Learning How To Learn:

I have found that it can be extremely difficult to comprehend everything that one first learns and know how to put it into practice; it takes time.

I always express to my students to learn how one can hit and why one gets hit, and not just concentrate on winning at any cost. I have seen many students run into situations without thinking and getting hit just because an opponent does not care if he gets hit. Their attitude is that whoever is the strongest will win.

I teach my students to look at martial arts as an art form and to develop a strong, positive, mental attitude. This is because some people are born to be submissive and feel fear at the thought of being attacked, so one must learn to overcome that fear and then begin training. If one does not trust, how can one fight? It is a way of life and helps one to understand oneself and help others.

I find that it is very important to elaborate a little on attitudes, philosophies and morality, as well as on the technical side. I think that if one can use the basics very well then he knows he is on the right path. I find that each student learns what not to do after practicing for a long time. One thing about any art form is that one can spend a lifetime practicing. However, if one does not have the basics he will come to regret it later, it is my conclusion that there are no secrets in any art form, but merely the details that compose each art form.

One must know their own ability in order to successfully use the art in a real life situation, but this depends on whether one trusts himself. Some people can not overcome fear so they need to learn how to do this. One thing I always stress to my students is that nobody can perform for you, you have to perform for yourself One will know what he can do in practice when he touches an opponents hands. There will be no false security in his fighting ability.

In the past many students have told me they only like to practice with certain people. This is because some students have attitude problems by beating the weaker students or beginners. If students just hit or beat someone who is weak with no fighting experience, how can he improve. I tell my students to assume that his opponent is physically strong and intelligent and knows something, therefore one will never take anyone for granted. I also say that if they lose a fight not to worry because they are still learning. What one should do is understand why one lost and try to improve oneself, but I have found that some students do not like to lose even in a playful fight or some just do not play at all just in case they lose. I tell all my students to play to enjoy, then one will get many aspects from it. If one fights all the time without thinking about what one is doing he will not benefit from it. Everyone can learn from each other if they want to because everyone knows something; even if it is a little bit, it could be important. Some students and even teachers think that when you have practiced for a long time there is no need to practice anymore techniques, but they seem to forget that one needs to practice what has been learnt in the past if he wants to keep it.

Students who hit too hard or fight with no control in practice will find that no one will want to train with them. Later these students end up practicing by themselves, because they have an attitude. What these people do not realize is that their standard will drop and they will have no one to show them their holes or correct them. My students are taught that it is a two-way progression so they all need each other to improve. It is important that all students in the school get along with one another, but it if there is an attitude problem or bad atmosphere in the school no one will benefit in learning because there is not a balance.

Whilst practicing I make the taller, stronger students practice with the smaller students in order that the smaller students get used to a bigger, stronger and more powerful opponent so that he does not feel intimidated by him. Learning how to relax in a fighting situation can he difficult. One can only learn this by sparring. To test oneself one has to put into practice what has been learnt When sparring with other classmates there is not enough time to think, your reaction must be instantaneous so each student has the opportunity to find out what can he done. What one must understand is that what works for one may not work for another, therefore one must understand why it did or did not work; there is always a reason. If it were a real fight there would not be a second chance, this is why we practice.

Some people think that some techniques do not work. I find that it is not that it does not work, it is the technique being used and at what time. For example, if your opponent hits the lower part of your body and you block in the middle, what has happened is that you used the wrong movement. It all depends on the situation Wing Chun is not a fixed art, one can not move unless your opponent reacts Therefore one needs to think a lot for oneself. When in a fight it is just himself and his opponent. I have always said that Wing Chun can be performed effectively, it all depends on the individual. The art is fine it has been here for centuries. I find that there are a lot of theories based on principles of engineering and strategy. The art is also based on elementary geometry. It all comes down to when fighting who has the advantage or disadvantage to determine the winner.

Practitioners from other systems tell me that Wing Chun never does well in competitions. This is correct. Wing Chun is an art form not just for fighting. I tell my students why they should not go into competitions or ring fighting, It is not because they cannot fight, it is because there are so many rules they will lose mainly because they will not be able to use 90% of their techniques. Things such as knees, elbow, fingers, grabbing, pulling and kicking low cannot be used if one wants to trap their opponent, and there is also a referee. But I do tell my students that if they want to try, they would have to learn boxing, high kicks and wear gloves which turns things into a different ball game; one will not be going in there using Wing Chun.

I find that using Wing Chun is a tool kit of movements, if one cannot use them in practice why waste ones time learning them! There are three forms with techniques and just like any other system they are there for a reason. Knowing that there is always more to learn and experience is our greatest teacher.

Michael Louison           Top