Wing Chun, Teaching Life Lessons

A couple of weeks ago I completed my first grading in Wing Chun since starting lessons last year. I didn’t get the grade I was aiming for!

It had taken ages to happen as I wasn’t able to make previous gradings during the past few months due to holidays and illness so I was very nervous. It lasted 3 hours over two training sessions. I had also started my new business a week before and was undertaking a huge amount of work and meetings between the grading evenings so it was all a bit stressful (obvious plug about new business, sorry!).

I used to do martial arts when I was in my 20s and reached quite a high grade in both Kung Fu and Kickboxing but due to injury and then changes at home and work, I stopped. I wish I hadn’t, as I love it as a discipline and hobby. 

Despite trying to start again a couple of times, that break ended up being over 20 years long! There were reasons I didn’t go back, but none of them were legitimate really, just excuses and fear, I now realise. 

Last year I decided to go back no matter what. 

I found a great class nearby, sent a message and went along…and it was horrible! 

Not because of the people there, or my Sifu (Teacher) or anything else. It was down to me and the fact I had to learn again, from the beginning. I was awful! I had bad habits from training on my own and I had forgotten or misremembered the basics.

Every lesson was an hour and a half of knackering, stressful concentration and what felt like failure. I hated it to start with and wondered how I ever enjoyed it before. 

I couldn’t make every lesson and missed grading opportunities due to other commitments, but I trained at home nearly every day to make up for this. I made sure I went through what I needed for a level 2 grade (I was hoping to skip the first grade), as well as always listening and trying to pick up things in lessons for the next grades.

Last Thursday, I didn’t get my level 1 grade or the level 2 I was aiming for. I went straight to level 3, advanced blue sash. It was an amazing feeling and I still feel over the moon about it.

Now to the point of this ramble - I am not just showing off, it’s about what I have learned from this:

1. I realised when I started that the real reason I hadn’t gone back was all about knowing I would not be as good as I used to be. I just needed to be a student again and put my ego to one side. Starting from scratch in something you’ve done before is never a bad thing, but it’s really tough to swallow. I hear loads of people say they love this hobby or that thing, but don’t get back into it for whatever reason. 

2. Don’t put things off. I put this off for WAY too long. I don’t regret that, what’s done is done, but I am glad I am doing it now. It’s helped my mental health loads, I am fitter, happier, and more focused.

3. Make time for yourself. I find that doing the forms and drills in Wing Chun is like moving meditation. It's a great way to relax and empty your mind. Making more time for meditation has been fantastic for me.

4. Train every day, if you can. Don’t be hard on yourself if you miss days. This has helped me get more structure to my training and keeping fit. But I do miss days.

5. Don’t aim too high. I wanted to be back where I was 20 years ago, which was an insane idea, as even if I had kept it up I would be slower, less flexible and in pain anyway (I mean, I just WAKE UP and find injuries these days!). Be realistic about where you’ll be, accept your level and aim to improve steadily over time. 

6. Find a great teacher. My Sifu, Mark, is so passionate about the system and teaches in such an inspiring way that you learn so easily and it’s a real joy.

If anyone is in the Dover or Folkestone area and want to try something new, check out Evolution Wing Chun in River: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionwingchun/?locale=en_GB

As Bruce Lee said: “Learning is a constant process of discovery, a process without end”