Confused about first free class I got.

[RedSkaNite]

I got a free lesson in Wing Tsun the other day. I liked it, and am considering signing up, but I have some serious questions. Let's see what you guys think.

I go to the gym where they hold class, apparently they rent it two nights a week. Two guys are there, they are the teachers. A father and son. I asked if there were other students, and I was told that they had called in that night. (It was a regular class night, they weren't there especialy for me) O.K... So I got my free lesson. The son was teaching while the father watched. I got the feeling he was teaching his son to teach at the same time the son was teching me to fight.

I learned about chain punches and blocking, mostly. It was quite fun. After the lesson, the son sits down with me and shows me the paperwork. Now I am thinking that this is a scam, there are no other students, they just want my money. But I was wrong. There was no contract. Just a flat 60/month fee, quit any time you feel like it. There was no pressure at all. He explained the basics, and told me to think it over and give him a call.

So what do you think? My theory is maybe there are no other (or very few) students and they didn'y want to scare me off by telling me. They seemed very genuine when I was being taught, and didn't seem at all like they were out for my money. I am tempted to join for a month because I enjoyed the class so much. Wing Tsun seems to be very effective!

[MasterKiller]

Every school needs a first student; besides, the number of students doesn't always correlate directly with the quality of instruction.

If you liked it then go again and see if more people show up. If not, you may be getting some primo one-on-one until more people do.

[Shaolin-Do]

Sounds like a good school.
If you liked it pursue it, and if you are the only student, or only a couple of others go there, you can get much more "specialized" training....
Id say take another class or 2 at least if you enjoyed it, see what its really about.
BTW, 60/mo aint bad at all.

[Shuul Vis]

Lots of schools are like this, and sometimes they are very good quality because of the attention you can get in smaller numbers. Ocassionally at a friend of mine's class only he and another student show up so its not uncommon for it to be that small. Did it seem like they were knowledgable? Try it for a month man youll probly like it.

[red5angel]

It sounds fairly normal actually. most schools come and go, move around or rent space from other people. Some schools are larger or smaller. 60$ a month no long term contract is normal and the best way to go in case you decide it isn't for you.

[Shaolin-Do]

2 people... That would be kinda cool actually...
There were like 5 people in whitebelt class when i started, right now theres like 20 or 22 I believe.....

[Chang Style Novice]

$60 ain't much for a month, especially if they're not locking you into a contract. If after a month you think it's crap, at least not much time and money went into it.

I'd go for it if I was wearing your shoes.

[Merryprankster]

BUT, whatever you do, DON'T VISIT THE WC FORUM FOR ANY REAL ANSWERS... you'll get stuck in lineage wars.

[Robinf]

I agree that this looks like a pretty good opportunity to get some private lessons for little money (in general, private lessons can run up to $60/hr in general schools). Classes that don't have contracts generally will be small--people come and go.

[shaolinboxer]

Good advice from all, especially merryprankster.

Go for it.

[Shaolin-Do]

"I'd go for it if I was wearing your shoes."

If you were wearing MK's shoes you would have a nasty case athletes foot.

[Watchman]

Merryprankster is correct!

[Liokault]

Every school needs a first student; besides, the number of students doesn't always correlate directly with the quality of instruction.

Infact looking at the info on Mc dojos on this forum it could be said that quality of instruction is inverse to number of students.

[norther practitioner]

quality of instruction is inverse to number of students.

depends on the type of school.....


not a direct association, but can serve as a guage...

[Merryprankster]

The other popular argument alternatives are:

What really happened with Boztepe and Cheung

Define Chi Sao

the proper way to do SLT

Bruce Lee was/wasn't any good

There are others, but those are mighty popular.