Rising Dragon Martial Arts School?

[Unseen_Abilities]

Hey, so, I was surfing Youtube the other day and an ad for this place showed up. It got me thinking about what an amazing experience it would be to go and learn some Kung Fu in China. I'm still only thinking about it at this point and, if I went there, it wouldn't be until at least next year, but I was wondering if anyone here has heard of, or visited, this school. Any info you have would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks,

 

T.S

[Sloppy Zhang]

Not familiar with this school specifically, looked in at their website. Just some things to keep in mind-

 

1)Watch out for schools that teach all martial arts under the sun. Just one traditional Chinese martial art from a legitimate lineage is going to be PACKED with knowledge. With some lineages, more knowledge than you could learn in a lifetime unless you devote your entire life to serious, daily, near continuous practice. Take into account that some arts have their own styles of Qigong, application of Chinese medicine, and meditative practices.... it literally boggles the mind.

 

So to think that you're going to be trained in not one, not two, not three, but four or five or six plus arts? Right.

 

Keep in mind that if you're going on a group trip with training and all that, it's probably going to be pretty generic, you tour around, see the sites, and shake a few hands. But mostly get assistants and stuff checking to see if you got the form right.

 

2) Check the credentials of who's teaching. This page lists the teachers and who they studied with/under. I'm not familiar with some of their particular lineages. But basically, you should research the names and the lineages and make sure everyone checks out.

 

3) (Section 2 sub-section A) Read the wording very. carefully. Lots of people like to say "I trained with master XYZ"... which sounds awesome. But you don't know if that means "lived with the master for 10 years and trained daily", "commuted to train with that teacher one weekend a month and two weeks a year for half a year", "attended a weekend seminar once when he was 19 and studying abroad in China, after which he went back to Oregon where he cross trained in Wrestling and "spiced up" his training"....

 

So, yeah, read the fine print.

 

4) Watch out for these "certifications". I know they say on the site that you get a certification at the end, and no doubt people will use these to run back to the States or the UK and go "I trained with master XYZ, here's my certificate!" But.... are they really doing quality control on these? How do they test if you "get" the material, the internal practices, and can apply them?

 

It's really easy to say you're a Tai Chi fighter, but when push comes to shove you throw someone down using your Judo, then do a flourishing Cloud Hands and go "yeah, look at me!" or claim you're a Bagua master, then knock someone out with your big right hand from the old boxing days, then finish up with a palm change and go "check out that internal power!" So even if you're a good fighter, that doesn't necessarily mean you're a good "insert style here" fighter.

 

 

Not to say that it's not a fun experience and that you won't learn anything. It's probably a great trip and well coordinated and I'm sure you'll get into places you wouldn't otherwise get into. Maybe it'll pave the way for future learning, for instance, if you really hit it off with someone and made a connection that you could come back later for follow up training.

 

Just... Be careful.

 

Check the facts. Check the styles. Check the lineages. Check the "certificates".

[Unseen_Abilities]

Hey Sloppy Zhang, thanks for such a detailed reply. In the coming weeks, months etc, I'll find out what I can based on the points you mentioned. It would be all too easy to just say, "oooOOOooo, Kung Fu in China! I'm going to get on the next flight..." without really knowing enough about it, so thanks.

[JohnC]

Yea... and if the guy brings in masters, then you pick and choose and you don't need to focus on all of them.

 

As in, each master knows his shit.

 

Looks good to me.

 

John