Selecting a Gong Fu Schoolm, Teacher and Style

[Sorcerer]

Perhaps more challenging the actually training until one has a general undersatnding of a style is choosing the correct style and (also) choosing a school!

I have a Green Sash in Hung Gar but Im thinking of switching schools because:

The energy of the school im in doesnt feel right. The place doesnt inspire me.

The instruction isnt that serious. The teacher is very knwoledgeable and a good martial artist, but he is too conserned with giving theories on martial arts and talking and not treating his students like plants that need regular water.

Its too far away.

The classes arent long enough and during them we dont train hard enough, its not that much of a challenge.

some thoughts that might be of interest to those of you still looking for a new school. Im a bit on the fence about starting a new style, but my currentl school just doesnt inspire anymore. It is wise to be wise in selecting a school!

Thoughts?

[Josh Young]

choose a style that you will work on every day, something really simple that you can practice over and over

something that you only have to see your teacher once ever few weeks for, just to get the next simple move to practice and to get corrections

try to get a teacher who can teach you the theory you need in class, so you can practice on your own the right way

try for a style you would travel hundreds of miles a couple of times a year for

try to find a style you will work hard on, and push yourself for, not in class but on your own out of it

It sure sounds to me like you are challenged by that style, class and teacher. How many years have you put into it?

why did you begin it?

[Sorcerer]

I really appreciate your questions since it is a big decision. I will get back to you soon.

[Sorcerer]

different things inspire different people. i know when I was at the height of my training, which didn't last very long, many things constellated. There was a good community at the shcool, the teacher was concerned about the students and we looked up to him, we all trained hard during classes, i found the school very attractve aesthetically which was important since it kept me going there - i think that were the main reasons why training worked out.

Now the school is different, the Sifu has lost interest in teaching - i think its because all the students hes had over the years all eventually left. His other main student runs the classes. The new teacher is a good martial artsit bet his teaching approach is very intellectual and academic: ie you tell people how the logic behind martial arts instead of showing the a way (by making them work). He doesnt have the same auro which speak of some degree of personal martery and martial wisdom.

Nothing is perfect but I think I will give another school a try, to see how it goes. Perhaps it will work out perhaps not, but, my advice to all the readers here, dont just join a school because it is convenient, be wise about your selection. Dont just do research on a style, on the teacher etc, but feel the place, its energy, its Qi.

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[Sorcerer]

Regarding the styles, my old school teaches Hung Gar. I think part of me fell in love with that style, because of the 18 Lohan Hands we learned in the beginning and how profound I think the relationship between the internal aspects to that form and the actually martial applications in the style are.

The new school teaches Do Pi and Choy Lee Fut. Perhaps I will be able to learn them quicker with my Hung Gar background?

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