Hi--I'm new here. Great place to be. I've had a good time reading many of the posts. I tried to do a search on my question, but I didn't have much luck. Here's the situation:
At age 19 I started training in Hun Gar kung fu. I had the honor (although I was too young and stupid at the time to realize it) of studying under Shufu Ting Fong Wong in Buffalo, New York. (There are old issues of Kung Fu Magazine about him--he was incredible.) I loved it! I did well and progressed at a decent rate. Then after a couple of years, I stopped training. Why? A million reasons (none of them seem very good now). Home life was terrible, love life was worse, schooling was awful.....you name it. A year or so goes by and I started training again for about six months. And, like an idiot, I stopped doing it again. I stopped doing something I really loved (and not for the first or last time in my life). Big mistake.
Fast forward 22 years and I am now 41, sliding into 42. I accidentally ran across some old web photos of my Shufu. Embarrassing to say, but I feel as though I've had this bizarre revelation--and it all came down on me instantaneously like a ton of bricks. I have been having dreams about my Shufu! I suddenly have an uncontrollable urge to resume training. I still remember my horse stance, as well as basic punch, block, and kick. Shades of a form or two, but that's about it. My shufu is now dead (or so I heard, a few years back), I can't seem to find his son (who I know used to teach as well), and I'm living in Maine--a very unpopulated State with little to no "real" martial arts training.
My questions: Is it reasonable to want to go back to kung fu at this age? I have stayed in decent shape throughout the years with cardio and weightbearing exercises. Do I stand a chance of attaining any sort of skill? The desire and discipline are DEFINITELY there--and THIS time, I will NOT quit. Has anyone else started or restarted at my age (or later)? If so, how did it go for you?
I've been practicing what I remember, trying to recondition my muscles. Even though I stayed in decent shape, as you all know, kung fu uses muscles you didn't even know you had! They say when the student is ready, the master will appear. I wonder....
Any thoughts and/or advice on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.
Mel