I've been thinking about life 'down the road', wondering what I want to do, where I want to be etc....
It has been somewhat of a dream of mine for a while now, to one day move to China, somewhere near the country, where life is simple and honest, (or so I'm led to believe!)
I find that the culture of the Chinese has shaped me in many positive ways, and in my opinion, they seem to really have living sussed out!
Ideally, I'd like to own a property, where I could work on my music, maybe farm a little, and live somewhere where I can cultivate my true self, away from football hooligans, sullen grey faces and racial confusion.
(I live in the UK by the way!)
It struck me that, surely some JKD guys and/or girls have travelled to china at some point, and I really wanted to know what you think, about the people, the landscapes, anything and everything!
I might be sounding like a bit of an 'idealist', but this is an ideal hypothetical situation, if my music career takes off etc.
Anyway, I know this isn't about Jun Fan techniques or training methods, but I've only just got round to starting JKD training, so this post is a bit 'off the beaten track'.
PLease reply though, and further down the line I'll start to 'Talk Shop'!
Regards, Jake P
Well, I was hoping for something more along the lines of "the countryside is beautiful", "the best places to live are..." or "don't eat the yellow snow", but hell, at least I got a reply!
Hey Jakep. CAn you speak any of the chinese languages? It would definitely make it easier for you to apply for a citizenship, I know that there are a lot of westerners in Hong Kong, however I think it would be pretty differcult to move to rural china.
Jake - I hope you do get a chance to go see China! If you want to go see where the motherland of asian martial arts is, that's the golden calf right there. Hope your boss let's you take off for a trip like that. Then again, you might not have a job in the first place. I don't know. Anyways, if you do decide to go, please take some time out of your trip to write down your experiences in a journal and/or notebook and write to us and tell us how it's all going! In China you can learn from those tradional bad-a$$ kung fu grandmasters! You know the ones....They all look like Gordon Liu from Kill Bill 2.....long robes, white fu manchu beard and mustache, long hair pulled back, they can do all those flips, speak in dubbed in english, and floor anyone that challenges them! In other words....they look like Lamar Davis dressed up as Carlton Heston from the Ten Commandments! LMAO Anyways, give us some feedback!
I will one day traverse the great and noble land of China, and if my boss at the time doesn't let me......... I'll just smash up his office like Bruce did on Ironside!
It's definately a while down the road.....but I've been thinking that I may go on my 20-21st Birthday, (im about to be 19), buy a one way ticket and just see how things pan out.
I would definately love to learn some Cantonese soon, and maybe I could teach English to get by while I'm there.
Just to think, this time last year the only place I wanted to go to was Amsterdam!
If anything develops, I will give a 'wish you were here' review from China.
Nah, didn't you know? Everyone in China looks like Pai Mei from Kill Bill. But seriously bro, if you need any help with cantonese you know who to ask (me!). But my canto is very basic, i would like to learn it fluently too
Would it not be better to learn mandarin if you wish to travel in China. Not really too hot on Chinese geography, but I thought that the vast majority spoke mandarin. At least this is the language that historically text books were written in. Cantonese is mainly spoken in the guan dong (canton) region of China and Hong Kong. Mandarin is also spoken in Taiwan.
Anyway Jakep good luck with your travelling dreams, but be careful not to let them be just dreams.
The reason I pointed out Cantonese is because I've heard it's a little simpler than Mandarin,(having four main intonations as opposed to the nine variations in Mandarin), but I also thought it was more common. Thanks, I'll definately look into Mandarin as well.
I know what you mean about dreams, Kjax;
Not too long ago I was sure I would become James Bond....the cars,the women, the gadgets.........ah, it's a spie's life!
Now look at me...BAH!!!
Though seriously, China just feels sort of right to me.
Maybe I should undergo a cosmetic transormation like James Bond, and 'become Chinese'....or was that Japanese????
Ha! Then I'd REALLY be living the dream!
P.S. When responding to the Lenmaster post, I was utilising the lowest form of humour, just so you know!
P.P.S. Lan-di, if you could email me or post up anything you can about what Cantonese you know, and even why you chose to learn it, I would be very greatful.
yeh Jakep, like i said, i know very basic cantonese which i learnt off my parents. Me, being someone of chinese descent, felt it would be vital to try learn and embrace the culture, even though i consider myself to be very british. I guess i could post a few phrases, however it is certainly difficult to portray the correct pronounciation!
I'm off to live in Hong Kong next year to study Wing Chun full time as well as JKD. I think it's important to get the base and do Wing Chun if only for the sake of sensitivity training and to get a deeper feel as kung fu like Bruce Lee did. Does anyone know if there a JKD school there at all and where it is?
Hi everybody, I'm new here, if your planning on going to hong kong, check the following for jkd and wing chun in HK, check the links at ... http://www.jkd.com.hk/Eng/ http://www.vingtsun.org.hk/
good luck!
With me, it's either move indefinately, or stay where I am!!!
I would love to 'try' a China town, but that just ain't reallistic.
I may take a holiday next year, in preperation for movng.
God, I don't think I've ever 'taken a holiday' in my life.....
if your planning on mainland China check..this site for wing chun .... http://www.mystical-warrior.org.uk/ http://www.wengchunsanjoang.com http://www.wingchunkuen.com/sumnung/schools/schools_china.html.
if you really want to go to china , theres 2 ways this can be done...
1- save money and/or max out your credit cards.
2-get a collage student exchange program or scholarship to help you finance your stay for a few years ( did you see the movie "IRON & silk"?,maybe you can exchange english clases for chinese and take advantage to train while your there.)get a part time job there, and train , train, train. again good luck and determination following your dreams...
