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About Randolph L Martin
Expertise
Questions related to proper kinetics and use of body structure to achieve relaxation, posture correction, breathe control, fitness, strength and power. This knowledge comes via 28yrs experience/practice in Northern Longfist, along with Michuan style Tai Chi Chuan, Ba Gua basics, various types of Qi Gong, such as Swimming Dragon, Hombu Style Aikido and unique developmental exercises derived from these styles.

In addition, general Martial Arts questions and those related to integrity, morality and discipline are welcome. Also, I will answer Iron Palm training questions, and prefer to teach it in person to worthy students. [think about it :-)

Lastly, I'll discuss my experience with leukemia, from a personal, martial, philosophical, or mental standpoint. If you wish to know more about myself, then I suggest these 3 pages:

Instructor Background
Professional Resume

Experience

Past/Present Clients
In Ohio: Madison Adult Education, Marion, Mansfield, Shelby YMCA's, Mansfield OSU Campus, Richland Karate Center, Mansfield Friendly house & UMADOAP, & various other locations. Studied Aikido in Hawaii under Takaji Ishida Sensei 8th dan. Oldest living aikido teacher at the time - 91yrs old. Currently teach at Ohio State University Mansfield, Ohio (non-credit classes) along with private shaolin and internal arts classes. I started my training in 1980 under Sifu Mike Gillespie, Anne Arbor Shaolin Kung Fu and Mike Wheeler (Mansfield, Oh). Have also had the joy of working with and experiencing the teachings of Master George Ling Hu of Houston, Texas

You are here: Experts > Recreation/Outdoors > Martial Arts > Kung Fu > Finding myself and maybe a school

Kung Fu - Finding myself and maybe a school

Expert: Randolph L Martin - 10/29/2009

Question
I believe you will be able to help me more if you know a little more about me, so if you'll allow me the time. Ever since I was about 7 I've been completely enthralled with martial arts (in all forms and facets) always wanting to learn more and do more. Now, going on 11 years later, I am "familiar with" (know of it and at least a few forms) dozens of martial arts. I've trained under a master in Sheshidokan Aikido for a year (the school was disbanded because of money issues) and coached in wrestling for another. I have also been training myself in everything from Tiger Crane to Drunken Boxing. I am finding myself to be more partial to the more fluid martial arts (Tai Chi, Aikido, and Drunken) but in sparring tend to, naturally, add some more aggressive attacks that are not commonplace in the fluid martial arts, like a stone in a stream.
Finally, the question, (sorry for making you wait). Can you tell me what I should practice? If so what is it? I'm looking for the martial art that I'm apparently learning through learning every martial art. I'm tired of finding all the parts of a puzzle when I don't know what the picture is supposed to look like, please help.
On a side note. Where is your school located? You sound like a teacher I would greatly enjoy learning under. I live in a rural area and all there is, is Karate and Tae Kwon Do.

Answer
Alex,

I truthfully cannot tell you which art to study. I can suggest from your nature though.
First of all, you really dont want to be a jack of all trades...you will miss all the
real good stuff in those arts you are studying if you only brush their surface. For example,
the Real Aikido training doesnt even start until you have reached the balck belt level, and
a lot of the other arts teach mainly basics until the student has advanced to a certain level,
then their real training begins and the interesting and unique stuff becomes available.

Secondly, it can be hard to study two arts at the same time especially if they dont complement
each other. You will get contradicatory information...stuff that would only make sense once
you became advanced enough in said art. I learned this from experience with my shaolin background
and trying to learn Hung Gar and AIkido at the same time. Just wouldnt work... I wasnt learning.

You are probably in the same shoes as many other students. Each doesnt really know exactly what they want, so they jump around, try a little of this a little of that, but its like I described
before, you dont get the full flavor until you've totally immersed yourself into it...then you'll
know if that art complements your "style" and flair for doing things.

We can both study the same art from the same teacher at the same time and while both of us practice and perform the techniques and forms like we were taught, we will both do things just a little bit different. That is us putting ourselves into the art.

From what you described, harsh, strong external movement doesnt fit you. You lean towards the
fluid. In that respect, I would say, seek out the chinese styles, and things like Aikido, Tai Chi Chuan and such. And especially, if you can find a good Hsing-I Hsing-I is a soft art, but it has a strong power within it that some might think is hard external power, but its not. There is also Ba Gua. IT is very very fluid and I think you would like it.

I would try to loosen up on the hard external stuff when sparring. Give the fluid movements a
chance. Its easier to be fluid than hard. There is a time and place for hard just as there is a time and place for soft. The secret is finding those times and places..... and before you ask, the answer comes only from practice, practice and more practice.

Seek out the real stuff. As in Tai Chi, I say dont study Tai Chi, study Tai Chi Chuan. Learn how this art works in defensive/offensive conditions. My teacher gives excellent workshops twice a
year in Michigan and lots of other places and between him and his students, you will learn the
Real Tai Chi Chuan. You can contact his school in Houston Texas and find out if any of his students are closeby. 713-777-4546. He has students all over the country.

So, in my opinion, you need to give attention to the "soft" arts. Focus more on them, spend more time learning them...really learning them...attain rank if if your in a school, stick with it so you can find out what it "Really" is. one year isnt enough. Three years of Aikido showed me a lot of things, but there is so much more after that.

In your sparring, try to be relaxed, fluid and dont give in to the external hard aggresive nature. Go with the flow and when the time is right....then let loose with relaxed full body power and go back to fluid relaxed movement. That is part of what you pick up from these soft arts....how to move fluidly, with grace, balance, coordination, full structural linkage which produces True Power.

Karate is a good solid art, but you will find out that those who practice it long enough, seek out the soft arts arts to complement their hard. They seek balance. Then learn over time that they cannot be hard all the time...they need soft to balance.

So dont dimiss an art, try it and see what you think. If it feels right to you, then learn it and add it to "YOUR" art. ITs just like what Bruce Lee did...he learned everything he could find and then got rid of all the things that didnt work for him. He found a way to make all that
knowledge work for him. Thats what you got to do....learn...practice and then get rid of what dont work for you and blend the rest together into something that is totally yours.

I hope this give you some answers to your question. This is why they call it a Life art. It takes your whole life to really understand it. And Actually, I am still searching for pieces to complete the puzzle myself. One day I'll have it!

I teach locally in Mansfield, Ohio. I know of a few good teachers, in Kent Ohio and Anne Arbor Michigan, Kalamazoo Michigan and a few other places, but your best bet is to call Master Hus' school in Texas and see if they can point you towards some of his students.

And if your up for workshops, ask them about that also. If you can make it to the Michigan area, contact Brian Hoff at brian.c.hoff@pfizer.com or 269-382-1209, or Mike Gillespie in Anne Arbor at 734-929-0513 http://www.a2shaolinkungfu.org

Hope this helps.
Write back if you have more questions.

Sincerely,

Randy Martin
PBICMHC

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