My current life in China, San Soo, martial arts training

[Fatal Rose]

To be honest I am not exactly sure where to put this thread, so if this is the wrong forum, feel free to move it.

I've always wanted to start a thread on Bullshido about my life in the PRC, sadly lack of free time and laziness has always made it difficult for me.

Well I have some free time and I'd love to share my experience here in China with all of you.

I've been doing martial arts for over 15 years. I started in San Soo and reached black belt. Over the years I've cross trained in a lot of stuff including, Kick boxing, all around mma training at the shark tank in Cali, Hapkido, Jeet Kune Do, and right before I came to China I started Kajukenbo.

I'm also a huge MMA fan, first started watching in 94 or 95.

About two and a half years ago I left Southern California and moved here to China. I was really enjoying my present martial arts training schedule at that time in America before my departure. Mon, Wednesday, Friday I was doing kick boxing with my friend Michael (he landed a job at a local gym as a kick boxing teacher due to his 7 plus years of training at the shark tank), Tuesday/Thursday I was doing Kajukenbo, and Saturday I was doing San Soo.

Sadly I was not in a good position employment wise and was struggling a bit. My good friend Steven was already in China working and offered me a job. I immediately agreed and about two months Later I was in Hunan China.

It was hard leaving all my friends and family behind but I knew I had to take advantage of this opportunity. Besides I was sure I would find some quality training in China. Sadly that was not the case...

Living in communist China has been interesting to say the least.

My intentions with this thread...

Share my experiences in China.

Answer any questions anyone may have about Martial arts in China and China in general.

Keep people up to date on my discoveries of Kung Fu San Soo in China.

I currently live in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, and I'm currently training in Shotokan Karate (surprised?).

I want to share the truth about China and the state of Martial arts within this country.

[Bezmond]

Hey neighbour!

How exciting, another Bullshido member who can't watch fights on youtube.

[Cake of Doom]

Is net censorship really as harsh as we're lead to believe?

[Bezmond]

Tiresome rather than harsh. The thing is, most Chinese people don't give a **** whats on non Chinese websites.

[Cake of Doom]

That makes sense. Cheers.

[Bezmond]

That makes sense. Cheers.

My pleasure. This is a very polite thread.

[Cake of Doom]

Thats because of where it is I think. If it was YMAS it could be a different story.

How do you think training differs outside of China?

[Bezmond]

I don't know, I was subject to fairly robust interrogation when I first posted on here. Maybe the chaps will be along shortly. I'll get back to you tomorrow unless Fatal Rose would like to elucidate in the meantime...sounds like he's got some things he'd like to share.

[Cake of Doom]

That question was open to anyone who has an answer. I should have stated that.

[Fatal Rose]

The other poster within this thread lives in a much better city. TianJin.

I can only speak for the training I've had here in Shijiazhuang.

From what I have seen there are virtually zero traditional Gong fu schools. I've seen plenty TKD schools, a couple Sanda schools, and one Shotokan Karate school. (where I train)

I have seen occasionally a few people doing taijiquan in the park extremely early in the morning.

The training methods and standards in China are considerably lower/dated when compared to back home.

I've done TKD, Sanda, and Shotokan in China. So far only the Shotokan school/training was worth staying with.