Okay, if you have read any of my posts you know I’m rather opinionated. Heres the deal:
I moved to another city about 2 yrs ago and was training in WT before I moved. I haven’t trained since I moved.
I have the option of training at the local Wt branch or commuting to the old branch once or twice a week (I didn’t move too far.) Problem is, I love WT but the training methods drive me nuts.
To complicate things is this: I am quite loyal to my old si-hing, but several of our top students (good fighters) left when Emin bai split and are under his group. I’ve contacted them and they really wanted me to join. Not to air dirty laundry but there have been conflicts between some of the students and my old instructor.
So, should I go local, go home, or go with Emins group? Whent the OT here at work kicks in I’ll have around $400-500 a month to dispose on privates and seminars, so its going to be a major comittment.
Of course I could just go train with the BJJ/vale tudo guys in town, they are quite good.
Politics kinda suck, huh?
I think only you can come up with an answer to this one. Only you will be aware of the conflicts vs benefits thing in relation to which group you train with.
I assume training with both is out of the question?
Yeah, I’m sure they don’t want us cross training, but the students under Emin would likely have less of a problem with it than my old instructor. Personally, I’ll train with whoever the hell I want to.
Another thing is that the Emin breakaways, while not having as high a level in WT skill as my old instructor, are very good and have plenty of real street experience. They’re privates are also cheaper. Right now I’m thinking of them simply becuase I prefer their methods of training to my old instructor’s (that was the biggest rift between the students and him.)
Of course, Emin bai also has a huge ego and I tend to dread his seminars. I dunno-so many choices.
If you’re relatively nearby, go check out Sifu Jeff Webb’s school in Austin. IMO, Sifu Jeff Webb is one of the best instructors in the USA, and he has the students to back it up. He’s the first and only Sifu in the US to bring a student up to 2nd level technician; 2 of them, in fact. A good fighter isn’t always the best teacher. For example, if you had the choice to choose the olympic gold medalist or his/her coach to be your instructor, who would you choose? If you do visit his school, I think you’ll be very impressed with his technique and the approach he uses to teach his students. You’ll never “dread” working out with him or his students.
well, i think i would go to the person with the highest amount of skill… broken branches of the wing tsun tree have happened before, and i know jeff went to leung ting, as well as parker: and look at them now!
simpleangles
wongfeilung: as your reply borders on politics, I won’t say much about it except that Sifu Jeff Webb’s sifu IS GM Leung Ting, so his choice to stay with GM Leung Ting was a no brainer. Furthermore, GM Leung Ting is personally seeing to the growth of WT in North America, which means people like Sifu Webb are benefitting from receiving instruction from the source of WT.
I also have to disagree that the best fighter is the best teacher. Being a great fighter means you have the dedication and talent to absorb what you are taught and apply it. This doesn’t mean that you also have the ability to teach a new student how to become as successful as you. That is why I brought up the analogy of the olympic medalist and his coach. The coach is the person who has PROVED that he can teach. The olympic medalist has proved that he has what it takes to become a badass, but he HASN’T proved he has what it takes to crank out badasses of his own.
I have visited si hing Webbs school (yes I’m that old.) My old WT instructor used to teach him. My dilemna is that the guys at the Emin breakaway school are not just great fighters but terrific teachers as well. I mean they not only coach well, they will not give a student new material unless the basics have been pounded into them. Rank doesn’t mean much too them, nor to me for that matter. The head guy is just now going for his 1TG but he is, in terms of skill, about 2TG or higher level, same as Michael Peters (Webbs top guy.) I think a lot of their skills (at both schools) has to do with Emin bais teaching.
Of course, I really dread that commute from Austin to SA and Webbs school is just a mile or so from where I work. I really wish I could move back to San Antonio (yeah I know, Austins the bomb, but hey SA is home for me!)
Any body in Austin just want to get together and train? That would be preferable
I would like to clarify that Sifu Webb’s WT training had little to do with Emin, that his core instruction from GM Leung Ting, and his training with GM Kernspecht and a few other EWTO members during his time in Germany in the 80’s. His teaching have always reflected the teachings of the Grandmasters. I think there is an easy solution to your current dilemma. Make a trip to Sifu Webb’s school and touch hands with him now that he is a Sifu. Touch hands with his top student, Sihing Mike Peter. Also check out the other 2nd Tg Sihing Rick Shank, and the primary Tg students: Sihings Chris Keen and Eric Webb. Compare these guys’ skill and teaching ability with the Emin guys you used to train with. Whomever you think is best, stick with those people.
