That is very cool Chris! I have about 12 Jui Jitsu dojos and about 15 Karate/ Tae Kwon Do schools around here, but that is it! No other options! There is 1 boxing gym but they don't accept walk-ons, so I'm screwed! lol...
I wrestled for 9 years (real stuff, not WEC) and have trained in a lot of self defense courses... but every kid wants to learn Kung Fu! lol...

Sun

Congratulations, Chris....it takes a lot of commitment and concentration.

You and Gary should be justifably proud.

very very cool!

Yeah I agree,that is very impressive.I have suffered a few serious injuries so I need a firearm to defend myself.I wish I was in the kind of shape you must be in!
Very inpressive.

Congrats Chris...keep up the good work.  I myself have been involved with  Tiger Claw Kung Fu and Chi Kung here in Winnipeg for some time now. The Shaolin discipline is more spiritual and I wish they had a Dojo here.  Tiger claw has served me well as have the Tai Chi classes we offer. I love the meditative side of Shaolin, and the variety of disciplines it draws from, but the nearest school to here is in Toronto I think....about 600 miles east. 

Again congrats and keep it up and remember:

"The angry man will defeat himself in battle as well as in life."


Shaolin Proverb.

Aaron

Thanks all.

For me, the main reason I started taking Shaolin Kung Fu was very simple. I was diagnosed 5 years ago with Type 2 Diabetis.

Fortunately for me, I'm not fat, far from it. Even though some people might consider a 5.10 man that weigh's in at 190 pounds on the heavy side.

Not the case, I work in a warehouse, slinging boxes all day long, so it helps keep the weight off.

Anyhow...

So, I've been watching what I eat, cut out the sugar and crap, but it just wasn't enough. The doctor kept having to increase the dosage of the medication. I'm currently up to three types of medication at pretty high dosages.

When I started training, I was at 190 pounds. I couldn't even do 25% of the warm up exercises that the rest of the class were doing. My first week was pure hell. I could barely get out of bed I was so damn sore.

After 3 months, I can easily keep up with the rest of the class. After 4 months, I could actually do situps, not just crunches!

Month 5, well, I got my yellow belt. So I'm not a complete and total noob, I'm just a noob. =)

After 6 months, my endurance has increased dramatically, even though my agility hasn't. That takes quite a bit longer. Oh, and I'm down to a pretty lean 177 pounds.

Also, my doctor is VERY PLEASED. He's pretty sure that for the first time in 5 years he'll actually be decreasing the dosage of the medication I'm taking, as my blood glucose has dropped significatly.

Anyhow...

Tonight, however, I'm feeling it... we were sparring and I got the SNOT kicked out of me. Heh, my left arm and my right leg going to have some pretty nice bruises tomorrow...

But, it's all good. Every time I spar with my Sifu or my friend Dave (the only other black belt in the class), or hell, even the other students, I learn something.

The biggest revelation for me tonight was the style that I'm gravitating towards. We've got 5 styles - Crane, Tiger, Leopard, Snake and Dragon.

I'm a Leopard. They're patient and quick... which is what I am. I like to allow my opponent in sparring to expend all their energy, (well, with the exception of Sifu and Dave) and I'm content to simply block and wait for the opportunity to present itself, and then I strike, and strike hard.

It's great to hear from Sifu that he's impressed with my speed. Now, I just have to build the skill.

But, as with everything, it takes time.

Best part is, they've already planned to get me my Orange belt before my family and I head to the Philippines in January for a months vacation.

Heh, my brothers in law out there are going to quickly discover that the big white guy isn't the pushover he used to be.

Karma's a bitch. =)

Kung Fu is like crack to me now. I love it. I feel like crap when I miss a training session. Even when I go feeling tired and worn, after we're done, even if I get bruised or sore, I feel a million times better.

I'm so damned addicted to it! Hey, it's a good thing to be addicted to, that's for sure. My health is showing the benifits, I'm gaining skill, endurance and agility, and you know, my Sifu and fellow students are like family.

Chris