-
Main MenuMain Menu
Ignition: Getting StartedIn the old days, the Kung Fu Master
would make a potential student prove their
dedication and commitment before they could begin the training.
Often a student
would be harshly rejected time and time again before finally
being accepted. This
was done to test the student's persistance.
Training Kung Fu is not easy, and it is not for everyone. The
Kung Fu legends
are full of stories where a new disciple would have to endure a
brutal series of
physical and mental tests to prove their readiness. This course
has no such
initiations, but the sense of commitment is the same.
By feeling that first spark of interest in learning Wing Chun,
you are in what we call
the IGNITION phase. Our goal here is to provide kindling and
make it easy for the
spark to become a flame, and for the flame to sustain you
through the months and
years of dedicated training ahead. To do this, we are going to
draw from both
modern and traditional sources to create a solid framework for
progress.
Ignition: Getting Started with Wing Chun Training...
http://www.wingchunconcepts.com/ignition.php
1 of 4 Friday 25 July 2014 04:01 PM
-
A Recipe for SuccessIn The 4-Hour Chef, bestselling author
Timothy Ferriss (4-Hour Workweek, 4-Hour
Body) has distilled his ideas about skill acquisition into a
simple recipe with the
acronym DSSS. The elements of this formula are:
DECONSTRUCTION
What are the minimal learnable units, the Lego blocks, I should
start with? Our
first step is to take this amorphous "skill" of Kung Fu and
break it down into small,
manageable pieces. Think of this as learning the alphabet. We
will begin by
isolating single hand forms or structural shapes, single-step
actions, and basic
core concepts. This will give us the "A, B, C's." As we advance,
we will be able to
combine this letters into words, then sentences, and finally
free-flowing prose.
SELECTION
Which 20% of the blocks should I focus on for 80% or more of the
skill I want?
This concept of smart selection is based on the Pareto principle
(also known as
the 8020 rule) which states that, for many situations, roughly
80% of the effects
come from 20% of the causes. The grandmasters of Wing Chun took
exactly this
approach, auditing all of the available styles of traditional
Kung Fu and selecting
only the techniques that were proven effective for self-defense,
could be learned
quickly, and could be used by almost anyone. When we say Wing
Chun is
CONCISE, it is because the system is highly selective or, as
Bruce Lee
famously said: "Absorb what is useful, discard what is not."
SEQUENCING
In what order should I learn these blocks? The emphasis on a
logical sequence
is one of the unique things about the Wing Chun Concepts
curriculum. Most
martial arts schools teach using a "technique of the day"
approach. Everyone
lines up, the teacher presents the technique, then everyone
partners up and
practices. If you missed that class, you missed that technique.
Wing Chun has
traditionally always been taught very differently: the teaching
is one-on-one, and
you follow a very specific training progression.
You start with Lesson One and you master it. Once you can
reliably demonstrate
one skill, then you move on to the next. It is an unalterable
hierarchy where each
skill becomes the foundation for the next. You don't skip any
steps and you don't
move on because you're bored or excited. Master the current step
first.
Ignition: Getting Started with Wing Chun Training...
http://www.wingchunconcepts.com/ignition.php
2 of 4 Friday 25 July 2014 04:01 PM
-
The Wing Chun training progression has been perfected over
hundreds of years.
You begin with the Siu Lim Tau-level skills where you learn the
"seed" concepts
and foundation techniques. Once these skills have been polished,
you move to
the Chum Kiu level and add another level of complexity through
dynamic
movement (stepping, twisting, kicking, etc.). Once those skills
have become
second nature, you move on to the Biu Jee level where you learn
to fight your
way back from worst-case scenarios.
The sequencing is the secret of Wing Chun. It is why traditional
Wing Chun
fighters are so reliable in their skill think of Marines
reassembling their rifles
blindfolded. This is also why we quickly say that Wing Chun is
not for
everyone. Training Wing Chun, specifically following the exact
training
progression, requires patience, dedication, endurance and
commitment. These
qualities are sadly lacking in modern society. If you want to
learn Wing Chun, you
will either need these qualities, or pledge to develop them.
STAKES
How do I set up stakes, create real consequences, and guarantee
I stick to the
training? No matter how much you want to train Kung Fu right
now, humans are
innately horrible at self-discipline. We have so many choices
available to us that it
is natural to want to sample lots of different things, trying
them briefly before
moving on to chase the next novel experience. Kung Fu doesn't
play well in that
world. The words "Kung Fu" literally mean "skill gained over
time." The "time" part
requires that you stick with the training for more than a
month.
A goal without real consequences is just wishful thinking.
Sticking with your
training doesn't depend on having good intentions. It depends on
the right
incentives. If you truly, absolutely want to learn Wing Chun
Kung Fu, set stakes
on your commitment. The consequences for quitting should have a
heavy cost.
These can be social or financial. For example, tell your friends
that you are
learning Kung Fu and ask them to inquire about your progress
each month. The
fear of failure in front of your friends can be strong
motivation. Cash can also be a
solid motivator. Put a painfully large sum of money in an
envelope marked with a
goal. If you quit before achieving your goal, donate the cash to
charity. If you
achieve your goal, reward yourself. Repeat as often as
needed.
Ignition: Getting Started with Wing Chun Training...
http://www.wingchunconcepts.com/ignition.php
3 of 4 Friday 25 July 2014 04:01 PM
-
NEXT: The Wing Chun Training Schedule
Now that you have a solid understanding of the Wing Chun
Concepts framework,
let's look at some actual time estimates for your Wing Chun
training schedule. Wing
Chun emphasizes effectiveness and efficiency, and this applies
to getting quality
training time, too. We call this the Kung Fu MED.
NEXT: Effective Training ScheduleNEXT: Effective Training
Schedule
1999 - 2014 WING CHUN CONCEPTS @ KUNG FU ONLINE by Steve Creel.
All Rights Reserved. Powered by Aikina.com
Ignition: Getting Started with Wing Chun Training...
http://www.wingchunconcepts.com/ignition.php
4 of 4 Friday 25 July 2014 04:01 PM