School Search Help

[doomicon]

I'm currently living in Tampa, FL and have found
only one school in my area that teaches Wing Chun.
(I'm currently studying from books, but a book
can't correct my pathetic SHstance:)

Anyways the school in question looked good at
first (found on the web http://home.netcom.com/~dougkost/classes.html)
It's a Jason Lau school.

The things that have me concerned are the
following:

No Observations of Class.
Three months up front.
And the uniform is Combat Boots, Black BDU
Pants (i.e. Military), and Combat Web Belt.

Also students are responsible for "keeping the
grounds", as well as a 6 month probation period.

To me it seems more like a "cult" than a school.

Anyone have any suggestions, and/or no of any
other Wing Chung schools in my area.

Thanks, any help would be greatly appreciated.
http://doomicon.darkmilieu.org/

[Spark]

Go to Wing Chun World (I think it's Wingchun.org)
Go to Schools, United States, Florida.

There were three schools listed in Tampa. I don't think the site has been updated in a long time, so I don't know if they're still there, but it's worth a shot.

To answer one of your questions, I personally wouldn't even bother with a school that wouldn't let you try out let alone OBSERVE a class! Don't waste your time and money.

Good Luck :)

[doomicon]

that site was a great help, and thanks for
the "observation" opinion, I thought it was
a little "fishy" myself.

Thanks
Rob

[cha kuen]

I have heard of others school making students pay for 3 months upfront also. The reason is because many students quit in that first month. It wastes the sifus time to teach them if they are going to quit. That's why they want the first threee months payment.

People may find sil lum tao boring and pointless, so they quit.

[doomicon]

I can totally understand, and that was completely
acceptable to me. To be honest $180 isn't that
much considering what can be learned. The
no observation or trial participation seemed
a little weird, and then reading the uniform, it
just sent up some red flags.

I have been training solo for about 6 weeks, and
finding a school close by has been tough. After
following the recommended link, everything I've
checked that is in reasonable driving distance is
closed or one in particular was $75 an hour:(

I have only one left, so I am trying to remain
optimistic.

Unfortunately, here in Tampa there are very few
schools that teach the Chineese arts. There is
one school that teaches Praying Mantis, however
I have heard mixed reviews, beside the fact I'm
not interested in anything but WC

Thanks for the input. This is a really great
forum.

Rob

[kungfu cowboy]

DON'T go to that place! That sounds VERY WEIRD!

"Ninja!...NINJA!"-Christopher George, from "Enter the Ninja"

[passing_through]

Sifu Jason Lau has a military and anti-terrorist background. What he chooses to use as teaching methods is his busines. FWIW, he has a video out showing some of his training ideas - nothing too scary. One of his students is Alan Goldberg, publisher of Action Martial Arts Magazine.

While I haven't been to his school yet (not talking about the one in Tampa) I have seen pictures. It's very nice - wooden gates, large lions guarding the gate, a 60 foot rapelling wall.

Sifu Lau also trains the Atlantic City swat team.

here's a shot of the front gate (http://vtmuseum.org/images/photos/1998/98_04_26_1.jpg)

and here's one of two students playing Chi Sau (http://vtmuseum.org/images/photos/1998/98_04_26_2.jpg) on a raised platform in the back yard

Don't know anything about the student in Tampa.

Jeremy R.

... opportunityisnowhere...
... was that no where...
...............or now here...

[mikey]

my old Sifu Steve Lee Swift teaches in Tampa,
his school is on Martin Luther King blvd.
his web site is swiftwingchun.com
no wannabe commando uniforms,you are welcome to observe a class,and though the tuition is a little
pricey( like $120 month to month),you can go to
class 6 times a week.He is an excellent teacher.
He used to represent the Yip brothers before they had a falling out.Check him out and see for yourself.Tell him mike from houston says hi!
good luck :)

[greedy]

I have to agree with passing_through on this one. From what I've heard, Sifu Lau is respected for his fighting ability, and sees wing chun as a combet ar, and so dresses his students in this way. Apparently, training not only involves the usual wing chun components, but also para-military stff like rappeling.

This is not to say that the spiritual component is neglected. The school is supposed to have wuite a large area devoted to the spiritual.

Depends what you are looking for in your wing chun school. Sifu Lau is meant to be very combat orientated. Could do worse....

[kungfu cowboy]

It isn't the freakin' military! Do they salute also?

"Ninja!...NINJA!"-Christopher George, from "Enter the Ninja"

[kungfu cowboy]

cha kuen<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> It wastes the sifus time to teach them if they are going to quit. That's why they want the first threee months payment. [/quote]


I hardly think it matters if its a waste of his time or not. People need to experience a style firsthand for a while to really see if they like it or not.
How can you expect someone to just sign up. Sure is a nice money making ploy though!

"Ninja!...NINJA!"-Christopher George, from "Enter the Ninja"

[doomicon]

I went to the website earlier but found only
information on seminars, and private lessons.

Now that I know he teaches classes, I'll check
it out today!

Thanks Again,
Rob

[wingchunner]

I believe that if you really want to learn something, and learn it well, find the best that you can get to and afford.
Then, respect your teacher.

If you look at the teacher/student relationship solely as a business one, you won't get it. One should look at things as if the teacher is doing them a favor by teaching them. Too many people have the wrong attitude,( that also includes some teachers).

As a teacher, I have had beginners come in, and I spend some time explaining some of the theories, answer their questions. And then they may come back once or twice, or not at all. So, what did I get out of it? I could have been spending some quality time with my advanced students, cultivating them and our relationship. That time I spent with the prospective new student... that time is gone and I can't get it back.

So, by paying up front for the trial class or trial period, it's a matter of respecting the teacher's time. If the teacher is really that good, maybe you should pay more (or even take them out to dinner). (Think about it)

Do your research, find the best, and be willing to pay for it... if you really, really want it.

Marty

Be true and loving.
http://wingchun.ereasons.net

[Spark]

www.renegadeshaolin.com (http://www.renegadeshaolin.com) (sp??)

Obviously I know nothing about it, but it does say that they let you observe classes, so at least you can check it out.

Good luck! :)

[kungfu cowboy]

Ok, I am all for respecting the teacher, and whatever MA I have studied , I have done so. But not because they are martial artists. I think everyone should respect everyone else if they deserve that respect.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> . And then they may come back once or twice, or not at all. So, what did I get out of it? [/quote]

Well, you might have gotten a paying student! You are allowed a free test drive of a car before you buy it!

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>That time I spent with the prospective new student... that time is gone and I can't get it back.
[/quote]

Well, maybe you shouldn't be looking for students then!

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> So, by paying up front for the trial class or trial period, it's a matter of respecting the teacher's time. [/quote]

No, it's a way for the teacher to cash in a little bit more! If I am somebody who walks in off the street, I don't know sh*t about the teachers personality, quality, or skill, and the only respect they deserve is the respect you give to any other fellow human being you just met! Any more profound respect must be earned, or its worthless.


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> If the teacher is really that good, maybe you should pay more (or even take them out to dinner). (Think about it)
[/quote]

Pay more! Come on! Of course I expect a reasonable fee, but are you saying as my teacher increases in skill, my tuition should go up also!

And take him to dinner? What! Should I buy him a car, and do his grocery shopping too! Maybe give him a bath? Hold his wang while he ****zes? Quit living in a bad kung fu movie!

Bottom line: Respect is earned on both sides, and expecting money or favors as a token of respect is pretty sh*tty! (think about it)

"Ninja!...NINJA!"-Christopher George, from "Enter the Ninja"

[JasBourne]

http://www.wckfc.com/article/dummy/school.htm

Article called "Making The Right Choice" by Ron Heimberger. Doesn't mention money, but definitly talks about what to look for in terms of quality instruction.

A comment from a different article on the same website, by Jim Crane: "A great teacher will never use his position to extort money from his students in the name of business, or manipulate."

peace,
Jas

<IMG SRC="http://machagrande.com/images/aMao1.JPG" border=0 height=116 width=100>

[tnwingtsun]

"Sifu Lau also trains the Atlantic City swat team"

He trains the City of Atlanta GA's team.

He was Mitch Werbell's (RIP) top hand to hand instructor.

Mitch and Jason Lau are well know among the Special
Forces community,Mitch did ALOT of neat things for the US Special ops during the Vietnam War.

Jason trains his students in uniforms and boots because thats what some of them go to work wearing.
Nothing wrong with that.

[doomicon]

Thanks to you and others for the clarification.
What I saw as orginally being a little "weird",
now just seems like a school that is NOT for
the general public.

However, I did go by the SteveSwift school
yesterday, thanks mike:). Noone about, but
got the phone number.

Thanks to everyone for the help
RobO