Jin, first of all, welcome to the forum. I have watched a couple of your videos and congratulate you on your very good instructional ability and presentation, your ability to language your ideas.
People often don't realize that all relationships have a common base. When you are squared off against an opponent, you and that person have a "relationship". I feel that martial arts has afforded me the ability to understand relationships better, whether as a fighter, a husband, a father, or a friend. To be successful in a relationship, one must understand the true meaning of commitment and trust - not far from a relationsihp with a friend, your spouse, your boss. To commit to my opponent is to offer myself 100% to complete whatever it is we are doing together. To trust my arsenal, my hands and feet, so that I do not need to think. This may sound quite abstract, but the top martial arts people, top sport athletes, experience this.
The problem with martial arts training is it has to have a starting point. What brings someone to your mo kwoon? Most of the time, the latest action star movie. It is the rare student who is looking just to "improve thei lives". Many experience this through music, through religion etc. The Mo Kwoon is also a social gathering, a belonging. Those who say lineage does not matter likely do not experience this. Because all they want to know is "how to fight".
"Kung Fu is learned, not taught". It is nothing but a collection of experiences based on some guidelines passed down from a "teacher". kung Fu is an expression of ones self. I will differ with those who find the Kung Fu techniques "outdated" or obsolete. I will differ with those who speak of weapons that have nothing to do with modern fighting. It is likely coming from those who have not experienced truly advanced levels in the kung fu or been taught in the correct manner.
My Sigung, Moy Yat, was known for his mastery of art - painting and stone. My Sifu recently retired from being a corrections officer at a maximum security prison, well known for using his ving tsun skill in real prison riots. He is truly "battle tested". I have students who have done well walking off the street in sparring tournaments with little preparation. Hence, when someone comes to learn from me my first question is "why do you want to learn kung fu?" It is my job, as the Sifu, to help them reach their goals through the martial art, not to make the martial art fit into them.
Good luck with your kung fu. If you are ever in the Philadelphia area, you are most welcome to visit our schools.
Moy Yat Kung Fu - Martial Intelligence