Sustainable Training
Date: Thurs, 9 March 2006
I received this email from a man who is scheduled to come into my school for an introductory course.
For those of you who have been around martial arts for a while, this may bring back memories of the “boot camp dojo” days of pre-karate kid.
I am looking to learn *real* traditional Kung Fu methods in a challenging, but friendly environment. Although it was an honor to learn from Grand Master XYZ, I wasn't happy with the class structure and his seemingly militant teaching methods. To give you an idea of what class was like, we would have to wear heavy cotton, long sleeve kung fu uniforms with Chinese slippers in the summer with no air conditioning. The classroom would be over 100 degrees and wreaked from the previous class- no exaggeration. Overall, the place was in very poor condition, especially the bathrooms. As class started, we would line up according to rank and bow to each rank, the flag and Grand Master XWZ. Subsequently, if we had a question or made an error we would have to bow and ask for help, then bow again and say thank you. Following the opening formalities, one of the instructors would lead us through a series of outdated and dangerous stretching routines. Immediately following the overstretching routines, we would do kicking drills or jump into practicing previously learned forms. If anyone made a mistake, we would have to wait in whatever stance or position until the student repeated the movement and bowed several times. Exhausted without rest, we would individually be tested on the current form and learn a new set to a form-practicing for 15 minutes. For the last 20 minutes we would practice something we haven't learned in two months and if anyone made a mistake, he would show displeasure by yelling at or ridiculing the student, depending on the student. We wouldn't spend enough time on a particular method such as push hands or chi na because every class he would do something new. At the end of class he would make us do push ups, sit ups and leg lifts till our limbs fell off. If we missed a class and didn't call, he would make us jump. If we forgot a part to a form, or dropped a weapon, we would jump. Jumping is basically putting your hands behind your back and squatting down till your butt touches your heals and springing up, clicking your heals- about 10-20 times. Great for the knees! Throughout my training I injured my patella and his solution was to work out harder and listen to him because he *knows*. By the way, there were several advanced students with bad knees.
Originally, I wanted to learn kung fu to relieve stress and experience eastern philosophy, but what I wound up getting was a watered down version of the Korean military, a black sash and knowledge of 23 forms which I have NO idea where they originated, along with A LOT of stress!! I should add that it wasn’t an entirely horrible experience because I made a lot of friends, learned several weapon and open hand forms and got to the point where I would just be able to laugh at the whole situation. Laughter only works for so long, or at least until my contract ran out, and I finished learning monkey!
Just wanted you to understand why I left XYZ's and what I am looking for in a new school.
Interesting.
Anyway, I don’t mind a tough class, but training is supposed to be sustainable (no wrecked knees please) useful in your daily life (23 forms?), and the instructor is supposed to lead by example.
How you choose to train and what you put up with – or eventually decide not to put up with – is your choice. As I said above though, training should be sustainable.
On that note – I’ve started a blog. If you want to comment on this email, or any other aspect of sustainable training, feel free to post at roblapointe.wordpress.com.
By the way, when our friend takes his first class with me, I’ll make sure he leaves sweating, smiling, having learned a little, and eager to come back.
Take care, train like you mean it,
Rob LaPointe