FAQ
WHAT STYLE OF MARTIAL ARTS SHOULD I DO?
Research. When searching for a martial art, always look around. There are so many style and sub-styles out there. Do your research and see what styles you find intriguing. The internet is a great way of doing so these days.
Comfort Zones. Taking into account your physical capabilities look for something that you feel will push you out of your comfort zone and into new territory.
Choose one style. When learning a Martial Art, do not make the mistake of trying to learn more than one style at once. It is a common thing, especially with the birth of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts Eg: UFC) to see people these days trying to learn more than one style at once. When talking to Masters of many styles, they all agree that to truly master any one style, you need to dedicate the time needed to learn it fully. Once you have this skill, only then is it truly beneficial to look at other styles. Otherwise you will often find that the styles will conflict and make it harder for you to become effective in any chosen system. This may lead you to be disheartened with one, or all of the styles and not give it the full attention it deserves.
But what if I know one style and wish to learn another? That’s fine, many students change streams of martial arts along the way. Just be sure to leave your old style at the door when training something new. Do not forget what you have learnt, but be open and willing to change habits to understand the new style you are discovering.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL?
Credibility. Find a teacher who is honest, passionate and able to answer all of your questions directly regarding the styles taught.
Lineage. Always choose a school that has a clear lineage and a strong traditional base. Often (not always) terms like Freestyle and Mixed Martial Arts are used to cover a school’s lack of actually high level Martial Arts training.
Structures. Find a school that has a clear cut teaching structure and grading syllabus.
Quality. Do not be swayed by diversions and irrelevant chatter about how good they are. Make them prove it.
Location. Find a facility to be in an area comfortable and acceptable to you. Don’t plan to go to a school too far away from your current home or travel paths. It makes training hard in a modern world.
Who is teaching you? Is the head of the school teaching your class? Some schools palm you off on junior instructors who may not be able to teach you fully. OR you end up with a new teacher every time and they tell you conflicting things making consistent learning difficult.
Timetable. Make sure the school has a range of flexible class times to suit your lifestyle. This way if you miss one class you may be able to pick another class to catch up.
The Warrior Con-Job. Be wary of tales of past glories and “champion’s titles”. What matters is the ability of the teacher and school to give you the direct tuition you are looking for. Respect is earned not garnished by tall tales.
Social Club. Find a student body who is happy, kind and welcoming. Be very wary of schools where the student body simply looks at a new student as an opportunity to massage their egos by throwing you around. Sometimes schools can absorb a negative culture in this way.
Fees. Find a fee structure you see as acceptable. Be watchful of “Direct Debit” and “Contracts.” Often people end up paying for things they never use and it can cause unwanted problems.
Try it out. Most schools offer free trial classes without commitment.
MOST OF ALL, DID YOU HAVE FUN?? Typically, this is a hobby in modern times, a lifestyle choice. We do not live in feudal times where your martial skill was the difference between life and death. Do what makes you feel good. For your fitness, for your mental and physical happiness.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I TRAIN MY CHOSEN MARTIAL ART?
Effort. As much as possible and twice on Sundays. As the old saying goes “You get out what you put in”.
No one will do it for you, it is a partnership between you and your school. To be productive in any Martial Art you need to have the time to train at your school at least twice a week. Practice time at home is essential also. Some people do one class a week and wonder why they are not picking it up as quickly as some around them. You may end up dejected and lack confidence in your chosen style simply by your own action.
Modern Life. In today’s busy life, it is often hard to be 100% dedicated to your lifestyle pursuits. If you miss a few classes, do not feel embarrassed or feel that your teacher may be unhappy with you. Get back into training. Only a petty teacher will give you “static” about missing classes. They should just be happy to see you.
Your Journey. Never be disheartened if you find yourself stagnating or having problems. Also if other students gather skills faster than you, relax. There is always someone training more than you. If you are having problems, talk to your teacher. It is your own personal journey, you are only ever in a “race” with yourself!
DO I HAVE TO BE FIT TO START TRAINING KUNG FU?
Well, it always helps, but no. Many people these days train Kung Fu to get in shape, to maintain fitness and exercise in an entertaining format. Rather than just lifting weights, jogging or do aerobic, Kung fu can offer an interesting and exciting alternative.
IF I AM COMING TO MY FIRST CLASS AT EASTERN KUNG FU, WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?
Dress appropriately. T shirt and track pants/shorts is fine. footwear is optional. NO DENIMS.
Other than that, no, just bring yourself and an open mind!
I AM NERVOUS ABOUT COMING TO MY FIRST CLASS, CAN YOU HELP?
Sure, take a deep breath, push open the door and step inside, it may change your life forever. If you are really jittery, get a friend to come along with you for moral support. I promise we don’t bite.
WHAT ARE YOUR FEES AT EASTERN KUNG FU?
The first trial class is free. After that it will never cost you more than $10 per class. We also give all new students a four week “Discovery period” before we discuss memberships and uniforms with you. Apart from simply paying $10 when you come to class, we offer a range of plans to suit everyone. When you visit our Academy or attend your trial class we will provide you with a full pricelist of the varying options we provide. Our goal is to teach kung fu, not break your bank.
DO I NEED TO BOOK IN FOR MY FIRST FREE TRIAL CLASS?
No. While we appreciate the notice, booking is not essential. Make sure you show up 15 minutes before the start time of your chosen class. This way we can “meet and greet” before you begin your session.
WASN’T WING CHUN THE STYLE THAT BRUCE LEE TRAINED IN?
Yes. As a matter of fact Superstar Bruce Lee was taught by Grandmaster Yip Man in Hong Kong.
We are of the same direct lineage. Yip man is our Great, Great Grandmaster. Three direct generations above us.
(See Family Tree)
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL AND MODIFIED WING CHUN?
This is a topic of some heated conjecture. It seems everyone has a strong opinion on this. As far as we are concerned this just refers to the 2 different strains of Wing Chun Systems in the Yip man Lineage. Perhaps two halves of a greater whole? Most notably, from a technical standpoint, Traditional Wing Chun has a greater focus on active footwork, whereas Modified Wing Chun will tend to lean and pivot rather than stepping out. There are a few differences, but really, it’s all Wing Chun. There are many different strains of Wing Chun, let us not get bogged down with labels. At Eastern Kung Fu we come from the Traditional Wing Chun Line.
WHY IS WING CHUN REFERRED TO AS A “SOFT STYLE”?
It’s all down to comparisons. Compared to brute force styles like Karate, Tae Kwon Do etc it can be. Generally it refers to the fact that Wing Chun uses angles and geometry to deflect rather than block an attack with pure brute force. This saves us possible damage in blocking heavy attacks by simply diverting them away from making contact rather than stopping them. It takes much less energy to divert a moving object (fist-foot) rather than trying to stop it suddenly. We prefer to save the “hardness” of our style for striking, not blocking.
