Me and a friend started doing kung fu about 7-8 months ago. We've both progressed relatively slowly compared to how we'd like to progress, which is a combination of sporadic laziness and kung fu being something it takes a lifetime to master.
We study White Crane kung fu. It's a rare variety of white crane, and I'm the 3rd generation of it in America. Sigung came over in the 80s and started teaching my Sifus, who are now teaching me. I believe its a very effective and powerful style of kung fu. I have learned 3 basic forms with application, as well as a multitude of internal qigong excersizes with a lot of physical conditioning and standing. They really drill the information into you before moving on to something new. As my Sifus say, the 3 forms I've learned are not actually the White Crane system yet, just something Sigung put together to help bring those who have never done kung fu into the system, as it was meant for existing kung fu practitioners. So pretty much I haven't even scratched the surface of the system.
The one thing I'm unhappy about is the lack of sparring. So far, we have done no sparring. We've done two man sets and pad drills, but not actual sparring. My sifus say that we will get to that and that we have to build up to it, but the curriculum is based on forms. I understand that kung fu is something that is learned slowly and is more about an overall quality of life than just knowing how to fight, but at the same time I really want to do some sparring! I feel like I know enough as it is to do atleast beginner level sparring.
My friend who I had been doing kung fu with for about 5 months also started doing capoeira. He now thinks mixing and matching styles is the way to go. He's downloaded many, many ebooks and movies on various types of martial arts. He isn't going to a MMA school or anything, but his outlook is that of MMA: mix and match styles to build what you want.
Enter the dilemma. I was always a traditionalist. I just wanted to do kung fu and get to the master level. However, now that I'm seeing his progress and reading more and more about other styles, it seems like they all have their merits. I've considered muay thai, jiujitsu, aikido, another style of kung fu, karate, and even going to an MMA gym to see what they're all about. Plus picking up another style would also provide me with an earlier outlet for sparring.
I've talked with other martial artists abut this, and they say there's nothing wrong with studying more than one style, but to wait until you're a few years into your first one before branching out.
My friend is of the opinion that you should learn them at the same time, so they grow together within you. The physical conditioning for one can definitely help the other, right?
Both outlooks make sense to me. Focusing one on martial art vs doing multiple at the same time. I'm leaning towards sticking with white crane for now, then branching out to other styles of kung fu, then eventually trying something outside of kung fu. But I'm torn, I can see the benefit of doing something like muay thai right now alongside kung fu.
I'm admittedly a noob with martial arts and I would really appreciate any input from you seasoned vets. Focus on kung fu or do kung fu along with something else?
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Originally Posted by Paul T England
