Good morning.
I would like to say well done to all the students who attended the classes in the past week. It was not an easy training and indeed rather a special one; it was aimed at not just improving the skills, but comprehensively understanding the Wing Tsun system. To give the teachers some support (and also a well deserved break) I taught most of the classes this week.
Special emphasis was placed on the some of the very foundations of the art – not just the physical, but also the spiritual. The essence of truly teaching the art of Wing Tsun is having the ability to balance the theory and the physical training. Without frequent teaching on the theory and spiritual side it is impossible to understand Wing Tsun. However, without hard training it is impossible to master the art. Both is required and both requires a master to think and feel what is necessary for the development of the students. I always wish the students to enjoy the classes, but not every class can be, nor should be the dynamic, full-on classes. Don’t misunderstand me, the students always train hard when they are in my classes (and all the other teachers for that matter), but the beauty of Wing Tsun is that it is not simply another aerobics class. Being entertained in one thing, but developing is far more important. Those who chase after techniques get exactly what they want; but a word of advice – you must be very careful what you wish for, for it might come true…
The classes taught a very serious point, which would do those that attended (and indeed those that didn’t) no harm to reflect a little further. It is something that I have mentioned on here before - Wing Tsun requires you to think. In fact to put it more strongly, it is impossible to do Wing Tsun without doing so. Those people that simply do movements with their arms and legs without stopping to consider their significance (and by that I mean more than just their fighting application) are not doing Wing Tsun, just funny movements that resemble that art superficially.
The important question that I put to the students – is what do you stand for? A martial artist should have a very strong sense of right and wrong and be an example for other people to look up to. If you cannot be proud of the way you act, then you have learnt nothing from the martial arts. It is worth reflecting (no pun intended) that you have to look at yourself in the mirror and be happy with who you have become. The very first principle in Wing Tsun, that of Jiu Jing, teaches you exactly that. Being scared is nothing to be ashamed of, but learning how to face your fears – now that is truly worthy of a martial artist. You will always be only as good as your actions; if you lie, ‘sneak’ around, act in a ‘tricky’ way then you are, in effect, making yourself out to be liar and a coward. I say these strong words with reservation (for there is little worse that you can call a fellow human being), and against no-one in particular; but rather as an illustration of a dying ideal. There was once a time when to be called a martial artist truly meant something, a title of awe and reverence – not just one of physical prowess (and even that has become watered down). With all my heart I hope that this time returns, away from the rather empty phrase that it has become now…
Following, let alone attempting to master, the above concepts are far more challenging than any technique you will ever learn in Wing Tsun. Therefore, the final question you need to ask yourself, is what sort of person do you want to be?
Sifu