How to Learn Wing Chun

So you've decided to learn Wing Chun. Congratulations! You have chosen a subtle, yet practical art. The skills required will be easy to learn, but might take a lifetime to master. Therefore, you have decided to embark on what could become an intense course of study. Here are some tips for making your experience at a Wing Chun school successful.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Find a Wing Chun school that is right for you. This includes finding the right teacher and committing to a practice schedule. Most people are excited in the beginning and have fantasies about mastering a martial art. The key to success is being realistic. Daydreaming is fine as long as it helps you follow through on your goals.
2. Be attentive to your instructor. You might be able to learn some skills from a video; but you are going to an instructor because they understand the nuances of form and energy. At times, you will feel vulnerable and it might be hard to take criticism. This is why you are paying for a Wing Chun School! An old Chinese proverb says, "Perfect practice makes perfect." By preventing you from making the same sloppy error over and over again, you teacher is helping your improve.
3. Stay positive if you don't feel yourself improving as quickly as you would like. Wing Chun requires a special set of muscles, and the starting position does not come naturally to most people. In the first weeks of your practice, your legs will probably shake. Allow your body to get used to the stress and build the resistance it needs to perform. When you begin, you don't need to be practicing every single day so give yourself a break.
4. Keep a log to measure your progress. This way, if you find yourself getting discouraged, you'll have a record of your improvement. A log is also a place to write down reflections as you discover the nuances of Wing Chun, or record interesting things your teacher has said.
5. The balance and sensitivity you will develop at Wing Chun school can be carried over into everyday life. As you go about your daily business, notice how your perception of the world has changed. If you keep the principles of Wing Chun constantly at the back of your mind, you will more develop more completely.