Hello everyone...
I discovered Kung Fu from a guy at work who studied Shaolin Kung Fu from a hardcore dojo in downtown Atlanta somewhere. This guy handed me a documentary on Shaolin Kung Fu and I was immediately captivated by hard qi gong and the seamlessness of the monks' movements.
Since then, I was delving into Japanese culture and studying about the samurai and toying with the idea of taking karate. I read about Mas Oyama and was really getting into the whole thing until the guy from work told me about how "karate sux" etc. I'm sure every style has its ups and downs, but I got into looking around the area and found two places of interest. The first was a Yoshukai place, the second was Francis Fong's martial arts academy (they have many styles there but I am interested in Wing Chun.) Anyhow I watched a class at Sifu Fong's school and have alreeady made up my mind without even going to the other place...
Anyhow, this place charges 125 a month and I can't really afford it. This guy is incredible though, and a student of Jiu Wan. I want to study Kung Fu for the rest of my life and I need to prepare for the class in the meantime before I can afford to go.
What skills can I develop on my own without developing bad habits? What are some good resources? Right now I have a steel box and some yard gravel in a pot that I use to condition my hands with. I used to do body hardening with a partner but he has since ****ed out on me. I've got a bunch of huge trees in the back I am going to use in place of my old partner.
As far as stretching goes, my buddy from work loaned me a book by bruce lee that has some waist and leg stretches in it, but I think I need something more elaborate.
I am really passionate about this and am willing to go the full mile. I don't care how "outrageous" the training is such as hard qi gong or whatever else, but I'm willing to do what it takes to practicing this art. Whatever advice you could give me would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
-Benjamin