er…NO!
Ill tell you that it’s a FACT that the WC masters you see on tapes are not doing it exactly the way it is ment to be done! (they change subtle things so guys who buy videos of their systems cant learn it from spending $40)
Yes, it is still very close. But they take out key things, and bring your attention to things that are not really the core of the system.
Think about, if you had the knowledge these guys have would you put it all on tape and sell it for virtually nothing???!!?!!
Ill tell you that it’s a FACT that the WC masters you see on tapes are not doing it exactly the way it is ment to be done! (they change subtle things so guys who buy videos of their systems cant learn it from spending $40)
I can appreciate that. I wouldn’t want my system to get out to anyone who just bought a tape, either.
Yes, it is still very close. But they take out key things, and bring your attention to things that are not really the core of the system.
Same comment as I said above.
That’s why you gotta check a million sources and then you’re bound you come across the correct aspects somewhere in the mix.
IronFist
Originally posted by IronFist
That’s why you gotta check a million sources and then you’re bound you come across the correct aspects somewhere in the mix.
2 Questions:
How will you know what to look for??
Once you found it, how will you integrate it into your practice??
Just something to ponder.
[i]2 Questions:
How will you what to look for??[/i]
Hmmm. Beats me 
Some things just stick out and make sense, you know?
Once you found it, how will you integrate it into your practice??
The same way you integrate anything new you learn into your practice. You either start doing it, or you make the necessary changes/adjustments.
IronFist
Firstly, redfists raises some good points!
That’s why you gotta check a million sources and then you’re bound you come across the correct aspects somewhere in the mix.
And this…I totally disagree with! I pretty much guarantee you wont find anything substancial on the forms above SLT (in book and videos). Even SLT itself! The things ive heard over and over again:
SLT has all the techniques!
CK teackes you to fight with it and BJ is emergency techniques!~!!
Half true, half false… why? because its a snippet of information! Its noting of substance. Real teaching gives you so much to think about you can practice for hours on ur own and still realise you are miles away from the real thing.
Ok, this is such a clichea, but the longer you learn the more you realise you know nothing! And NO WAY could you discover the things a teacher NEEDs to help you understand, on your own.
Ironfist you said earlier if the creater of WC thought of it…well so can you… (this is disputable due to the many versions of WC history i admit) but i have heard the creator of WC knew and was well versed in the external styles, and saw their limitations. Thus creating the style we practice today… A synthesis of the other systems! The founder had a VERY strong base upoin which they founded WC.
I find myself in class discussing with others how much of a martial genious the person (or people) were, who created the system. Its ideas are very advanced, yet simple and multi dimensional. The effictiveness that WC has used simple movements to neturalise very complex ones; and its ability to use the same movements for multiple applications… its mind bogling! (well it is to me! )
Make ur choice if you choose to study from videos, but be in for disapointment if you consider youself in the same boat as those who have masters. Theres no way you will reach a high level of WC this way.
I had to wait for two years!!
It took me two years of wanting to study WC before I was in a position to take lessons. Sometimes you just have to wait until the time is right, fella.
I train with my instructor three times a week, have two private lessons a month and meet and train with friends once a week. Even with all of this ‘hands-on’ guidiance I find myself making mistakes, developing bad habits.
Without an instructor!!! I dread to think what I’d be like!! In short, you cannot learn a system from a book or video. Great additional tools, but that’s it.
Duncan
Alpha Dog: was this aimed at Ironfist or a genuine question?
Anyway Ironfist: Stick at it. Of course it’s no substitute for a ‘real’ teacher, but I think there are many people on this board who would argue that so many other people aren’t ‘real’ teachers anyway! If you are confident that you know your own body, or at least have a good grounding in body mechanics, go for it. Try it out when you spar with your tkd friend (I think your chi sau is gonna be mostly useless though!). Sure, it won’t be ‘real’ wing chun, but remember to enjoy it! If you have the enthusiasm for the style, you should do well, and it should serve you well.
Of course, go to seminars as often as you can… save some of the money you spend on vids and books (there are no definitive ones and you probably have enough to be going along with) and go anywhere there are other wcers. One hour’s drive isn’t THAT bad sometimes… one of my sihing used to travel from Switzerland to Germany once every month or so (yeah yeah, I know they share a border, but it was a good couple of hours’ drive, ok!?
)
When you finally join a school though, it’ll be a real test of your patience: you’ll make a ****load of suddenly obvious mistakes, and have some really poor stances and actions, and you’ll have to do loads of boring repition of things that you’ll have done countless times already… But everybody does!!!
I have to agree with ed and sharky - learning by videotape is a waste of your time and money. I lend my students plenty of videos and books because they are an invaluable supplement to training with a teacher.
How much faith would you have in a teacher who learnt from books and videos??
Save your money, spend a little xtra even, and get private tuition.
Regards, Stuart