First Lesson

[Wing Woo Gar]

Couple of funny moments about this from helping out with the kids in BJJ.

First one, I was coaching a girl through a sweep. She had her grips. I told her to grab her partner's leg with her left hand. She lets go of both grips, makes an L with both hands (to determine right from Left), re-grabs her right grip, and grabs the leg with her left hand.

Second one, similar situation. Told a kid to grab his opponent with his left hand. He grabs with his right.
Me: "Your other left hand."
Him: "I ONLY HAVE ONE LEFT HAND!"

I always say “your other left!” Then I say, “you have a 50/50 chance”.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

When people come to my class the first time, I keep it light. I say, “get in the middle so you can see people no matter which way we face”. Then, “ don’t do anything you don’t want to do, don’t do anything that hurts, if you need water or to sit down, do that.” I just have them follow along that first time, with no expectations. After that, I will assign a student to them to teach them the formal salutation. All my students train together, my training brothers often show up to train in the group and help teach as necessary. I want everyone to help one another, so I foster that cooperative attitude. I don’t start front loading the teaching until they show up for a month consistently. I tell them just show up and try to follow along to get the general feel of the class and not worry about anything else at first.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

I always say “your other left!” Then I say, “you have a 50/50 chance”.

It's amazing how bad the body coordination a beginner can have. If you ask a beginner to

- rotate his right arm forward and his left arm backward at the same time,
- kick right leg and punch left hand at the same time.

Most beginners won't be able to do at the first time.

Also, most beginners may have flexibility problem to stand in low empty stance.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

It's amazing how bad the body coordination a beginner can have. If you ask a beginner to

- rotate his right arm forward and his left arm backward at the same time,
- kick right leg and punch left hand at the same time.

Most beginners won't be able to do at the first time.

Also, most beginners may have flexibility problem to stand in low empty stance.

View attachment 33101

I teach both those things to beginners and you are correct, most can’t even stand on one leg for 30 seconds.