Sifu Fong

I first met Sifu Francis Fong not long after I started training Wing Chun under Sifu Dan. Sifu Dan said that there was to be a seminar in the park in New Iberia coming up with Sifu Francis Fong. At the time, I did not know who Francis Fong was but I soon found out. We all met in a concrete block building in the park and there were probably about 30 or so participant "students" in attendance. I think Sifu Fong concentrated mostly on SLT that day which was great because it was what I was trying to learn at the time. We all did the form by following another of Sifu Dan's students. I thought that was great because it was difficult to see when a single person was making a mistake and I'm sure I made plenty of them. Sifu Fong took over and really made the seminar interesting. He told many stories of his past and present and made everyone happy to be there. He demonstrated a few things that seemed to everyone to be basically impossible. I won't go into that here because I don't have permission, but suffice it to say that it was terrific! Over the years, I went to many of Sifu Fong's seminars, many in different places and I thouroughly enjoyed every one of them. I'm just sorry to say that I never made the trip to the Atlanta, Georgia area to go to a seminar at his school. Maybe one day!?

Putting together a manual

I always said that if you are going to teach Wing Chun (or any other art) you should have a manual available to give or sell the student. The student may be a very good listener and there are many out there who have great powers of concentration. Maybe they don't need a manual, but most do. Of course, as I have discovered, it is not easy putting together one of these descriptive and "living" manuals. But since I have opened my big mouth, it is time for me to put one together. I have thus started the beginnings of doing just that. I am sifting through old manuals, clippings that I have saved over the years (I have volumns), and even some old videos that I have collected over the years. It takes a great deal of time because, just when you think that you have a chapter or part down, you discover a whole new section that should have been added. If you did not save space on your processor for this contingency, it is somewhat difficult to add the new material. But I will do it. I do plan to share some of this/these manuals when I feel that it is somewhat complete. So stand by.

Rample/Teaching

Boy, did I do some rambling last post? I'm sure you noticed! Anyway, I will try to plan better for the next big post.
One thing I thought about since the last post; Bruce Lee started teaching in the U.S. although he had finished only part of the Wing Chun curriculum with Yip Man. From what I read, he had gotten through the SLT, CK, forms and half of the 108 Wooden Dummy form. Of course, I would NEVER claim to have anywhere neer the attributes of Bruce Lee. He also practiced for hours every day and most people just cannot do that for one reason or another. Basically, though what I am saying is that you don't have to go through the entire Wing Chun curriculum in order to teach. Of course, as I mentioned, I feel that it is basically up to your Sifu to give his/her ok for you to go ahead and teach the traditional method as taught by him/her and of the "Grandmaster" over him/her. I don't (again) feel that you must get permission to teach non-traditional Wing Chun. I don't necessarily feel that non-traditional is inferior to traditional, it's just different and perhaps does not always include the intracasies of the head of the system that you are in. A student of non-traditional could easily learn the basics and intermediate parts of the non-traditional system. The non-traditional system that I would teach is taken from many areas. I have learned a great deal from videos and books and I have learned generically from my 10 years of private lessons. I would use the generic form when teaching, tied in with what I have learned in the other methods. Comments?

Some thoughts on teaching and learning

This may take more than one post! It is my feeling and belief that when a qualified Kung Fu (or otherwise) person wants to teach (at least in America), it is fine. I don't see any problem with it, although there are many out there that do. There is even talk of "regulating" the martial arts teaching profession...boy, that would kill it fast! Yes, there are charlatains out there who would simply make things up or half-way teach, or those that just have not had a lot of instruction. It could also be those who are just not good teachers or who simply don't know enough to teach. That is naturally a thing of perception with some. Some long-time teachers may not want the competition or they may never feel that a student is "ready" to teach "his" art. Frankly, I know a karate person in my area (Cenla) that sort of inherited his dojo when he was a green belt. He was basically learning as he was teaching and he did a terrific job. Today, he not only has a large martial art school, but is a great fighter and successful mma promoter in the area. My own Sensei started teaching when he was 14 and a brown belt. His teacher, the Grandmaster, was either not there a lot or he just wanted others to teach in order to learn. This, I think, can be a legitimate way to learn. I think most would agree that a person learns a lot more when teaching because he/she is forced to learn it and learn it fast. On another slightly different subject, when searching for a Kung Fu or Wing Chun school (or any martial school for that matter), I have some things I think a person should look for: First, when you first meet with the Sifu or Sensei, ask if the Sifu or school has some sort of written book or document that spells out exactly what will be taught and hopefully learned. My Sensei in Tiogo (Dan Guilliland) put together a terrific booklet that not only explained the techniques, but indicated exactly what was needed to graduate from one level to the next and about how long it should take. It was very explicit so a student knew exactly what it would take to make blue belt or brown belt or whatever. Of course, I realize that our karate art is and was technique driven (there are many somewhat hidden therories though in the kata so its not all technique). I also understand that arts like Wing Chun are "principle" oriented and that it is somewhat difficult to put together that sort of book or booklet. It does basically no good though to just come out with a booklet that has almost nothing in it that can be simply understood and that will show the student exactly what is needed to go from one level to another. I think it is somewhat shameless for a teacher to add something to the curriculum that may add years to the students time to advance when these things are generally not in traditional Wing Chun. Many dollars are made that way because many Wing Chun students are "hooked" on the art and will do almost anything to stay with it. I am not accusing anyone here. Maybe, if the Sifu or Sensei wants to add or use his version of the art (a portion), he/she should first let the student advance the traditional way and THEN require the added material to become a "advanced" practitioner. Again, in American, it is US who decides when we feel we are ready to teach, not others. I would never teach my Sifu's art as a traditional art unless my Sifu gave me the go-ahead to do that. I would, can, and do teach the art as non-traditional Wing Chun and I feel that I am good at it. If I have a student (private) who wants to learn all of the traditional aspects of the art, I would certainly send or bring him/her to my Sifu. The next post will add to this discussion. Comments are welcomed (even angry ones).

Pet Peeves

Just wanted to mention one of my major pet peeves! I really hate it when I email someone and weeks (or even months) go by before that person gets back to me...even if it's just to say "thank you" or, thanks, I got it, or even just OK!

Shameless Advertising

I guess it's time to do a little "shameless advertising"...if interested, you can google my tiny website by just typing "Wing Chun Kung Fu" in the search and the third or fourth one to come up will be Cenla Wing Chun. Basically, it has just directions, cell number and email address. It is basically a non-profit club but donations can be accepted to pay for equipment costs, etc. I have to teach out of my home at this time because space cost too much as a part-time thing and that is the only way I can do it right now. I teach non-traditional Wing Chun only and do not claim any other method or lineage related to this teaching. I'm sure that there may be others out there who don't agree with this way of doing things, but we just can't please all. The way I feel about it is; this is not China, it is America and we can do this the way we want to do it. Naturally, if a person/student wants to study traditionally, I could either refer them to Sifu Dan, or actually take the person to New Iberia, This assuming that Sifu Dan would accept them as a student. Anyway, here goes the shameless advertising: Jim Vance, cell number is: 318-446-1236. My email is: vanceap3@suddenlink.net. If you can't get me on the cell, the home number is: 318-640-2599. I don't know if you have to dail the 318. It depends on where you are calling from. I teach the basic Wing Chun which is the 3 hand forms, 108 Wooden Dummy and Chi Sao. For more advanced students, I would make recommendations. Give me a call!

Ran in to him in the mall

I ran into my original martial arts teacher (Sensei), Dan Guilliland in the Alexandria Mall this past Saturday. At first, I thought he was there for some sort of special event at "Bulls Gym" which is a terrific martial art and mixed (mma) martial arts establishment that has been around under a few different names for awhile. Kirk Bulloch is the founder and Sensei of "Bulls Gym" and is also a terrific guy. He started in Karate under George Johnson who broke from "Grandmaster Karl Marx. He started a school (dojo) in or near Glenmora, Louisiana many years ago and as far as I know, it is still running. He has been intrumental in promoting many mma fights in the central Louisiana area and also numerous Karate tournaments over the years. Getting back to Dan Guilliland; when I saw him in the mall, he said he was just there with his girlfriend who was shopping at the time. He was headed to Bull's Gym though. My wife and I talked to him for a few minutes then off to our daily walk. As I talked about before, my kids (Sarah and Ian) started martial arts at Rapides Karate under Sensei Dan Guilliland when the kids were young. We all eventually ended up there and all became Black Belts under the system, which included Karate, Judo, and Jiujitsu. Frankly, it was one of the best times of my life. After several years of all of us being in the dojo, Dan generously treated us to free lessons. By that time, Sarah was teaching there too. I started teaching a short time after that (mostly as part of the requirements for 2nd degree black belt). I did enjoy it though! Anyway, I just wanted to point out one of the many fine qualities of a great guy and teacher, Dan Guilliland of Tioga, Louisiana. By the way, Dan is now also a promoter and includes mma as part of his teaching. He is one of the best grappling teachers I know.