Good morning.

 

As promised, I will say a few words about the recent Chum Kiu seminar. I apologise again for not writing sooner, but May is proving to be an exceedingly busy month for me.

 

Firstly, however, I would like to offer my congratulations to those students that achieved a successfully grading. I will say more about this at a later date.

 

For those that couldn’t attend the seminar (and a reminder to those that did) I will give a quick précis: the seminar essentially covered in detail each part of the form. Every element was broken down and practiced independently. Crucially it was then put in context, both with the appropriate applications and techniques, along with how it related to the rest of the Wing Tsun system. The idea of the seminar was to not only increase the ability of the students, but their understanding of the art as a whole. The whole seminar was underpinned by the theory, each day covering a different aspect – from the spiritual side through to the tactical.

 

The seminar was divided into 2 groups – students that had attended previous seminars by me on this subject and those that hadn’t. The students for whom it as the first time began from the beginning of the form and worked their way through it. The other group spend the first evening recapping on previous parts of the form and then started from where the previous seminar left off. I have to confess it was a struggle for even the second group to finish the whole form in the 4 days – it is such a beautifully in-depth form that each part requires precise understanding and practice. Anyone that says this form is not important (or for that matter fails to put the correct weigh on its study) is in my opinion seriously misguided.

 

It’s hard to know where to begin with the seminar itself, as so much happened in such a short time. It was gruelling - there is no other way to describe it effectively - but at the same time immensely enjoyable (and that it probably the first time that I have ever used both those words in one sentence!). Students who have attended every one of my seminars over the last few years have subsequently told me that it was physically and mentally the hardest so far, although teaching so often it is hard for me to comment.

 

I’ve said this about seminars before, but it really was journey – for me as well as the students. Even my top teachers, who have been with me for many years now, learnt new information. It’s impossible to explain in words the progression of the students over those 4 days. All I will say is that even I was impressed at both how receptive and how hard the students trained. If you weren’t there it is hard to appreciate, but it was actually quite an emotional occasion. You just have to look at the photos to see how hard everyone trained; even the ungraded beginners improved beyond recognition.

 

I have to say all the teachers also approached me independently to say how much they enjoyed the seminar and that they thought it was the best seminar yet. While I have enjoyed every seminar I have taught, I am inclined to agree with them about this. I think that it will be a hard act for me to follow – but something I am very happy to try

 

To be honest, preparing for a seminar is quite hard work. It takes hours of preparation even if you have taught the subject before, not to mention the time dedicated to thinking about what the required outcome should be and how to best achieve it. When you have different groups training this makes it all the harder. No matter how well you know your subject but if you want outstanding results preparation is essential.

 

The reason I say this is because all the work put in pales into insignificance when you see the smiling faces of the students at the end of the seminar. There are a few moments that stand out when you teach frequently, and this is one of them. All the students that attended should know I proud of each and every one of them

 

Special mention should also be made of the students from the Dulwich School – they are now progressing onto the intermediate level, exactly where they should be nearly a year down the line. Si-Mei Della has clearly done an excellent job teaching them, and I hope they continue to make the most of her tuition.

 

Finally, as all the students who have been attending class recently will know – the information and skills taught at the seminar is being consolidated for the next month or so (in addition to the new information to be taught). The hard work has been done – now is the time where you can take it to the next level and start to make the art part of you…

 

Sifu

 

Ps the next seminar will take place on the 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th July. It will be a specialist Summer seminar, focusing on different aspects of the art with each day will covering a different topic. If you missed the last seminar you certainly don’t want to miss this one…