Before
July 25, 2008
Coming very soon… Golden Harvest Wing Chun’s own school.
In the thick of it
May 22, 2008
Honesty
May 04, 2008
This is one of the best pictures of yours truly. We were practicing Arnis along Kamogawa river when one of the student’s friends snapped this.
I can totally see into myself in this picture.
Lost and Found
April 15, 2008
It hasn’t been a secret that I have gotten back into martial arts with the one that started it all for me: Wing Chun. I was thinking that I’m glad that I found WC again because I’m beginning to see some progress and benefits in just five months’ of training.
I’m beginning to lose some fat and getting into better shape. I’m probably in the best shape I’ve ever been in Japan actually. More importantly I’m beginning to get back into the mental condition needed. I’m a bit calmer, a bit more confident, and I’m beginning to regain some persistance.
On thinking that I’ve found WC again, I also know that I never quite lost it. I remember starting the path when i was 14 with Sifu Lee Man Kit in Vancouver. It was two 1.5 hour classes back to back every Saturday at Chinatown. I stuck at it for about two years. I remember I was one of the first students in the class and I welcomed and bid farewell to many other students during that time. That training and the self-training then changed me forever.
In addition to WC I began to look at other things but none of the other arts ever appealed to me. I took a bit of Hung Gar kung fu, Tae Kwan Do, Kickboxing. They all had a different take on many things. Moreover the one thing that really drove me away from them was the commercialization of the art. The thought of the rainbow belts and prices for just about everything really disgusted me. I understand that these are businesses in addition to the teaching of the art but it got a bit out of hand. The only other art that I stuck with was Yi Chuan, also taught by Sifu Lee. It complemented WC so well plus it taught me relaxation (and brought me many weird experiences actually).
Although I didn’t continue the class around the age of 16 or 17, I did continue to keep training some things by myself. Unfortunately I forgot the WC forms, save, Sil Nim Tau which I still practiced. I forgot the entire wooden dummy movement and am relearning it under Sifu Steve. I am beginning to start some of the Yi Chuan training again at home along with the other supplementary training.
What drives me is not to best the other students but to beat myself - I am seeing the progress I’m making little by little and in many ways it’s a huge addiction. I am finding my limits with Sifu Steve, especially when I’m the only one sometimes, and I feel the burning drive to push those limits each time. I’ve been putting in about an hour of training each day at home and I will definitely keep it up.
It’ll all pay out in the future with interest.
Modest Beginnings
April 08, 2008
There’s only three of us and Sifu Steve but soon enough I’ll miss these days of small classes. The website is beginning to generate some hits. Ian, on the left there, found us through this page. I’m hoping that the Golden Harvest Wing Chun page will begin to pay off as well.
Wing Chun Kung Fu in Osaka
February 28, 2008
I’ve been googling everything Wing Chun lately and found the lack of information quite appalling. Anyway, I just wanted to let the world know that there is at least our Wing Chun class going on in Osaka and Kyoto that is English-friendly. (日本語でもいいけど)
The class currently takes place once a week on Saturday from 3pm very close to Kitakagaya Station. The class has only been running for a few months so space is still available. You can contact me directly and I’ll refer you to Sifu Steve. I’m handling the web requests. I’m more than happy to answer any questions that you might have.
To answer some of the possible questions that might come up:
- the class is very relaxed
- monthly fees are very reasonable
- Sifu Steve is very welcoming of anyone and will wholeheartedly teach everything he knows
- Sifu Steve allows you to refer to him as “Steve”
- dress code is very relaxed: no strict uniform requirements
- the venue where we practice is not the biggest place but it’s enough (it’s a dance studio). It does not have any equipment (like a wooden dummy) but Sifu Steve brings a lot of gear to class each week
- In my humble opinion, WC is a very effective martial art. With the right training and application, anyone, regardless of size, age, or experience, can become effective in combat.
We’re waiting for you!
Comparing Apples To Oranges
January 29, 2008
Incidentally, it has almost been four years since I’ve used the word “apples” in a blog entry.
Yesterday a clip from the National Geographic’s Fight Science, one of the cooler martial arts documentaries done in a long time, came on a Japanese show. The clip showed the “science” behind comparing different punches, kicks, and attacks of various martial art styles.
The kung fu guy punched a meager 250 (I forgot what the measurements were… maybe lbs/sq inch?) while the karate guy a lot higher, and the boxer a 400. Sadly the kung fu guy’s punch was pathetic - it was delivered with only the upper body while the boxer really leaned in and used the whole body’s weight on that punch. Oh yes, the kung fu guy looked tiny compared to the boxer as well. During the segment, I don’t think the measured force to weight ratios.
Upon watching this I couldn’t help but notice that the show’s intent was to then draw conclusions on the data. The boxer hit the hardest, therefore it is the best. The Kung Fu guy threw a baby kitten punch, therefore it is the worst. I’m sure The Woman had this thought. If anything, it only proves that that kung fu guy threw a meager punch and that boxing guy hit harder.
Then, the pure measurement of these punches mean nothing unless they actually neutralize their target. I would gladly take a 400 punch to my arm than a 250 punch to the nose or solar plexis.
Anyway, the point of all this is that the art, is after all, an art. An art is an expression of the self and thus there is no right or wrong, no good or bad. So many times do I hear practitioners say that their art is superior to the rest. That, this and that art are crap and that this art can beat that art anytime anyday. That’s ridiculous. The art in itself does not fight, does not complete. We do! The human does. The human can win and lose, regardless of the art. The best student of art A fighting the worst student of art B does not demonstrate which is better.
The only judge of anything is yourself. The only thing you can always compare is your present results with your past. Work towards punching a little faster, a little harder. Working towards this goal is the true art,
so says I.
Don’t think; feel…
October 14, 2007
After something like a five year absence, I have begun some martial art training again.
I kind of mentioned Gerard in a previous update - he posted a punching bag for sale at work and that time being the worst week in history at Nova for me, I just had to buy it. He hauled the bag and stand over and we had a good chat about martial arts.
We’ve since did some sparring and technique training twice and we’re setting a mixed martial arts club. The first meeting will be on Friday the 26 at Celio’s Soho gallery. In the long run, I’d like to have a more martial arts-oriented venue but for now it will do. (I’ve been hangin out at Celio’s more and the place is awesome).
One thing I’ve noticed is that I am completely out of shape and my coordination is shot. My reflexes seem fairly good still and I can still pick out the glaring weaknesses quickly. The best part is that Gerard and I are trading ideas to help the other improve. So far he’s been pointing out my weaknesses way more often.
This is great though - it lets me kill some time and vent some stress out. The punching bag is saving lives.
