working on technique or forms. Others near any of the corners of the large "Kwoon" could be working on Preying Mantis' version of "Chi Sao" which is called "Playing Hands" in the style. The Sifu, Charles or "Chuck" Perry, had his office in the rear of the building suite where a desk, copier, and room for gear and books to be sold existed. In this room, there was also a half-bath which could also be used for private dressing. In the main workout floor area, the walls were adorned with various Kung Fu pictures. One, which was very impressive, was a large picture of the "Wall of China" which caught my eye right away. At just about any time after 4 pm each workday, numerous children and some adults could be seen working on their Kung Fu at the Kwoon. More on the Kwoon next post.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Preying Mantis
Before I go into the trip I was talking about earlier and next meeting with Don, I need to digress just a little. Before I met "Don" I checked the local area of Alexandria, La for any Kung Fu schools and found one. I called and talked to the Sifu, Chuck Perry and he invited me over a few days later to talk some more. I went a few days later and met him. He was very nice and cordial and very clear and I like clarity. He did not teach Wing Chun but did teach many forms of Kung Fu, including Preying Mantis. I had heard that PM was a very good style (art, if you wish), so he agreed to start teaching via private lesson and I started a few days later. At first, I went on Sunday mornings, probably for about 5 years or so and then went to an after work time or whenever I could be scheduled by Sifu or one of his top students. I will tell you about one of these students later, although Sifu may not like it much! It's not really bad, just a sort of "rotten apple" and it is now in the distant past. Anyway, I started learning the basics and a few of the PM forms. Sifu also teaches "Longfist" Kung Fu and various other styles of KF. He now also teaches a Tai Chi form. After I had been there for awhile, my daughter, Sarah went along with me to a class. She was 10 at the time and was a junior Black Belt in Karate but she was curious and still is. She kept going with me for about 6 years and left as a level 7 (7 of 10) in PM Kung Fu. Much more about Sifu and the Kwoon later.
Friday, September 18, 2009
First Meeting and more
After our talk at Burger King, I followed Don and son over to his in-laws house in the small town and we settled in his garage area. He asked me if I knew SLT (Sil Lim Tao) which is Wing Chun's first form (and some say also the most advanced form, and I agree). I bragged that I did (actually I had learned most of the form from a tape), so he said, "show me". I went through the form and thought I had done terrifically. It was a great surprise when he said it had good elements but all of the energy was wrong. It took me about 5 years to understand what he meant by that. In Wing Chun, you don't always understand what is going on until you "get it" yourself. It can be explained to a degree, but until you understand every aspect of a principle and experience it yourself, you don't really know it. Of course, even after 10 years of private lessons with Don (meeting approximately every two weeks on Sundays) I freely admit that I don't even come close to knowing it all. I think the great Yip Man would say the same (not comparing self to him). We worked on the form and he asked me to show him one of my Karate forms which I did. He indicated that it was triangular which is common for forms. Don has an uncanny ability to see a form for the first time and understand it almost completely. Next time, I will go over more of the first meeting and talk a little about a trip!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
First Wing Chun meeting
My first Wing Chun meeting happened after I had called the Wing Chun teacher who was recommended to me by the travelling Wing Chun teacher. The new teacher's location was/is about 15 minutes south of Lafayette, LA. but that is not where we met. I first called the original teacher who was recommended to me but he said he was getting out of teaching and going into computer work in Atlanta, GA, but he had left his school to Don. He gave me Don's number and I immediately called. He wasn't there but called me back the next night. He said his wife's parents lived about 30 minutes south of me in a small town and Don and wife would be visiting them to help them out. His father-in-law broke his leg and needed help with the yard, etc. We made arrangements to meet at a Burger King in this small town the next Saturday. I met Don and his 15 year old son there and the first thing he asked me was why did I want to study Wing Chun? I told him that I was interested in the art because I had read and studied it and felt that it was the best for me. I also told him that I was not interested in learning how to beat up people, even the ones I don't like. I think that did the trick. I had a 2 hour private lesson with Don that Saturday. It was a terrific beginning! (more next time)
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Seattle Story 3
As promised, the story about an incident that happened to the travelling Wing Chun Sifu. On the last part of his trip across the States, he ended up in a school in a mid-south state and was busy showing some students there a Wing Chun technique (although, it is generally considered that Wing Chun is based on principles, not techniques). Apparently, the Sifu at that school, which I understood was at least partially a Wing Chun school, didn't like what the travelling teacher was doing, so he came over and asked to be shown the technique. Before our guy could get ready the other guy hit the travelling teacher directly in the face. Our guy debated long into the night as to wheather he should report the incident. I understood that he finally did. I don't know if the guy was arrested or not. Anyway, it was certainly uncalled for to do that sort of thing. Our man was just being a great, friendly guy and maybe some of the things he was teaching didn't agree with this schools thought process or the unfriendly Sifu's process but it was not necessary to resort to this kind of violence. He could have just nicely asked our guy to leave and I'm sure that he would have left. More next time.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Seattle Story 2
My daughter and I had a terrific time with the Wing Chun teacher in Lafayette! He spent 4 hours with us and it was the first time I had even done any Chi Sao! It really piqued my curiosity about the art and I think my daughter, Sarah (who was about 10 or 11 at the time) enjoyed it too. She never did follow Wing Chun much but ended up getting her Black Belt in Karate (we tested and passed the same day) a few years later. Eventually, we got the 2nd Dan in Karate and she taught at the Dojo for a number of years before heading off to college. She still has a good relationship with the Sensei.
A few months after meeting with the Wing Chun man in Lafayette, he sent me email and forwarded a sort of small book written about his exploits on the trip. He gave Sarah and I a very good review and talked about us a lot. But it was from him that I learned of the "local" teacher of Wing Chun about 15 miles south of Lafayette. I will call him Don (as of yet, I don't have permission to use his name or school). In the next blog, I will tell you a true story related to me from the travelling teacher about what happened to him in Tennessee!
A few months after meeting with the Wing Chun man in Lafayette, he sent me email and forwarded a sort of small book written about his exploits on the trip. He gave Sarah and I a very good review and talked about us a lot. But it was from him that I learned of the "local" teacher of Wing Chun about 15 miles south of Lafayette. I will call him Don (as of yet, I don't have permission to use his name or school). In the next blog, I will tell you a true story related to me from the travelling teacher about what happened to him in Tennessee!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Seattle story
As mentioned in my last post, the Wing Chun guy from the Seattle area was travelling all around the United States basically showing off the art. I never did ask him, but I think that he was also having a great time with the freedom of it all too. It was obvious though that he didn't have a lot of money to spend because he was always looking for inexpensive motels to stay in while on his travels. He did tell me one story about part of his stay in Lafayette, Louisiana, which is where we met him. He generally thought that a lot of people in the area were "low lifes" and many drank too much. I did not think (at the time) to mention that it was mostly that way just about everywhere in the U.S. because if you don't have much money, you end up staying in less desirable areas. Those areas also exists in Lafayette (and other similar sized cities). Naturally, if you go to an area that is considered more "upscale" you generally will not find much of that sort of activity (drinking in the street, etc.). Anyway, he told me that when he first arrived in Lafayette, a guy sort of accosted him on the street. Our Wing Chun guy was stopped at a traffic light and the other guy, who was obviously drinking, came up to him in a kind of hostel manner. He may have just wanted an innocent conversation, but probably not likely. The Wing Chun teacher was upset and somewhat nervous, but he delt with the drinking guy politely and went on about his business (both of them). It gave a bad impression of the area though. More later!
Monday, September 7, 2009
A Cenla (Central Louisiana) Wing Chun Kung Fu Journey
After receiving a Brown Belt in Karate (which also included Judo and some Jiu Jitsu), I became interested in Wing Chun Kung Fu. Naturally, I was interested in reading a lot about Martial Arts in general, but after reading four of Bruce Lee's books about his art, it was apparent that he received his knowledge(but not necessarily his ability) from his original art which was Wing Chun Kung Fu. Bruce Lee was a natural Martial Artist and probably could have done very well in just about any art that he wanted to undertake, but it was Wing Chun that he chose as a teen. In this art, he learned to fight and fight well. He did sometimes put his fighting skills to the test by fighting in "rooftop" fights in Hong Kong, and I understand that he won most, if not all, of the fights. In his books, even though he was touting his own "art" of Jeet Kune Do, he mentioned Wing Chun and even suggested that the reader start with that art. I wanted to find out more about it.
I did continue my Karate and eventually got my first Black Belt at the age of 55. I started taking Karate because my kids, Sarah and Ian (8 and 6 years old at the time) were involved in it. I was at the Dojo a lot because I took them to training, sometimes 5 nights per week. I guess I was talked into taking the art by the Sensei and have never regreted it!
After reading about Wing Chun (numerous books and articles), I tried to find instruction in the area of Cenla, but none was available. Later, I even called a guy who is an instructor in Houston, Texas to set up a private lesson. Later, I cancelled it because I found instruction closer to home. Closer to home, though, meant about 2 hours away by car. A digression, not long after reading about Wing Chun, I noticed on AOL that a guy from a Wing Chun school in Seattle was making a United States tour and was stopping in Lafayette which is 1.5 hours from Cenla. My daughter and I went to this and had a 4 hour private lesson which was thourougly enjoyed. I found out about the New Iberia school from this teacher. Actually he told me the name of the guy who was teaching it. I found his phone number, called him and he said he was no longer teaching. He was starting a new line of work in computers so was having to move. But he did give me the name of the new Wing Chun teacher in New Iberia, so I called him. More about this next time (a ten year journey)
I did continue my Karate and eventually got my first Black Belt at the age of 55. I started taking Karate because my kids, Sarah and Ian (8 and 6 years old at the time) were involved in it. I was at the Dojo a lot because I took them to training, sometimes 5 nights per week. I guess I was talked into taking the art by the Sensei and have never regreted it!
After reading about Wing Chun (numerous books and articles), I tried to find instruction in the area of Cenla, but none was available. Later, I even called a guy who is an instructor in Houston, Texas to set up a private lesson. Later, I cancelled it because I found instruction closer to home. Closer to home, though, meant about 2 hours away by car. A digression, not long after reading about Wing Chun, I noticed on AOL that a guy from a Wing Chun school in Seattle was making a United States tour and was stopping in Lafayette which is 1.5 hours from Cenla. My daughter and I went to this and had a 4 hour private lesson which was thourougly enjoyed. I found out about the New Iberia school from this teacher. Actually he told me the name of the guy who was teaching it. I found his phone number, called him and he said he was no longer teaching. He was starting a new line of work in computers so was having to move. But he did give me the name of the new Wing Chun teacher in New Iberia, so I called him. More about this next time (a ten year journey)
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