SevenStar's points about other systems getting into "testing" and training their techniques early (ie.- in BJJ you roll and test what you learned right from your first class - to use but one example)...this is important.

This gets to the heart of things that frequently go wrong with many wing chun schools - not enough hard and competitive training. It's important to start teaching students fighting techniques (ie. - a straight punch is thrown from a distance and the student counters with pak da)...it's important to start this...QUICKLY...within their first2-3 classes they should be doing
things like this.

And from that point on EVERY class should include this kind of drill as part of the training...So the student is learning and testing his footwork, distancing, timing, technique, etc. - ALL THE TIME...pretty much right from day one. The same for using punching mitts and kicking shields...this should start early on in the training.

Not instead of...BUT IN ADDITION TO...the forms, and pre chi sao drills - then chi sao, etc.

I've heard the arguments that it's too soon...it's not the way we were taught...or the way our ancestors were taught...blah, blah, blah...

I don't buy it.