Should I take up Kung Fu?

[Dobbersky]

I used to hold a second degree brown belt in Seidokan Karate (well I guess I still kinda technically do...idk) but I quit back in January.

I quit because I was so frustrated with how I could never kick right due to my flat feet; I'd foolishly started wearing inserts in my shoes in the second half of 2010 and they rapidly weakened my foot muscles and my kicks declined just as rapidly.

Nothing improved it and I gave up; it was amazingly discouraging not being able to kick the bag-holder back with a side kick like I used to be able to, and the way I started stumbling with even basic kicks.

Now I'm starting college and I know my college offers Kung Fu as a "gym" class.

Do you think it would be a good idea for me to start it, seeing as how I have 5+ years prior experience in martial arts?

Or will it just be the same with my kicks and I'll give up with Kung Fu if I did with Karate?

I know Kung Fu has more circular, fluid movements typical apparently of Chinese styles as compared to the "choppier" moves of Karate.

I've seen Kung Fu demos at my old dojo and martial arts tournaments and their kata (is it the same word?) are beautiful; such cool hand techniques we don't have in Karate!

Anyway, what do you think about Kung Fu, in a college class environment, considering my prior experience with Karate and that I have stupidly flat feet?

Thank you!

It will be such a humbling experience for you!

A word of advice - leave your karate at the door, remember it is kungfu not karate, you need to use a different cup, OSU!!!

[HungKuen]

If you're trying out a new style then i agree on emptying your cup, but i have found that it is really hard to do especially if you've done one style for a long time. I once tried Muay Thai for a month while i was off kung fu and old habits die hard. I can't recall how many times i was asked to raise up on the ball of my foot when doing the roundhouse and front kick.

[Zaine]

I remember when I start going for kung fu after almost a decade in karate. It's a hard transition, you instinctively punch hard, form your strikes in a way that you were taught in karate. It's hard to go against a lot of the muscle memory that you have built but when you do you find that you incorporate a lot of it into what you know and what you get is a hybrid. I personally feel that those who don't train in both kung fu and karate are far behind those who do because it gives you a perspective that you just cannot get if you only have one side of the spectrum under your belt.

[vantheman]

Cross training (while this isn't entirely that) is always a great thing to do. In my opinion, the more diverse the two arts, the wider range of skill is.

VTM

[JusticeZero]

It's not -always- great. It really dampened my progress when I was doing it to, for example, spend an hour of a ninety minute training session having a teacher try to get my back foot to turn out, then go to another class and have the teacher spend an hour of a ninety minute class trying to get my foot to turn in three times a week for two years.

[alijanness]

Yes it is a good idea you should start it back but make sure that you get trained under a good instructor maybe he would be able to cover you up with your flat feet.

[FullPotentialMA]

I would suggest to first look at the root cause. If you have foot or knee issues, they will probably come to bite you later in life. While not everyone has (or needs to have) the flexibility for high kicks, almost any student can, with proper strength and body dynamics training, kick.

If your feet have gotten weak -- seek help to strengthen them. It will pay off!

[Harkon72]

I'd suggest Wing Chun, no grades, 3 Forms, Fast, Hands, Qi Gung and both internal and external force. Also spiritual and scientific at the Same Time! Ideal!

[ivandiver]

I agree with Harkon72. I think Wing Chun would be a good one to start with. We have a student who has flat feet and he has no problem. At the same time I think that is bull you could not progress because how your feet are. Best of luck though in whatever you decide!

[guird]

which style(s) specifically do they teach?

is it traditional kung fu or sport wushu?

In any case, I'd reccomend getting some sort of physiotherapy for those feet. Even jogging should do you some good.

And no more inserts, that's my reccomendation.