Martial Arts Discussion!!!!!!

I spent a few years when I was around 11 or 12 in a Tae Kwan Do school. It was pretty fun at first, but I later outgrew it. The school was more of a beginner's martial arts academy, and focused more on posture, keeping still, and constantly responding to your sensei, and less on the actual practice of martial arts.

Fast forward a few years, when I learn that a new accademy opened near where I lived. I decided to get back into the game (mostly due to my then-new love of DBZ and Jackie Chan) and joined this Kung Fu school. Unlike the baby steps in the other school, this one got to the point, having the students engage in some very harsh excercises, leaving me quite exhausted yet satisfied at the progress it would bring.

But then about 2 years ago I severly injured my back, keeping me away from the school for one year. Then an old injury with my foot crept back to me, and is still affecting me now. This has kept me out of the school for an additional year. Lately I think about what I missed, and I long to return, but I need to get this injured foot taken care of. I'm hoping once I see my physical therapist, I can practice Kung Fu again within this year. If nothing else, it was the best way to lose weight and get into shape.

Also, I just learned that my old instructor, the owner of the Tae Kwan Do school, had passed away today due to his struggle with cancer. I haven't seen him in years, but I feel very bad about this. He dedicated himself to teaching various martial arts to young kids, and it's very sad to see someone as inspirational as him leave this world. He was the same age that my father is now.

He also taught another martial art called Krav Maga (sp?), some Israelil form of self defense. My mom tried to get me to join, but I immediately rejected it, having never heard of it before. How many Israeli martial artists can you name? I would rather go back to the tried and true Kung Fu, instead of having to relearn a possibly obscure martial art instead.

Jam it back in, in the dark.