Hello

[jay]

Hey Sergio,
Speaking of training...... I'm still waiting to hear from you on my offer! Even meeting just a couple of times will make a great difference for you. Don't be a stranger......... As far as other teachers of 5 Family across the globe... Who is teaching in Taiwan and Europe?...and do you know their lineage - if it was from Ark Wong himself or a student of his? Just curious because this is the first time I've heard of this......
Jay

[Gary Steuer]

Great to hear from you Sergio ! We all do what we can do. As we get a little older we develop other things that require our attention, such as work, family, more work, and then maybe more family, but truthfully we have to find time for all that has to be done. Sometimes workouts are a luxury. I look forward to getting everyone together again in March. I'm feeling better now and I think we'll have some terrific workouts ! Best to everyone and say hello to your family !
PS.. Not many people realize that I was in Mexico in the late 60's passing on our style as per GM Wongs request... I had many students in Atlixco and Oaxaca.....

[Gary Steuer]

Hi Robert ! Good to have on board ! I think you'll like this forum.. All good people and some useful information, and we are always open to anything that needs to be said ! Good to hear from you !!

[pacificnw]

Hi Gary and everyone from Stoner Park

This is Robert Dorman . since I moved to Washington state I have been very busy but not to busy to work out every day even if it's just a horse stance in the bathroom while brushing my teeth . as Gary has said I recently got jumped by a bunch of meth heads at our local bowling alley . I feel very humble putting this story out there in the presence of so many great and wonderful people especially since I haven't made it past the black bird but like I said I work out every day and when I was called upon to defend the honor , and I disagree I was able to absolutely ruin at least two of there days . I've never in my life had anybody step back from me or run away but after seeing one of there meth buddies get dropped with an elbow to the face they all lost there need for my wallet . it was an amazing event and I absolutely got away unscratched . I want to credit you Gary but mostly Jay for all of his hours teaching me and his patience for not beating me to death for being an uncoordinated white boy . I really look forward to hearing from the Stoner park crew as well as new people like maybe someone close to Tacoma .

[mic]

Hi Robert and welcome abroad. I am in NE California next to... no big town... but might be the second closest to you, geographically. Don't we have someone in Oregon, in the group? Still, it's not WA! I don't have a workout partner either. I try ESP with Gary, ha ha! Hey, someday technology might allow us to have a "conference workout" via the Internet. I think it is already possible.
Anyway, welcome and congrats on your success story with the thugs.
Michele

[Gary Steuer]

Hi , Yes we do have an older student who spent a lot of time with us in the early 70's and then at Stoner Park... his name is Ladd Holroyd and he moved to Seattle.. Long time ago and we haven't kept in touch but I'll bet he remembers most of the forms .................It would be worth while to look him up.

[pacificnw]

Thanks Michele and hello everyone

Gary said we should give some background on our Kung Fu so here goes ... My first experience with any martial arts style was in 1996 with Gary at Stoner Park in West Los Angeles were I was also lucky enough to work out with many of his long time students of which some had been working with Gary for decades . I have taken to heart the words of Gary were as he told me that a person could take just a few forms and work out with them and study them for the rest of his life and still not master them , he told me that you have do an action 10,000 times before it becomes of second nature . so , I have truely taken my time in learning the forms but in an extremly disciplined manner . As I have said before I was taken task rescently and the one true thing about Kung Fu that I have learned is that the devil is in the detail .

[pacificnw]

Hi everybody

Jay has informed me that "it's 100,000 times a move has to be performed before it becomes second nature .he never stops being my Sifu even 1,100 miles away

[mark]

Dear Blackravin,


I just wanted to tell you that from an outsider looking in I really
have appreciated all the time, effort and energy you have put
into your forum. I for one am glad you did it. I really love hearing
all those GM Wong stories and learning more about the great art
of kung-fu. Often times I would anticipate new posts when my
lunch hour approached.

I must say it kind of ended on a sour note. I feel Uncle Ron has a lot to offer and share but I was very disappointed in how he handled himself at the end. I also feel what he said to you was
unwarranted. I always felt you went out of your way trying to please everybody.

I've seen the same thing happen to the Kwan Ying Do system here in Ohio after GM Feeman Ong died. Infact, I feel its more rare when it doesn't happen. Unfortunately we all have an ego.
Wouldn't it be awesome if we were all led by our higherself and not our ego?

Mark

[Gary Steuer]

Hi Mark, Unfortunately we are human and it takes a strong person to manage the feelings of other people. It's easy , too easy to just let yourself go and let your ego run away with your mouth. Personnally I think Sergio did a great job organizing his forum, but then got intimidated by the older students. Living outside the country they never thought that I would see these forums and then when I spoke up they didn't know what to say.. Oh well, that's life I guess. Anyway, good to see you on our forum and if there is anything I could answer for you please feel free to ask...............

[mark]

Hello,

I've had a love for the Chinese martial arts since the old Kung-fu
television series. Although I love them all, Southern Shaolin has
always been my favorite. I remember reading an article about GM
Wong in the early 80's in IKF magazine. It talked about how he
still used the old ways to train his students. I remember thinking
"How Cool is That." I've been interested in 5 Family/ 5 Animal ever
since.

I followed the Ark Wong thread on the old Southern Fist forum and then on El Cuervo's forum. I feel like I already know a lot of
the people here. I've been training on and off since 1995. It's hard with 3 kids who are 8, 6, and 5 years old but the love never
dies.

Gary, I really enjoyed your videos on YouTube.I don't remember
ever reading why you moved to Thailand. Why did you?Youngfool, are you still around?Does anybody know if Alex H. still reads any of the 5 Animal/5 Family forums? I've always enjoyed his insights as well.

I hope everybody is enjoying the Holidays and I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Mark

[blackravin]

Hi Mark, thanks for the good words they really do help in my recovery.. "Recovery" you say, well "yes" recovery.. I once mentioned that when I first began the forum it was to give it a new twist on the 5 Family System.. To get the system noticed again and out of the shadows; and at one point it really seemed like it was going in the right way, but then, well you know, things started to come up..

However, I can't really say I am sorry that things turned out the way they did.. God only know why it has to be the way it has to be.. But like in all cultures and beliefs we must have a "Ying in order to have a Yang".. I tried to ride the line that separated both, but with little success..

As you know, I also tried to mediate between Sifu's and Masters, but it really is hard when your just a puppy in the system.. Because of my American/Mexican culture I really felt like my hands where bound re scuffles between my Elders.. I made my feelings heard by my elders and they new I wouldn't get involved... A friend of mine (who is also one of my un-official Sifus) gave me some good advise; what he said was, "what was not in your time; is not your business" only those that where there at that time have any right to comment about what happened at that time" --- Pretty simple advise, but I think he's right... I was just a kid when I started at the Daly Kwoon, I still have my student card and pictures to prove it, but still I get questioned regarding whether I was ever there.. But that's okay, I know I was there and that's good enough for me..

Uncle Gary, I can only say, has really stuck by me, thru thick and thin and always told me he supported me.. I can't thank him enough and all his guys for the support they have shown me.. I in-fact have been a prodigal son; I have been given an open door by all of Uncle Gary's group and haven't taken them up on their word yet..

Mark, I don't know if you know this, but the the El Cuervo Forum is still up and running, but I have made it all Spanish.. I've been thinking about adding an English thread, but am not sure yet.. I will see in January..

I also want to add that although it might not seem like it, I still respect all of my Elders.. I know that they might not feel the same for me, but that's okay.. I just want to thank them for the time they did consider me their friend and pupil.. I will never forget what they taught me and out of respect I never relearn the same form I learn form one instructor with another.. I make it a policy to keep the any form I learn from any particular teacher the same; and will only learn new forms from the next Sifu I learn under..

Many things have changed since I first started the El Cuervo forum; and I really hope they have been for the best.. Mark if their is anything I can ever help you with just let me know..

Uncle Gary, thanks for always being a supportive friend; even when others wanted me dead and buried.

Happy New Years everyone!!!

El Cuervo (a.k.a. Blackravin)

[Gary Steuer]

You are more than welcome ! I'm sorry I only get to make the trip once a year but that's better than not coming back at all.. I have dedicated my life to my kung fu and I hope to be around for many years to come.. There is no question that cannot be answered. I'm sorry that other forums are only meeting places for others to voice misgivings or to make idle boasts as to abilities.. Like they say " The proof is in the pudding."

PS.... Happy New Year !

[Gary Steuer]

I guess I do owe an explanation of why I moved to Thailand...... The reason was because I couldn't move to Vietnam ! After coming back from a war that I personnally took part in it seemed that I just didn't fit in to society anymore. You have to know that out of a Marine boot camp platoon of 91 men, only 2 of us ever made it back home. Both of us had received numerous wounds and I was the only one of us both that still had all my limbs. For me my kung fu training was more than just training it was a way of life. It was a way for me to deal with all the horrors I had seen and it was a way for me to vent my frustration and my self pity for having survived when I didn't think I was worth it. Thailand was the closest I could get to Vietnam in order to be close to all those friends that I lost.....

[mic]

Gary, what year was it that you moved to Thailand? I lost track of time. ;-(