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As you get older you realize that being a kid makes training easier. Kids are more flexible, recover faster from workouts and are sponges for information. To give them a further advantage on adults, they do not have the mental distractions that adults have such as finances, work, home, etc. The only thing they have not developed yet is power. This is why it is great to get the kids training early...as soon as they are able to focus for a whole class which is normally in the 5 year old range. It is much easier to maintain their natural flexibility than to try and gain flexibility later.
For students of our class, we will not have any classes today. I am unfortunately stuck at home this morning until we get plowed out. I hope you have a great day.
Kung Fu practitioners are taught forms that they practice in a particular sequence. Instructors teach these forms to the students and in most schools also teach the proper use of these techniques. After a while the students know enough to make assumptions about the techniques such as the purpose of a punch. What is probably not taught enough is that students should understand more than the end result of a technique. Students should question the techniques further to get full value from their training. I do not mean to flood your instructor with questions (especially if you are one of my students), I mean to ask yourself why certain things happen in your forms. Some examples are:
- Why do I throw a punch from the waist in one part of the form but circle my arms prior to punching in another part of the form?
- Why do I start my block on the outside of my arm when I turn?
- Why do I use different stances for the same technique in different parts of my form?
- How would I get into position to execute this technique in a real encounter?
Whoever created the style put certain elements into the form for a reason. These reasons are now sometimes lost in the teaching of a style if a student is pushed through a system too quickly or if an instructor is only focused on teaching form rather than technique. One thing that Fut Gar practitioners are taught is to consider how techniques can flow together once you understand the reaction caused by the previous technique.
Even if the instructor of a particular school is not focused on teaching to this level of detail, the student is still able to formulate ideas in their own mind. Try questioning yourself the next time you are training. The results can be very interesting.
Some of the students that have been around longer might remember Bryan Zarnett who trained with our school for a period of time. I just thought I would pass on some information about a seminar in February that he is promoting. I am not familiar with the style or the instructor of the seminar but am happy to mention it to support Bryan.
If you are interested, information can be found on his website.
I have spoken about this in class over the last few years and am feeling renewed frustration in the past few weeks. I am totally disappointed in the lack of variety that suppliers have in butterfly swords. I do not like the trend of the suppliers to only carry the wide bladed butterfly swords that are commonly used in Wing Chun Kung Fu (Baat Jaam or Eight Chops knives) instead of offering the thinner bladed swords that I prefer to use for forms training. I understand supply and demand and that fewer styles use the thinner style and therefore it is natural to go where the demand lies but this is ridiculous. Suppliers are forcing Kung Fu practitioners to use the wrong weapon by eliminating the other type.
Thanks to James who did locate a pair from a knife company but we are looking at training knives at a reasonable price since we will chip, dent, scratch and sweat on them. Using expensive real blades seems less reasonable for students that are just learning the weapon for the first time.
