Traditionally, it is often said that Wing Chun was a "secret style" and within any given generation, a sifu would train only a handful of students. After coming to Hong Kong, Grandmaster Yip was the first in his lineage to teach a large number of students, and Bruce Lee was probably the first to teach non-Chinese. Even today, with the various lineages of Wing Chun becoming one of the best known systems of Chinese martial art in the world, most sifu's are quite secretive about teaching all but the most basic techniques.
For example, my old Chinese sifu held back the dummy form and the weapons sets for many, many years. And learning from another sifu wasn't an option. That would be disloyal, and besides, his version was the best. And it is still that way in his organization. Also, there was a good deal of arrogance and jealousy between this man and his peers. Each, it seemed had their own distinct take on their Si-fu, Yip Man's teaching, and they all discounted the views of the others.
The reasons for this secrecy range from tradition and keeping "the best" to yourself, to simple commercialism. Often this sifu warned me not to give away information so openly, lest I "break my rice-bowl", that is to say "lose my source of income" by giving away too much, too fast. I always bore the brunt of these lectures, since I was young, idealistic, and eager to share.
Now, I'm old and cynical, ...and still appreciate it when people share. On this forum, I'm impressed with the openess of "Chinaboxer". His free videos are very informative, and he puts himself on the line. Some of the principles he learned from Hawkins Cheung and Gary Lam differ from what I learned. I find it interesting and valuable to compare approaches... something impossible to do if you are overly secretive or political. Far from breaking his rice bowl, I believe that he will gain students with such an approach. I just wish my old sifu had seen things more like that.
How about the rest of you. Do your sifus encourage openness and inquiry into how the other guys do things, or are they old school, clannish and secretive?
For example, my old Chinese sifu held back the dummy form and the weapons sets for many, many years. And learning from another sifu wasn't an option. That would be disloyal, and besides, his version was the best. And it is still that way in his organization. Also, there was a good deal of arrogance and jealousy between this man and his peers. Each, it seemed had their own distinct take on their Si-fu, Yip Man's teaching, and they all discounted the views of the others.
The reasons for this secrecy range from tradition and keeping "the best" to yourself, to simple commercialism. Often this sifu warned me not to give away information so openly, lest I "break my rice-bowl", that is to say "lose my source of income" by giving away too much, too fast. I always bore the brunt of these lectures, since I was young, idealistic, and eager to share.
Now, I'm old and cynical, ...and still appreciate it when people share. On this forum, I'm impressed with the openess of "Chinaboxer". His free videos are very informative, and he puts himself on the line. Some of the principles he learned from Hawkins Cheung and Gary Lam differ from what I learned. I find it interesting and valuable to compare approaches... something impossible to do if you are overly secretive or political. Far from breaking his rice bowl, I believe that he will gain students with such an approach. I just wish my old sifu had seen things more like that.
How about the rest of you. Do your sifus encourage openness and inquiry into how the other guys do things, or are they old school, clannish and secretive?
artyon:
