Good afternoon.
Sunday was the concluding day of the Chum Kiu seminar. It’s hard to describe your feelings as a master when you come to end of 4 days of continuous teaching like this. You are both physically and mentally completely drained – every last part of you and every drop of energy has gone into ensuring that the students achieve everything they can from the available time. However, at the same time you have this wonderful uplifting and elated feeling which stays with you for days to come. It has to be said that it is also touched with a hint of sadness – that the inevitable has happened and it had to come to an end. My feelings echo exactly that when one of the students came up to me and said ‘Sifu I only wish that we could have another 4 days!’
One of the greatest rewards you can have as a master (and any type of teacher) is to actually see the progression and development of you students; all the pain, lack of sleep, preparation and hard work fades into nothing compared to this. When you look back from a seminar like this and see where everyone was before they came along – it truly has been some kind of intense journey. You spend so much time with the students looking at each of them and trying to correct every individual fault that you get much closer with them – even if you may hardly had a conversation. This seminar was certainly no exception – indeed I have to say the feeling, if possible, was exacerbated. So focused was I on the getting the very best from everyone that I even voluntarily stayed an extra half an hour into the lunch break – just eating a sandwich while I taught the final session.
While the Biu Jee was the most dramatic, and explosive seminar I have taught – undoubtedly exclusive in its content - I honestly feel that this was the best that I have taught to date. To be honest when I first taught a seminar on Chum Kiu last year I had serious concerns – as it is a complex form you see such a multitude of errors that it makes you want to cringe or just run away! But my fears were unfounded - I can sincerely say this; the Chum Kiu that my students developed and showed by the end was the best that I have ever seen. Of course I am not talking about other masters here, but even so I was quite astounded at how precise, clear and focused this form was. Never have I seen such a great a progression in only 4 days. Not only was their understanding clear from the way that demonstrated it, but every single student involved understood the correct body mechanics. The grading that followed this was of a similar standard. My congratulations go out to all those involved, as every one passed (as I mentioned in an earlier post this is no mean feat – as the grading not only lasted a further 3 hours but I am perfectionist and will not tolerate sloppy or careless mistakes.) Particular congratulations should go to the three students who achieved Grade 12 (the equivalent of Black Belt). I do now, however, expect this to be the minimum standard for every respective student grade.
Going back to the seminar itself, I actually did not get to complete the form– but this is of little importance compared to what has been achieved. A strong foundation has been built. My message to all those involved is this; make the most of this invested time and energy. The instructors will be consolidating the information over the next few weeks so make sure you make the effort to attend classes. The hard work is done, but it is the next few weeks which determine whether it will truly be part of you. A bit of courage and a lot of hard work and great things can be built…
As so many people have requested another seminar on this subject I will be teaching another one next year (my instructors and I aim to be able to announce the dates at the end of the year). This should allow me to teach the final parts, as well as give the students who were not able to make this seminar a chance to catch up on what they missed in. It will, of course, be divided into the different groups to allow this to happen. The final seminar of this year will be dedicated to the subject of Chi-Sau – ‘the soul of Wing Tsun’ and will take place on the 16th, 17th and 18th November. I will also be conducting a seminar for Si-Mei Della in Dulwich on 5th, 6th and 7th October on the concepts, techniques and theories of Siu Nim Tau of which all the students are welcome to attend.
Sifu