Wing Chun is a slow process?
OK slightly misleading title ....
For all the mythology about WC being a scientific system able to produce fighters quickly, I am of the opinion that it is as elusive an art as say Tai Chi is, and requires a lot of understanding on the part of the practitioner. For example, we don't simply churn out fighters like a boxing gym does.
There is no training by numbers. You can't just "do these motions" and get results. Perhaps those with boxing experience can correct me .... any half decent gym is able to produce someone who can fight, in a short time. Not to a professional level perhaps, but they won't say: "yeah well I've still got to work on my body structure and rooting". It just seems to me that Wing Chun is not as scientific/mechanical a training methodology as "advertised".
The key WC theories are well thought out, e.g. defending/attacking the centre-line, economy of motion, conservation of energy, not meeting force head on, etc. They seem to be well reasoned using a scientific thought process, but are also espoused by other traditional Chinese and non-Chinese martial arts.
WC only has 3 empty hand forms, a wooden dummy training form and 2 weapons forms. This means that all the material can be taught in a relatively short time span, but this does not equate to producing effective fighters in a short timeframe.
Sorry if this post seems a bit disjointed. Before anyone starts flaming, I do practice Wing Chun but it is more "personal" than I first thought, less "by the numbers". By "personal" I mean personal understanding, enlightenment, etc.
You're cracking me up again, Ernie
"Super Chi Sao Guy With Perfect Forms"... is, unfortunately, rarely the guy that can consistently kick butt in the street if he had to. (We've all seen a few exceptions - but generally this is the rule).
Why ? Waaaaay too much spent on chi sao, forms, wooden dummy set, weapons set, etc.
Not enough time left to do the multitude of other things that need to be worked (including crosstraining - in today's world especially)...with a live partner.
What things ? Longer-range footwork/Sparring/Grappling/
Working from the clinch/Conditioning/Stretching/Cardio, etc.
Ernie's right on another point as well - GM Yip Man was famous for training and teaching his students in a hap-hazard fashion - for whatever reason - which lead to some bad habits in future generations.
Bottom line? If your instructor's primary goal is to teach you how to fight...it shouldn't take more than 4-5 years to see some very significant results.
And how is that to be judged ? Can you fight (and really hold your own) against a good fighter OUTSIDE OF WING CHUN at the end of that period of time? If yes...cool.
But if you can't...then who really gives a rat's behind if you're "Super Chi Sao Guy" ?