I once met a kid who was one of the best in the class. Real beefy legs for a pre-teen. Very strong, very skilled. He was also always smiling and doing his best through the grueling training.
During a rest period we got to talking and he confided in me how miserable he was there. He actually hated the training, wasn't interested in kung fu and was bored with the lifestyle. He just wanted to go home more than anything. Next training session he was physically forced into over-splits by the coach until he was crying. He was back to smiling after class though, but it masked his real feelings.
I always found their stretching methods the most idiotic. They just think the harder and more painful it is, the better. A student I took there was held down by several kids on one leg while the coach wrapped his other leg in his jacket and yanked his legs apart until it tore the crap out of his muscles. His entire inner thigh turned purple, and now years later he still has problems with that leg. I was not present or I would have told him to opt out. He didn't think it was a choice, since all the students had to do it...