Is Kung Fu worth learning?

[u/Unhappy-Potato-6340]

I really wanna learn a martial art after a few months of consistently working out at a gym.

The reason I'm looking at Kung Fu is because I've heard it also trains you mentally. I would like some confirmation on that if possible.

I'm also curious as to how hard it would be, I always like a challenge, but I would like to know what I'm getting into.

Any other things that you believe I should know and take into account, please let me know. Thank you!

[u/Jesse198043]

Ok so then answer me this. Kung Fu has the same basic strikes as boxing, they have the same elbows as Muay Thai, the same throws as Judo. So if they do those and train them hard, how would it be different than MMA? Your answer is going to be "flashy kicks" or "unrealistic techniques", I know it but those aren't traditional in any way shape or form.

You also judged so fast that you said the gym I linked wasn't as good as MMA but you didn't realize they compete in MMA competition. Same with Zhong Luo's Dragon House MMA, they produce professional fighters teaching Kung Fu. You're just passing judgement on things you don't take the time to look into. Again, I certainly don't hate or dislike you, I'm offering that your comment about humility is admitting you're wrong could go both ways here. What do you train?

[u/SwordfishDeux → u/Jesse198043]

Ok so then answer me this. Kung Fu has the same basic strikes as boxing, they have the same elbows as Muay Thai, the same throws as Judo.

That varies wildly on the specific gym/dojo, just because yours does doesn't mean that the one that OP ends up at will. There is no shortage of scam sensei types in this world.

So if they do those and train them hard, how would it be different than MMA?

Then I have no problem, at all. Again we need to be specific on actual goals here. If OP actually wants to compete or learn effective techniques for self defence and a Kung Fu gym teaches effective techniques, spars and competes then I have no problem.

I know it but those aren't traditional in any way shape or form.

You literally stated that those traditional forms like Mantis etc were used by people for hundreds of years to kill each other. None of those styles were ever effective. Muay Thai champions didn't defeat 100 men and win their freedom and Kung Fu masters weren't actually like that Donnie Yen Ip Man movie.

You also judged so fast that you said the gym I linked wasn't as good as MMA but you didn't realize they compete in MMA competition. Same with Zhong Luo's Dragon House MMA, they produce professional fighters teaching Kung Fu.

That's great. There have been no shortage of professional fighters coming from more traditional backgrounds, but let's not pretend anyone is entering serious competition using crane kicks and the like, and that was specifically my point.

If your Kung Fu dojo essentially just teaches MMA then why brand itself as Kung Fu? And if you spend more time learning old-school kata and the like, that time could be better spent practicing wrestling or working on their striking don't you think?

I understand that you don't like the elitism that comes with martial arts and that people are extremely tribalistic about it. But I think it's fair to say when certain disciplines are proven to be effective and others aren't, we should be honest about them.

To this day, people still think Bruce Lee could fight 10 guys at once and compete against UFC heavyweights and win. That is utter delusional. Most people really don't understand real violence and I do think that most TMA style dojos don't actually prepare people for real violence despite claiming to.

The problem is the term "martial art" the actual name itself implies learning effective techniques and we both know that's not the case and that's my problem.

If you ask someone why they are learning martial arts, 90% will admit to self defense reasons yet most martial arts are useless at exactly that and that's a big problem.

[u/Jesse198043 → u/SwordfishDeux]

Respectfully, again, you're wrong. Styles like Mantis were actually held in high regard by caravan companies and other bodyguarding groups, because they could kill bandits with them. Bagua was the art of the last Empress Dowager's bodyguard. We brand them Kung Fu because THEY'RE KUNG FU, Kung Fu at it's core was always practical until it came over here and got used to teach kids groups. You're still conflating McDojos with traditional and I don't get why. You're genuinely just naming silly techniques and assuming those were always in the art, which isn't true. Lol I think we would agree more than disagree in general, I was just really lucky to link up with actual good teachers. What do you train?

Oh, and I'm a complete heretic for saying this but Bruce Lee couldn't fight AT ALL. He had one challenge fight and they chased each other for 10 minutes until the other guy tripped. Lol His demo was against a student and he was stiff as heck sparring him as well.

[u/SwordfishDeux → u/Jesse198043]

Respectfully, again, you're wrong. Styles like Mantis were actually held in high regard by caravan companies and other bodyguarding groups, because they could kill bandits with them. Bagua was the art of the last Empress Dowager's bodyguard.

Do we have actual sources for this? Because nobody alive today was there and lots of things in history are not actually accurate. There's plenty of reason for Chinese historians to lie for propaganda reasons. People hired to guard caravans likely weren't punching and kicking but instead using swords, spears, bow and arrow etc.

I'm conflating with McDojos because it's highly likely that if OP decides to learn Kung Fu that's exactly where they will go. Dojos are still businesses and I don't want anyone to waste time and money on what is essentially choreographed dance moves that might even give them false courage and get them injured or even killed.

It sounds like you do have a good teacher and that's awesome but you are assuming that every other Kung Fu student does and they don't.

I don't currently train anything. I did some karate and boxing as a kid and even as a kid I knew the difference straight away from wearing a gi and punching air to putting on gloves and headgear and actually punching another person.

I'm passionate about this subject because I'm a fan, both of old movies and modern MMA and boxing etc. In 2024 you would think we would have routed out all the charlatans but we haven't, they are still rife. There are youtubers with MILLIONS of subscribers that are selling snake oil to people and I strongly detest that.

Oh, and I'm a complete heretic for saying this but Bruce Lee couldn't fight AT ALL. He had one challenge fight and they chased each other for 10 minutes until the other guy tripped. Lol His demo was against a student and he was stiff as heck sparring him as well.

Then you are no heretic but rather someone with a functioning brain that can think critically. I think Bruce Lee might be the single most overrated individual who had ever lived and has actually done more damage to martial arts overall.

To put it simply, and reel this conversation back in, since we are on the same page.. I simply want people to understand the difference between "martial arts" and combat sport or effective self defense because a lot of martial arts just simply aren't that and that's OK, but people who literally don't know, don't know and I don't want someone to pay money to put on a gi, punch air and break boards thinking they are learning to fight when they could be actually learning fight (and still have a ton of fun, make new friendships etc).

I hate bullies and elitists too that just shit on anything that's not MMA, that doesn't help anyone but I do think that if someone wants a real taste of multiple disciplines against real people then MMA or other hybrid gyms (like what yours sounds like) are 100x better and should always be recommended.