a long journey never ends

I started off on my journey of martial arts at a rather young age.

My father, a former law enforcement officer who spent the early part of his military career in the far-east during the 50’s, was the first person to introduce me to oriental martial arts. He taught me how to hit hard. And, he taught me how to kick hard. And he taught me the first elements of Jiu-Jitsu and Aikido.

I was about 10, when I was introduced to judo. Being not a very large child I really loved judo, which later lead me to take up wrestling in middle-school. I won one of my first wrestling matches using a judo technique (tomoe-nagi). My coach said – “Fourteen seconds. Not bad. But, please don’t ever use judo during a wrestling match again!” I didn’t. I still won.

In high-school I studied Kenpo Karate. I was very lucky to have as my instructor a former member of the Australian SAS. He was a real hard case, but man did I learn! It was also at this time, spending summers in with my family in Denver, that I had the chance to learn Kyokushin Karate from a former sparring partner of then world champion Chuck Norris.

In my twenties I studied Taekwando to improve my stability and kicking techniques.Working security in a number of nightclubs and drinking establishments I did have occasion to put my knowledge to practical use.

However, I’d always had a fascination with Chinese Kung Fu. You see, it was at age 10 that I really caught the “Martial Arts Bug.” I remember it to this day. It was August 16, 1973 – the theatrical release of “Enter the Dragon.” Bruce Lee was my hero. I went with my best friend to see it in the cinema. When we got home all we did was jump around like crazed kung fu monkeys. But that’s when I knew what I wanted to be. A Kung Fu Master!

Trying to find a good Kung Fu instructor to study under isn’t easy. I finally did find not only one, but several. My first sifu was one of the top instructors of Tai Ji Quan in Poland. He was a disciple of Dr Yang Jwing-Ming – one of the most talented masters and prolific martial arts writers in the world, whom I had the extreme pleasure of meeting while attending one of his seminars. I studied Tai Ji Quan and Chin Na for several years before finding that although soft was good, and hard was good, what I was really missing was that balance, fighting ability that first attracted me to martial arts.

Then in 2008, I found Leung Ting Wing Tsun...and my current sifu – Sifu Jarosław Buć (3rd technician master level IWTA). Since that time I have studied hard and practiced harder. I have spent long hours under his tutelage learning the true meaning of kung fu – “hard work.” I have regular private lessons with him. I attend instructor’s seminars every month with Sikung Maday Norbert(9th MOA) – whom I consider one of the best living martial artists in the world today. I spend every summer in Hungary with my Sifu and Sikung Maday Norbert polishing my skills. Working my way up from a beginning “white-shirt” student to “black-shirt” assistant.

And exactly 40 years to the day that I saw Bruce Lee’s last film what happened?

I passed my exam for first technician master level in Leung Ting Wing Tsun Kung Fu.

I now hold a second technician level, and will not stop at my third, fourth or fifth…etc.

There is no destination in Kung Fu.

Only the way.

The road never ends.

And neither will I.

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