I've just got off work, it's about 3AM,and I thought, what the hell, let's type!!!
Basically, I want to ask you lot about the challenges of the ego that you have faced thus far in your lives;
What challenged you/continues to challenge you, and how do you go about addressing your faults objectively, whilst not turning into a vulcan???
Now, back to me.........!
My life at the moment is in that limbo stage, you know, you're 18, in a job you're bad at, your education/career is getting a little diluted, and all the positive changes you make to yourself don't have much impact on your current situation. (I'm not moaning, honest!)
Up until about six??? months ago, I made the decision to take on JKD.
That fell through due to an egotistical side of me, that, thankfully, I have forever abolished!
(I changed my life drastically, decided to do JKD, acted like the child that I know I'm really not, and got kicked out of the JKD lesssons.)
The following couple of days, it really hit me that although I had to grow up quickly in life, certain aspects of my personality were, shall we say, 'swept under the rug', and a certain ammount of arrogence had developed.
It's really hard to convey how much these event have helped me to evolve, as, mere minutes ago I read some of my old posts, and actually wanted to give the kid who wrote them a slap!
God ,it's so easy to hide behind a keyboard, isn't it?
Anyways, I paid the price for mouthing off in such a cowardly way, and I cant really say that I'd change what happened, (or else I wouldn't be the lovable rogue I am today!)
I feel quite frustrated though, that I have denied myself the oppertunity to learn the martial aspects of JKD, as the philosophies have helped my get through a lot.
I can quite honestly say that at a certain point in my life, if I hadn't chosen this path, then it's possible that I wouldn't be here today,keeping positive and blowing my wages on ebay......(damn you, ebay...)
I basically get trouble everywhere I go, because I look like the kind of pushover that nasty people like to target, (short, skinny and innoffensive!) So the fact that I'm unsure of my combative capabilities serves as a consant reminder that ACTING LIKE AN ASS WILL GET YOU NOWHERE,(unless you hang around in large groups and/or are one of lifes lucky bastards!)
I sincerely hope that the sifu I offended does not take it personally, (I have since got in touch with him and thanked him for kicking my ass in the right direction, so to speak), and hope also that one day soon,
my time and money will offer me the oppertunity to start anew this wonderful and uncomprimising art that we call............
TAE
KWON DO!!!!! .............................................................I mean, JEET KUNE DO!!!
Hello.
I'm not sure if you meant to reply to this post, ( it sounds like another topic), but if you did, then I would say this:
I have only had one lesson,(reasons as stated in previous post), so I can't really give you an answer!
But, in terms of me being oon the street, I'm always aware that for me, the best options are figer jabs to the eyes, and strikes to the family jewels!
I really want to get a heavy bag soon, so that I'm doing something that feels productive, but there's the money and time side of things....plus I'm living with my parents, and they probably would object to the noise it would create!
Hell, I can't evan find the time to get properly fit, but hopefully I'll change that soon aswell!
Take care, and bag some bad guys for me!
J Pepworth
You know Jakep it is nice to know that you are growing as a person, not many people do. I have had to throw people out of the class before, but I never really knew whether it did them any good or not. Unfortunately for them I only cared for those who actually wanted to learn.
I see one main point from the posts of yours I have read. You are desperate to do JKD. However what I see is that you need someone to hold your hand through this i.e. you need to go to a JKD class. I think if you look deeper it is not JKD you need, but a liberation from the constraints life throws upon you. So far you have seen JKD as a medium to do this.
I would say that JKD is not the only medium for this. In fact I would argue that if you leave it solely to JKD to help liberate yourself, you will struggle.
If you will allow let me give you some advice.
Firstly understand what you want.
Second get fit.
Do not worry if you can punch or not. For the moment it is not important.
Start off
10 pressups
10 sit ups
10 leg raises
10 crunches
10 squats
5 minutes jogging on the spot.
All this in one session. If this is easy start off higher.
Do this at least every other day. Each time increase by 1 rep. The jogging increase untill 10 minutes.
Increase reps until you can do a hundred of each (trust me you can do this withing 3 months, I did). At this point do the same exercises but this time do 3 sets of fifty. Again increase the reps each time you do them.
Ok this is already far enough ahead. Its not much to do, but you will find it is a discipline that is very hard to maintain. If you can maintain this basic level for 4 months, you are somewhat on your way to being a martial artist. This routine should not take more than 30 to 45 minutes. In total, if you are not willing to spend that little time you might as well give up now.
Fitness is one of the most understated aspects of martial training. Most people focus so much of technique they forget this crucial area. Trust me if you do this in a few months you will feel much more confident about yourself. Why? Simple, if your technique is not good at least you know you are fit enough to take out your opponent through shear strength.
End of lesson one. Lesson 2 comes when you have completed the first task.
That was some very sound advice, and believe me, I will do all that is in my power to improve myself!
It seems that in quite a few replies to my recent (and similar) posts, people get the impression that I'm holding out for JKD classes only;
actually, this is something I've given some thought to a little while ago, it's just literally a matter of sheer time consumption!
I have a busy schedule for my age, (at least I think it is!), so taking anything regularly would be kind of hard to maintain, plus , (get out your violin),.....I'm quite poor!
I was trying to start boxing or Kick boxing, but I just don't have the time or the money at the moment.
Sometimes it's hard to convey something across a forum, but seriously, I have made some fairly dynamic changes to my life, and I won't wuss out now!
I really don't want to consign MA to something to do when 'it fits my life conveniently', but at the same time, I have other people to consider, (mummy can't pay all the bills herself, you know!)
Thanks again for your reply, I will Post in the future for Part Two of "How to get fit, lickedy-split", and, (if you give a damn!), tell you how I've got on.
As a teacher, would you accept payment for say, six months worth of lessons, if the student showed dedication?
I just thought that this is a way around me frittering my money away, on things like food and clothing(!), maybe combined with a little overdraft from the bank.......
Just a thought.
In all honesty if you really could not afford it and you showed a genuine interest and good heart I would teach you for free. My teacher taught me for free,(he still does I suppose) for the same reasons.
Hey Jakep, you live in Bristol right? I'm not sure if you are familiar with Horfield Sports centre, but they do Lau Gar kickboxing on Tuesdays evenings taught by Sean Viera. Also there's Jujitsu on the Wednesdays taught by Kevin O Hagen. They're both very good, there's a lot of emphasis on fitness in lau gar kickboxing which i enjoy alot. Like you, I'm pretty strapped for cash so i can never go to both but i think i will stick with the kick boxing as i enjoy it alot more than jujitsu.
I can't quite remenber where horefield is, but I've managed to track down someone who teaches JKD,(with ka-li and BJJ I think), in downwned or totterdown.
The impression that I get is that the lessons are quite flexible, (as there are quite a few per week), so this looks promising!
Now, all I have to do is quit my job and college to free up some time......!
