How far will you travel to train

[Fedor]

Hi Guys,
I am sure some of you guys have travel distances for training, most people would question your sanity. I am considering a Guam position, my research on guam martial arts had turn alot, muay thai, fma, mma stuff not to my interest. I have interest in Baji Chuan or other cma. I contempting taking Baji Chuan( Hakkyokuken in Tokyo ( 3 hour flight) a couple times a month, or Hung Fut in Manila. However, being a American , I believe Tokyo is safer, leaning to Baji Chuan. I think this onetime chance. So any help or insight on related training experience, greatly appreciated

[Mr Punch]

1) There must be something you'd like to do on Guam.

2) Why not give one of the things you mentioned a try... work out some core concepts for yourself from your base art (whatever that is) and try them against another solid art. It's often done we the world of good to step out of my training box and crosstrain in something completely different - gives you a good sense of perspective.

3) You'd fly 3 hours to train CMA in... Tokyo? I live in Tokyo. If you want to travel here to do Chinese MA, frankly I think your nuts. I've met a couple of Baji people here, and they're OK... same for SPM, I-chuan etc, and one of the Chens is out here teaching Tai Chi (badly to old people for health and quackery) but for an extra hour or two you could be in HK or mainland China and get a much better deal.

4) Above all, in this day and age if you are seriously thinking of flying so far to train, what with pollution problems and all, frankly, again, you're a selfish ****.

Good luck to you!

[uki]

in truth, you don't have to go anywhere, but where you're at, to train.

[Laukarbo]

or Hung Fut in Manila. However, being a American , I believe Tokyo is safer

first of all the hung fut school is not really hung fut...they are specialise on conditioning..they have a mix of forms from different styles.But they are good guys ...

as an american u are also safe in Manila,you think its dangerous here ?

I live here since 2 years and nothing happened to me (Im not american but european But mostly they think Im american)

ok heres a list of things u can find in Manila

Ngo Cho Kun
- kong han athletic club- sifu Henry Lo
-Beng Kiam - Sifu Alex Co

also
White Crane
7 star mantis
Liu Be he
hung Gar (Lau Family) www.martial-club.com
CLF

[David Jamieson]

training isn't actually gained by traveling to it. It's done by doing it. I agree that you don't have to travel. there's a lot of training you can start with on your own and add into it later.

If you can get into a solid routine why go anywhere? There's always someone around who knows more than you and that can help.

[SimonM]

I take a 1 hour bus ride / walk to my kwoon 3 days a week. That's travel enough for me.

[SPJ]

all roads lead to roma/rome.

whatever is available or nearby is a good place to start.

also place taipei, taiwan under your radar screen.

[Kevin Huang]

Fedor, are you stationed in Guam or are you thinking of going there?

I second SPJ's suggestion. If you're already in Guam, there's real CMA instruction over in Taiwan.

I'd suggest you check out Adam Hsu. He is one of the world's best known baji practitioners, and he knows plenty of other kung fu styles too. Hsu still maintains studio(s) in California, and his staff has been VERY helpful to me in the past. Plus, Hsu speaks good English.

I don't know if Hung I Xiang (Hong YiShan) is still teaching in Taiwan. He's a terrific bagua/hsingyi master, very old school. However, I don't knowif he's retired or not. Even if he was very elderly, I'd still look into studying with him.

Dong Mu Yau is a famous Baihequan (White Crane) master in Taiwan. He's up there in years, but he's definitely worth a look.

Thanks to the intense activities of Chang Dung Sheng, there is a lot of shuai jiao in Taiwan. I think Chang has a son named "David" who definitely isn't retired. I don't know if David Chang is in Taiwan, but I'd check that out too.

All these masters probably have qualified disciples that are teaching professionally. Finding these disciples or the masters themselves would not be hard to do, even for a foreigner.

Also, NEVER neglect the early morning park scene in Taiwan. There are some really great masters teaching their art in Taiwanese parks, and sometimes even for free.


Before I get: Check out Su Yu Chang. He's got legitimate kung fu skills, and I think he's in Tokyo.

[ngokfei]

If its worth it then there is no distance that shouldn't be traveled for your training.

When I started out I had to travel 2 hours to get to my teachers studio in NYC>
(Walk,Train,Ferry,Train & Walk)

today most have trouble traveling 15min by car

If you do take a Plane ride for 3 hours, how long do you plan to stay and train before returning back? Hell If I could afford it I'd fly all over the place.

there is more and more CMA in tokyo. If there isn't anything you like then Taiwan should satisfy your interests - alot of systems there.

Manila does have some areas you should watch out for especially if your traveling alone. (like in any big city).
Maybe I'm thick but
Phillipines=arnis/escrima.
China/HK/Taiwan=CMA,
Japan=Karate/jiujitsu,etc.

[Raipizo]

id definately go to the shaolin temple lol.

[Black Jack II]

If you want self defense check out Professor Frank Sanchez in Guam. He has a system called San-Jitsu that was formulated back in 1971 in the village of Toto.

It is a jujitsu system but it also incorporates, Ying Jow Pai kung fu, judo groundwork, shorin-ryu karate, freestyle wrestling, boxing, and street awareness.

From what I hear he also gets into accupressure and Japenese resuscitation methods for those that are interested.

[mkriii]

For regular training I wouldn't travel more than 30 minutes or so. If it was just a once in a while thing like a one time seminar I'd travel up to 2 or 3 hours away to go to it if I thought it was going to be a good seminar. But I was lucky that I had a good kung fu school near me.