Best lessons

[-N-]

i wish I could remember the lesson where I learned to really pay attention to what my teachers were showing me...I need to pass that one on

Hmmm... did that lesson involve severe physical pain by any chance?

Actually, I think that is a lesson that each student learns when he or she is ready. Some students never do learn it.

In my case, after doing Ou Lou Tsai and whatever for a couple of years, I noticed a detail of the coordination between the lead hand and lead foot when my teacher demonstrated the movement. He had been showing us the same way all along, but up until that point, I was too preoccupied just trying to keep up that I never noticed it.

After I picked up on it, all my attacking motions improved, and I also realized that I had to try as hard as I could to be aware of every possible detail, no matter how subtle.

N.

[Oso]

lol, sometimes, but then again, i spent my first 7 years of martial training in the 'old school' method...never paid any money...just effort.


i dunno, it was a very simple thing and they just weren't friggin' listening

[mantid1]

Teaching moral character and values? It is getting harder these days to find someone who has good moral character and values. If you dont have them its hard to teach them.

I had a student who has been around the martial arts and many other instructors for about 20 years make a comment to me about how great of a person I am. He said "Sifu, you are a great guy and a good Example. You dont cheat on your wife, hang out in bars, abuse alcohol, smoke or cause trouble getting into fights".

It is a shame that in this day and age you are considered a good person just because of reasons like that. I think that not cheating on your wife, not being a drunk and being a good person is the minimum. I should have to do alot more than that to be looked up to.

My first lesson was about 25 years ago when my instructor was teaching a senior how to call points in sparring for an upcoming tournament. My instructor was sparrring me. My instructor said" my god cant you see my techniques that I am scoring one him"! "You have to watch"! then I said "Sifu, I dont complain when he doesnt call my points". The seniors counted about 20 punches and about five kicks in the five seconds before he choked me out.

Cant do that now days.

I never forgot that lesson.

[TaichiMantis]

[QUOTE=YouKnowWho]If you want to:

- Go to bed with a girl then you buy her a fancy dinner first.

/QUOTE]


And if you believe that last one....

[EarthDragon]

wow these are some great responses. i enjoy hearing about the lessons learned from all our years of hard work.
As -n- said some of the best lessons are non verbal.

also think that the best lessons are not the ones taught but the ones learned.

I remember hearing a story of a student whom trained to fight everyday in defense that he would some time sooner of later have to use what he had trained so hard for.
People would ask him why are you training so hard? he would reply incase I am attacked I will be able to execute my defense flawlessly. His teacher upon seeing this said the only real enemy that cannot be beaten is you........... Your training for the wrong defense train to conquer your ego. For that is your worst enemy.

techniques are important for fighting but the martial aspect is only a small piece of the art.

[Oso]

i dunno.

I'm in the camp that says that if you are going to do a 'martial' art then the assumption is that you have the goal of being able to use that skill to defend yourself one day.

there are certainly people that go overboard with paranoia.

there are plenty of things you can do, dance being one of them, that take as much 'kung fu' as a martial art and will give you the same 'spiritual' benefit.
if you don't have some sort of desire to be able to defend yourself physically then I feel you are wasting your time in a martial art. take up dance, or yoga or 'for health' tai chi.

i agreee that ego should be controlled and that you should not look for fights or situations to utilize your skills and that non combative means to deescalate a situation should be attempted before damage is done (from either side). But, the root of this thing we do is the ability to kick ass if need be.

[yu shan]

Well I will say this... kung fu has always been just a hobby to me. Now it is a hobby I do everyday but just a hobby. I dont play golf or fish or hunt etc. I just do my kf and try to be a good husband/father and to produce well at work. I apply my hobby/training to these areas. Years of doing my kf hobby I think has made me a better man, far from perfect though. In my eyes, it takes a differant person to do what we do, yes no maybe so?

One day while practicing broadsword in front of Chan Pui, I asked him, are my movements with the sword correct? His answer, I am not watching the sword, I am watching what your empty hand is doing! So to this day, I pay close attention to this.

[-N-]

One day while practicing broadsword in front of Chan Pui, I asked him, are my movements with the sword correct? His answer, I am not watching the sword, I am watching what your empty hand is doing! So to this day, I pay close attention to this.

"Don dao hon sau, serng dao hon jau."

"Single broadsword watch hand, double broadsword watch running."

An old kung fu expressioin meaning that to determine the skill of the person doing single broadsword, you watch the movement and coordination of the empty hand. To determine the skill of the person doing double broadsword, watch the movement and coordination of the footwork. The reason being that the beginner will focus on the sword, and will more or less get the sword movement correct. It is the other details that will show the level of mastery.

This is related to the lessons I described previously about Ou Lou Tsai and footwork coordination, and about preceeding movements and context affecting the overall speed of a combination.

N.

[EarthDragon]

-N-
you bring up great points that made me remember a lesson I learned form my sensei........ he had lighting fast hands.
When I asked him why my hands wernt nearly as fast, he asked me what am I focusing and concentrating on? I said the strike, and the speed in which I do it. he said if you want your speed to increase, focus and concentrate on bringing the technique back, this will enhance and improve your speed.

alas! a different way of looking at many things which to me at the time an uncommon point of perspective. Now so much the norm somtimes I forget to teach my students this simple but valuable tip......

[Americanmantis]

Hi guys~ With reference to moral character, and not to push my religion...

From a Christian perspective, although I believe it is universal to all benevolent religions, it is wrong to physically injure someone.

However, in an imperfect world where there is constant struggle between good and evil (like yin/yang), fighting and wars are inevitable. Actually evil has no power...it exists only by deception.

If conflict does arise, and one is forced to utilize martial arts, I believe it is critically important to be "spiritually correct", and not initiate the fight. Not to be confused with being politically correct. Correct punctuation could make all the difference though.

Spiritually, the real victory lies in avoiding a fight altogether. If there is no other way...at least you know God is in your corner.

Dr. George Lisjak

[mantid1]

War and fighting are wrong, but it is also wrong to be unprepared to defend your self.


I read that somewhere.

[-N-]

"If you can see your own hand, then you are not fast enough. Your attack must be faster than even you yourself can see."

uh... blinking doesn't count

N.

[-N-]

"Vicious, more vicious. As if you will kill even your opponent's ancestors."

and 3 years later....

"Smile! Think happy thoughts!"

N.

[-N-]

"But what if the other person has a gun. What do you do then?"

"Kill him."

N.

[-N-]

Famous Wing Chun teacher - "If you want to join the class, come back tomorrow. Class will be tomorrow."

Prospective student - "You will be here tomorrow?"

Famous Wing Chun teacher - *turns and walks away without saying another word*

Apparently, that first lesson was free

N.