5 Key Questions To Ask When Looking for a Quality Instructor

Looking for a good Wing Chun teacher? How do you know if you’re actually learning effective Wing Chun from a quality instructor?

There are lots of guys out there teaching Wing Chun – and some of them aren’t even genuine Sifus – just a lot of smoke and mirrors marketing with third-rate wing chun.

When you go to learn Wing Chun, you don’t want to learn from just anyone claiming to be a “Wing Chun expert”.

You want to learn from someone who has the experience, skill and knowledge to teach you effective, REAL Wing Chun.

A lot of my online students unfortunately can’t train with me in person since they are not in the Toronto, Canada vicinity. So they ask me for tips on finding a good instructor in their area.

To this end, here are 5 questions to ask yourself when searching for a quality Wing Chun instructor:

#1 Do they disclose their Wing Chun training lineage?

It’s important that you can follow and verify their training lineage. This way you can easily contact their instructor to confirm that they are qualified to teach you.

It also means the chances are higher that this person has legitimate skills since they’re not trying to hide anything. And since different lines tend to have slight differences in their forms, drills, etc. you have a better chance of finding a style that you like.

#2 Do they have several years of experience teaching?

Look for someone who has a decent number of students with several years experience training. Anyone can teach out of their garage for a month and then close up shop.

But someone with several years experience is more likely to be more professional, trustworthy and have students that are willing to keep coming back because they like what they’re learning.

#3 What are his (or her) certifications?

Does this person have anything in the way of certification? For example, in addition to being a Sifu (which is an obvious certification you’ll want to look for), maybe they are certified (or train regularly) in another art.

If so, this will definitely spill over into their teaching to you – and you will benefit. For example, I use a lot of the knowledge I picked up in my bodyguard certification course to teach my guys about gun disarms and self defense.

As a certified personal trainer, it also helps me to make sure my guys aren’t doing a move the wrong way which could get them injured.

#4 Will they let you check out a class before signing up?

This is crucial. You should be able to ‘try before you buy’ to make sure the style of class is right for you. You should never be pressured to sign up for classes. If you are – run the other way.

#5 Can you ask questions?

To a good instructor, no question is ever a dumb question. As a student you will have many questions – and you should be able to ask them.

Now sometimes, for the sake the the class unity, you may be asked to leave your questions until after the class, which is fine. But you should never be made to feel stupid just for having questions. That’s the sign of an arrogant, poor quality instructor.

So those are 5 questions to ask in order to find a good Sifu. Keep them in mind when looking around and you’re bound to find someone you feel comfortable with – someone who will teach you quality Wing Chun and push you to reach new highs with your training.

Good luck!

Sifu Chuck

Seven Added Training Benefits You May Not Know About!

Most people choose Wing Chun because it’s one of the best ‘street-smart’, hand-to-hand combat martials arts.

It’s also easy to learn. It works  – regardless of your age or gender. And it will easily take down a stronger, faster opponent.

But there are many other ‘hidden’ benefits you get from training in Wing Chun that you may not realize. Here are just a few:

#1 Helps Refine Your Spatial Awareness

Your Wing Chun training helps you refine your spatial awareness (knowing where your body is in relation to things around it).

In a day and age where many of us sit at desks or cars, our sensitivity of knowing where we are in relation to other people and objects becomes dull. With training you become more visually aware of your distance from objects (both stationary and moving ones).

This helps you in everything from sports to driving to social interactions.

#2 Improve Your Body Mechanics and Reduce Minor Injuries

With consistent Wing Chun training, you learn how to use proper structures to do everyday activities. This, in turn, will help you reduce minor injuries because of poor body mechanics.

#3 A Healthy Outlet for Pent-Up Stress

Wing Chun forms especially can help teach you how to truly relax your body as you master more efficient body mechanics. This helps tremendously with stress relief – something most of us need in our go-go-go world.

Doing the forms can also provide a meditative benefit – a sort of ‘moving meditation’. Forms are a great way students can work through stresses and problems of the day in a healthy way.

#4 More Confidence and Better Focus

With forms training you also gain good body posture, which can help you appear more confident and in control to those around you.

Training over the long term also helps you develop increased focus in everyday life. This translates into helping you achieve your other life goals faster and more effectively.

#5 Improve Your Reflexes

Chi Sau (or sticky hands), provides the training of increased contact sensitivity and increased auto-reflexes. This will also help you in other martial arts or sports that you choose to take.

I often find that, when studying another martial art, I progress much more quickly through it because of my years of Wing Chun training.

#6 Better Relationships and Social Support

Another benefit that my students especially like about their training is the social interaction and friendships that come with taking classes.

In my classes for example, I emphasize to my students that they are family. Because we’re a family we help each other improve. We’re not there to break each other down but to build up. We’re also there as a social support in a world where many peoples social supports are breaking down.

#7 Increased Discipline

Self-discipline is a lost art today in a world where so many things are cheap and easy. The downside to this is that people aren’t given a lot of chances to develop self-discipline.

But the truth is that you need it if you want to go anywhere in life. Wing Chun helps you develop self-discipline in a truly enjoyable way. While you’re learning the art, you’ll also be developing the self-discipline of training, practice and conditioning.

You’ll notice before long that this self-discipline (and the confidence that comes from developing it) is leaking over into other areas of your life, helping you achieve more and go further than you ever dreamed.

So those are just a few of the added benefits of training in Wing Chun Kung Fu. If you’re interested in taking classes, make sure to look for a good instructor that provides a supportive positive environment to train in.

You should be able to ask questions and work to your own fitness level. Good luck in your training!