eugene ts wong's Journal: Kung-Fu: last lesson until further notice

Disclaimer: I'd like to document my kung-fu experiences, for my own use. I'll be sure to mention "kung-fu" in 1 form or another in the subject line for your filtering purposes. You're welcome to comment if you wish. I wouldn't be offended if everybody ignored these or commented.

Edit: the last lesson was on Friday, Jan. 30, 2003.

I was getting tired of taking kung-fu, & felt that my schedule was too busy. I wanted to pursue different things, & thus didn't feel that I could devote much time to kung-fu. 1 of the biggest problems is that I needed to do more balancing exercises. Until I could get good balance, my kicks would always be subpar.

Thus I decided to call it quits until further notice. I would like to continue in half a year or so.

In the mean time, I'll try to do my balance exercises.

He said that I only have to learn a couple of theories before the yellow belt, & I would really like to get that belt for the sake of achievement, & the chance to learn how to use a weapon. I don't enjoy fighting or exercise, but it would be kind of fun to use a weapon.

Thus far, I have learned:
1. punch
2. downward block [something like that]
3. inside hooking block
4. reverse hooking block
5. upward block [something like that]
6. frontward block [something like that]
7. knife hands [7 swinging motions]
8. elbows [6 motions]
9. side kick
10. roundhouse kick
11. reverse roundhouse kick
12. front kick
13. flying front kick [jump up with 1 leg from standing position & kick with the other]
14. back kick
15. swinging back kick
16. 5 horse stands
17. 3 cat stands
18. 3 crane stands

I guess that's about it.

I felt so guilty for telling him that I wanted to stop for a while. He talked about how noone has come back even though they intended to. He asked me twice in the same hour why I wanted to quit. I just felt so bad. My parents didn't like this news either.

Wait a minute

[buffer-overflowed]

(as me peers up from writing my new french journal)

Is this an almost private instructor?

If so, why don't you tell him your concerns and have him work with you on it. If it's a larger class, you might want to stick in it and refine what you already know under a watchful eye.

I wouldn't quit the class for 6 months, I would keep going.

Re:Wait a minute

[eugene ts wong]

Is this an almost private instructor?

Yes, it is. We take 1 lesson per week, & show up for 2 evening skill classes per week.

If so, why don't you tell him your concerns and have him work with you on it. If it's a larger class, you might want to stick in it and refine what you already know under a watchful eye.

I don't understand the suggestions. How does the size of the class or private lesson affect the decision?

I guess that I'm just concerned about being able to devote enough time to this. I feel that I

Re:Wait a minute

[buffer-overflowed]

You can always tell the instructor you might need to skip a few sessions(and skip them when necessary) over the next say 6 months(or whenever). Unless the concern is the cost.

The reason class size factors in is that if it's a very small class and you're concerned about not being able to proceed due to balance issues, you can work on that, and get much better pacing/discipline in it than you can probably achieve alone.

Surely these classes can't take up more than 3-6 hours a week?

I think it would be a mis

Re:Wait a minute

[eugene ts wong]

1 of the problems with scaling back on the lessons & sessions, unfortunately, is that whether or not I take the lessons, I still have to pay for it. $100+ per month isn't going to kill me, but I want to hold back on it until I can know that I have the commitment to get $100+ worth of learning out of it. I'm estimating that if I practise the balance exercises for 6 months [or however long], & then take lessons, then I would arrive @ the same skill level as if took the lessons consistantly. The cost w

Re:Wait a minute

[Eye of the Frog]

That's too bad you're hanging up Kung Fu. But as you said, you don't really care for fighting or exercise. You might be able to get by without much sparring in class, but the exercise is a must.

Quitting because you need more time for a social life I don't really understand, but my situation is probably different. My classes are a pretty good size most nights (12-20 out of about 75 total students) and I get to know a lot of the people very well. Sometimes a small group of us will go out after class and do s

Re:Wait a minute

[eugene ts wong]

Before I respond, I want to emphasize that I'm not good @ being responsible with my time, so I can't really prioritize very well.

the exercise is a must

I suppose, but I feel that I must choose between 1 or the other. The evening classes start @ 9pm & end @ 10pm. That doesn't give me a very free evening. After a work out, I don't really feel like socializing with guys. All day long, I'm trying to find ways to socialize with women, without being a pestering nerd. If I go the route of being healthy, then I

Oops! Here are corrections for the above comment.

[eugene ts wong]

I accidentally clicked Submit, instead of Preview. Here are some clarifications. In the above post, I said:

I understand that, but I figure that there isn't anything wrong with just going after 1 belt as a sign of a small achievment.

Of course, this is all based on my observations and could make no sense in your situation. :)

but I meant to say that 1st paragraph, & quote the last paragraph. So, it might look like the following.

I understand that, but I figure that there isn't anything wrong with just goin

That's how it works.

[siliconvortex]

You'll never feel great about your balance. Or your kicks. Or your punches. Or reflex. Or anything. That's what's so cool about Martial Arts.

You only feel "better", but never good. Once you feel good, you should have mastered it, which takes years. That's what drives us, momentary accomplishments, but with an overall drive to get better.

Don't use time as an excuse. Be honest with yourself, and your instructor. It's not wrong to loose interest in something. Happens all the time. But tell your in

Re:That's how it works.

[eugene ts wong]

You'll never feel great about your balance. Or your kicks. Or your punches. Or reflex. Or anything. That's what's so cool about Martial Arts.

You only feel "better", but never good. Once you feel good, you should have mastered it, which takes years. That's what drives us, momentary accomplishments, but with an overall drive to get better.

I'm glad that you mentioned that. He seems to give me the impression that I am falling behind on the unofficial schedule that I should be following. He seems to keep going