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as a kid I took kung-fu for 8 years, going to as many as 5 classes a week (which was a task considering the sensei travelled around instead of having his own dojo). I was a 2nd degree brown belt when I realized that I've only been learning katas to progress to the next level, no one was teaching me exactly what all of those movements were for. We hardly sparred at all, and very rarely even had target bags to practice our attacks. I was good at memorizing all the movements, but I would've been ashamed to call myself a black belt if I didn't feel I earned it.
I quit kung-fu and all but forgot about it for several years. Just recently a friend of mine convinced me to train Shorin-Ryu Karate with him at my old buddhist temple under the tuteledge of some truly amazing people. The stretches alone are worth it, and I'm learning more about actual combat than before. I'm only saddened that there's only one class a week, but it gives my muscles a chance to reccuperate.
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I am the very model of a moderator gentleman.
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