Should I quit Kung Fu and pick up another art?

Question

I joined Kung-Fu two months ago because I wanted to spar. I am a competitive person and was interested in competing, not just learning self defense. Since joining I have started to question my selection of Kung Fu over western boxing, MMA, or a more practical method of fighting.

All I have been learning are "combinations" which I doubt will work in real life. On top of that, the combinations all start with a person aiming a slow straight shot at my chest, which will rarely happen in real life.

I know that I have to be patient, but even the higher ranking students in my class are learning similar, although more difficult, combinations. That really discourages me, seeing as how students that have been studying for 3-4 years are not where I expected that I would be in half that time. Maybe I am just not being realistic.

This may not be the best reason to practice martial arts, but I just want to fight. I am not a thug or anything, I just want to compete.

Is Kung Fu a valid method for completive fighting?

Answer 1

If you want to compete then you want to consider taekwondo, judo, karate or MMA. Note that TKD and judo are Olympic events and I've heard that "Karate" is being considered for the 2012 games. Nothing against kung fu, but if for whatever reason you're not happy training in it, then why continue with it? There's no point in toiling at something that you don't enjoy.

Answer 2

how old are you?

still young right?

im not a kung fu practitioner but i have a little knowledge in it..

you will appreciate the kung fu teachings when you get long to that art...

you will know the reasons for the entering or joining such event you like...

but i tell you, my friend, martial arts isn't all about fighting but it is discipline... fighting will just lead you when you are young but when you are old already, you cannot fight anymore but the discipline you have learned will remain...  

Answer 3

You've only been there for two months and you're already wanting to back out?  Not cool man ... not cool at all.  Two months isn't enough time to decide squat as far as anyone who's ever studied any type of art at all is concerned.  I don't know much about Kung-Fu and yes I'm guilty for poking fun at it a lot of times in here ... which has been wrong of me I know, but if I were you I'd stick it out for at least another 4 months or so and see how it goes man.  Is it a competitive fighting method? .... only you and your own brain can make that happen dude ( if the need for self-defense ever happens in your life that is )

If you think you're working hard now I dare you to hook up with a "private MMA team" or even a decent MMA School and you'll find the work to be to the "extreme" dude.  I've seen kids in their early 20's drop like flies to never show up again for another night of what they went through at their first night at ye ole' MMA training session. Every one thinks they have what it takes, but MMA is a "lifestyle" not just something you wake up one day and say, "Hey I think I'll give MMA a try".  I'd say stick with the "Kung-fu" besides you're already two months into it so why quit?  I never could understand why getting gashed up, bruised up, lumped up and sometimes a broken bone or two ever sounded fun to anyone.  In MMA the scars are "permanent" man.  Every one thinks it's easy and full of glory, but that's really opposite of how it really goes.  The training alone is just F****** crazy all by its self and non stop and monotonous aggrevating work.  The actual cage fights are few and far between compared to the training.  Stick with the "Kung-Fu" man .... you'll be glad you did.

Answer 4

why dont u do other martial arts and still keep at Kung Fu, i do muay thai kickboxing, Brazilian jj, wrestling , to train for mma ( which i do compete in), but i also take Kali, and akidio, they dont directly help my mma but they give me litle tid-bits of info which can u useful, my suggestion is just start doing kickboxing, and bjj along with ur kung fu, so u are more rounded, with u cant relay stand Kung Fu, just do something else

and yes kung fu is a valid method of fighting, it just take time before it becomes as practical for use as kickboxing or bjj  

Answer 5

kung fu is not for every one, and when it comes right down too it kung fu is not a good method for self defense. Some people really can use it, the local kung fu instructor holds no holds bar full contact tournaments and wins every year, but he is about 40 yrs old and has been training sense he was 3 years old in china. If you don't enjoy it i would defintly advise you to find a diffrent school. I trained in mantis kung fu and all we did was forms, i hated it so i found a Okinawan karate school right down the street and love it! You should know though that almost any system has these "combination's" we call them one steps in my dojo, you really have to take them with a grain of sand but they're valuable down the road.  

Answer 6

Kung Fu can be a great martial art.  San Sou(Chinese kickboxing, related to Kung Fu) is awesome.  I know some phenominal fighters that started out there.

From what you wrote, I think you may like Muay Thai, Brazilian Jui Jitsu, or both.  Many schools offer both of these classes and MMA to combine them.  Also you can definately apply them to self defense and real life situations.  The oppurtunity for ametuer competition in MMA is growing everyday.  Kung Fu unfortunately does not hold up that well in the ring.

Downfalls... These are "hard" martial arts.  Meaning you can get hurt.  You can break bones, tear tendons, ligaments and you will almost certanley get scraped and bruised.  It is painful, but some poeple love it, I know that I definately do.  I have broken my nose, my foot, dislocated my shoulder and got hit in the head so hard I was dizzy for 3 days.  But I would never quit.  Combat sports is something that will define you as a person once you get in to them.  Fighters are fighters, your confidence and aggression(not the bad kind) will make you a standout at your job and in the classroom.  There is a price to pay though.

Martial arts like, Tae Kwon Doe, Karate and Kung Fu are "soft".  You are less likely to get all mangled up.  You will still definately gain skills, disclipline and confidence that will help you out in every aspect of your life.  

Try some things out.  There is alot of styles so spend some time on the world wide web researching them.  Check out Judo, Aikido, Sambo, Krav Maga and everything else.  They all carry there own sstrengths.

Good Luck!

Answer 7

Try kick-boxing  

Answer 8

How about Krav Maga I hear its pretty intense and its more fighting-focused.  The Israeli army trains with it too.

Answer 9

Kung Fu is probably one of the two best self-defense styles in existence, Japanese Jiu Jitsu being the other.  Kung Fu is a 'complete' system of self-defense teaching weapons usage, weapons defense, and defense against multiple opponents.  Kung Fu takes a real long time to learn

But it sounds like you're more interested in a Ring Fighting style.

So you should really look into: Brazillian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ); Muy Thai Kick Boxing; Mixed Martial Arts (MMA); Western Boxing; Catch Wrestling; or competitive Judo.

Answer 10

Kung-fu is the generic name for Martial arts in Chinese.

If you're taking Tai ji (Tai Chi) you are most likely never going to practice actual contact fighting.

Hung Gar, Praying Mantis, White Crane... very traditional, lots of demonstrations and lion dance celebrations... some have contact others don't.

Wing Chun, Choy Lay Fut... almost always practice contact fighting. These two styles were used for Hong Kong gang warfare. In general they usually train with the most amount of contact fighting out of all the Kung Fu styles (thats not saying they are better than the others... With enough dedication you can just about fight in any style, but you have to be dedicated.

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Oh, by all means, you should quite that school. You're paying for it and if you are not getting out of it what you expect then don't wast your time and money.

Answer 11

Kung -Fu is a very good martial art.If you want to quit you have to learn muay thai         muay boran     its the best martial art in the world.If you listen to me you will be smart and you gonna see that. But you have to find original teachers not kickboxing teachers. You have to know that muay thai is the same with tha boxing .MUAY THAI is in the thai language and THAI BOXING is in english. Muay boran the ancient muay thai. I hope i gave you a good awnser  and i hope you listen to me

Answer 12

Find a boxing gym and go at it, just wear a good mouth piece, head gear and cup....

Be well.

Answer 13

If you are feeling that way, switch martial arts.  Kung Fu is not for everybody.  In my opinion, it is not the most realistic style of fighting, no.  That does not mean it is not a great martial art for many to practice, but if you're looking for something very effective in a no rules or few rules match, Kung Fu is not the way to go.

Answer 14

I'm a big fan of Jeet Kune Do.  It's got a Kung-Fu (Wing-Chun) basis with western boxing and a bunch of other stuff.

There's also a good amount of sparring.

If you want a LOT of sparring, go for Muay Thai.