this post is in response to "challanges and real fights post"
when I was a teenager and was getting interested in the martial arts, I couldn't find (and aford) any formal training, so solo training from books was the only thing we had (some friends would come around and we'd play fight, to us this was sparring,lol)we pulled punches to the head, but allowed slight body contact. But because we had no protective gear.as you could imagine, an ocasional kick to the midsection, shin bone, nuts, or fat lip was common. that usually determined the winner.ocasionally we would get tips from anyone whom had some training and incorporate that into our arsenal. soon we began creating friends and enemies alike, and the challanges started coming in from other teenagers that attended the same jr. high school, but that lived in other neiborghoods. some were upper class kids whom parents were able to pay their karate or kung fu clases. there was also local free boxing clases sponsered by the city. as you can imagine tension was high among teenage punks whom wanted to prove something to themselves, buddies or girlfriends. on one ocasion a hung gar practionar challenged me and to be honest I was afraid since I had no real training, and his teacher had trained with a reknown master while in the armed forces. of course I didn't realize at the time that all this guy that was challangeing me knew, was basic form and excersises, but his flashey uniform intimidated me(it was common for people to wear the uniform top and kung fu shoes to school, for that was the fad, especially if you was training, to show off...bad idea!) any way the guy tried a flying kick and my foot sprang up and caught him mid flight in the chest, I won by mere luck. that brought another challange the next day, from another amature boxer, whom when I tried to step foward quickly landed a jab and gave me a bloody lip, that got me angry and as I tried again, got another to the head even though I tried to duck. I steped back and every body was cheering us on, I couldn't loose face. I quickly looked through my files in my head of the things I had read and practiced and the techniques that came to mind were, stuff from james lees wing chun kung fu and bruces fighting methods . thats when I began to understand the hand moves first, and intering with an attack , not just steping into his range. a front stop kick, followed by straight blast closed the gaped and created a bridge, wich I lopped and followed with more straight blast, he fell and I won. but from that I learned many things, I needed to get a real teacher among other things. my friends also kept geeting into fights one of them fought a shotokan jr brown belt. and won just by stop kicking and , attacking the knee and shine bone. another friend of mine's challange was lost from a knock out punch to the jaw from a boxer from the local gym. things started snowballing from there. and soon it became a punk gang ralated thing and every one was carrying weapons to school, brass nuckles, nunchacus, balisong knives,air pellet guns. a friend of mine even stole his fathers rusty hand gun and brung it to school one day! luckely thats when we dicided to get together and and call a peace treatey with the other guys or it was gonna end up bad. years later after formal training and wising up I have acepted some "friendly" challanges. wich from all I learned positively from. I guess it all depends on the attitude the challange comes with. my two latest challanges came from another wing chun school, the guys visted one of my beginner classes and and after kind of laughing at my students performance (my kids only had 2 to 3 months in class).they through down the challange" we came here to see your wing chun, and would like to try your chi sau!" with a smart ass smerk on his face. I thought these guys dare come and try to make me look bad and humilate my students? ok, have no mercy! I took him out quick with hands alone, smacking him around the room while I was blind folded!(I'm 45 years old, and this guy was in his late 20's with some body building). after they left, my students were nervous and quiet cause of all the high tension and andrenaline rush in the room. then they cheered when they realized , this old man still gots his **** together.lol (never the less I was pumped up and nervous too). soon word got around about the encounter. and the next training day a few new students sighed up. another body built young guy came in the other day and started" I trained in kick boxing and BJJ, maybe I can bring some matts and gloves, and we can have a go some time. I quickly read his intentions "another challange" and told him "personally wing chun techniques can be used to some degree on the ground, but thats not my main expertise sort of speak, so I would have to quickly try to avoid going to the floor..." as I shot 4 quick high and low strikes to his neck and body with out touching him just very slightly in the ribs and stomach, before he had moved, his jaw was open dumb founded. I then added "may be you can teach me some of your stuff and help me in that dept, and I'll teach you some of mine."....I'm still waiting for his call or visit.

Are you sure you are 45? What is it with people? I really don't get but this forum really does get so many people who think we really want to know how great they are. Did you read what you wrote? All it says is I had challenges and beat everyone up. Had no training still beat people up. Beat up some muscle bound guy.

The only thing that anyone can take from your post is how great you think you are. What is the value in that?

You need to learn some humilty. If however, you think you really are good, why dont you go and challenge the best fighters around? Of course you could just talk about how great you are instead.

Question everything, Know nothing.

It was just a lovely anecdotal story, to warm the hearts of the younger generations.....

It reminded me of that tv show, 'The Wonder Years'!

One day I will get around to reading all of that. haha.

Phases ®