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.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

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

Can Mike Tyson when he was at his prime time be able to do this low empty stance with butt touch on the lower leg for 60 seconds?

A guy who knows how to fight may not have the flexibility in some MA training.

If you have good foundation, you can be a good fighter. But a good fighter may not always have the proper foundation. What does that mean?

- My teacher's teacher could sit in a horse stance to finish his dinner.
- My teacher could sit in horse stance to finish watching Bejing opera.
- I could stand in horse stance and finish a can of beer.

Are we getting weaker and weaker through each generation?

 

[Flying Crane]

Can Mike Tyson when he was at his prime time be able to do this low empty stance with butt touch on the lower leg for 60 seconds?

A guy who knows how to fight may not have the flexibility in some MA training.

If you have good foundation, you can be a good fighter. But a good fighter may not always have the proper foundation. What does that mean?

- My teacher's teacher could sit in a horse stance to finish his dinner.
- My teacher could sit in horse stance to finish watching Bejing opera.
- I could stand in horse stance and finish a can of beer.

Are we getting weaker and weaker through each generation?

View attachment 33102

Perhaps the claims of prior generations are getting more and more exaggerated.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

Can Mike Tyson when he was at his prime time be able to do this low empty stance with butt touch on the lower leg for 60 seconds?

A guy who knows how to fight may not have the flexibility in some MA training.

If you have good foundation, you can be a good fighter. But a good fighter may not always have the proper foundation. What does that mean?

- My teacher's teacher could sit in a horse stance to finish his dinner.
- My teacher could sit in horse stance to finish watching Bejing opera.
- I could stand in horse stance and finish a can of beer.

Are we getting weaker and weaker through each generation?

View attachment 33102

I cannot say what these, or other generations may, or may not do. I can only say that in my opinion I have not exceeded my Sifu or my Sigung in any way. I suppose that is a shame.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

Perhaps the claims of prior generations are getting more and more exaggerated.

Perhaps, but I would insult their memory from a place of ego to think I have more, or even equal ability.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

I cannot say what these, or other generations may, or may not do. I can only say that in my opinion I have not exceeded my Sifu or my Sigung in any way. I suppose that is a shame.

Our previous generation may spend more time in foundation building than we do.

I do know someone in our previous generation could repeat this solo drill 200 times non-stop.

Today, if we ask a new student to drill this 200 times non-stop, we may get lawsuit.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

There's a lot of good information here, and what I'm currently planning to do for the first week (maybe two) is let anyone who shows up know that we're not going to follow the general class plan. Then check with them as they come in and see what they're interested in, and go over a couple specific 'tricks' that help self-defense, along with basic blocks from a neutral stance, and how to set up a 'fence'.

I've got a good basis for the first session, and an idea for future sessions based on how that one goes. And I'm shortening the time for bowing in/out since I don't want it to be overly formal, like has been mentioned here.