FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ):
How often and how hard should martial arts students be practicing? (How to practice?)

This is a question that we frequently get from many of our students, whether they're new to the art or have several years of experience. It concerns many people, because most martial arts students have a need to see progress in themselves - this is perfectly natural. Some of the most common issues facing students include:

1. How many times a week should I practice?
2. How hard should I be practicing?
3. Why am I learning at a slower or faster rate than my fellow students? Is this normal, and should I be concerned about this?
4. Why is there no belting system to help me measure my progress?
5. I feel like I am not being taught as much as the person next to me - is the instructor holding me back deliberately, or have I done something wrong?
6. Should I measure my progress by the number of forms I have learned?
7. Why are we expected to practice all of the forms that we learned since the beginning, even though we need more time to practice our new forms?
8. Why can't I learn to use weapons right away?
9. Why can't I learn to spar right away?
10. Why can't I learn how to do lion dancing right away?
11. Should we supplement our training with other activities such as jogging or weight lifting?

Over the next couple of months, we will be answering these questions bit by bit. Keep checking back at this website for updates, and be sure to send us your questions if you don't see it included in the list above.

Answers:

1. How many times a week should I practice?
   
   It depends on how much time you can afford. Some students practice only when they come to class, which means that they practice 1 to 4 classes a week. This is probably ideal for beginners, as it takes a little time for the body to adjust to the new techniques and movements learned. In particular, we find that it takes the longest time for new students to adjust to our horse stance training, but after the first few weeks, you will find that you will be quite accustomed to doing the horse stance training regularly.
   
   Some of us have trained religiously seven days a week (some practice is done at home) for several hours a day with barely a hiccup in our schedules. We can keep this up only because we train different techniques and muscle groups each day, and take care of our bodies by making sure that we get adequate sleep and nutrition. Some of us also take preventive measures by visiting the massage therapist or chiropractor regularly to ensure that our muscles are worked out properly and our spine is correctly aligned.
   
   Some fitness experts out there will recommend that you don't repeat the same training in the same area(s) every single day so that you can allow your body to rest and renew itself. This doesn't mean that you can't train more than 3 or 4 times a week - it only means that you make an effort to vary the emphasis of your training each time.
   
   While we don't expect anyone to be superman or wonder woman, we do recommend that students try to practice at least twice a week whether it's in class with other students, or at home. We find that your muscles stay limber and fresh when you keep up the training every 2 to 3 days. It also helps facilitate memory when you practice more frequently.
   
   TOP
   
   
2. How hard should I be practicing?
   
   Yes, the answer seems obvious, doesn't it? Or maybe not. We've seen many students practice until they look like they just swam through a pool of sweat. Others are accustomed to sitting off to the side, hoping no one will notice that they're taking their 6th break within the last half hour. As instructors, we DO notice. And yes, it really does impact how we teach each student - the harder you work, the better you get at practicing kungfu, and naturally the more we can teach you. Having spent years as students ourselves, we understand that sometimes life just seems to weigh us down mentally and emotionally. Or, sometimes fatigue will get the better of us after a hard day at school or at work. However, we've discovered that regardless of how tired you are, if you can manage to push yourself past the initial fatigue, you'll find that your energy level actually increases.
   
   Here's another thing to consider. People talk a lot about 'self-discipline', but it's rare to actually find someone define it in writing exactly what this is. Many people join martial arts classes because they believe that they will work out harder when they are involved in group drills and activities. To become truly good at any martial art though, this group-inspired motivation is only one small piece of the puzzle. The bulk of it is dependent on YOU and your ability to focus on your personal training when you're NOT in a group activity. Instructors can help by 'reminding' you to get back into training when you're taking too long of a rest break, but this should not be necessary, nor is it entirely beneficial to be dependent on this. It's hard to get yourself motivated, especially when you're new to martial arts, but it gets easier with each practice. Every time you go to class, tell yourself that you're going to do a little more each time. For example, you may challenge yourself to practicing 20 minutes with no break in your first couple of weeks. After that, you bump that up to 30 minutes. After a while, you'll find yourself going like the energizer bunny for three hours! (Trust us, we know...)
   
   And one more thing. There are times when you feel like you can train like mad, and there are other times when you're a tired, limp noodle. Use your energy level to your advantage in your training. If you have a lot of energy, then it would be great to work on your power and speed. When it's a little low, then practice your moves slowly and easily, but work on your flow, your long-term stamina, and your breathing. It all balances out.
   
   TOP
   
   
3. Why am I learning at a slower or faster rate than my fellow students? Is this normal, and should I be concerned about this?
   
   Why should you be concerned? Seriously now, are you doing martial arts to improve yourself, or to compete with others? There will always be slower and faster learners, regardless if you're in baking school or learning calculus. Speaking for our own school, we only care about the quality of your learning, and not about the rate. Regardless if you are interested in learning kungfu for health, self-defense, or just because you're fascinated by the artistic nature of the forms, it doesn't matter. Quality of learning is the top priority for all of us.
   
   If you are taking a little longer to learn something, but you think that it should be taking less time, then ask yourself this: have you been training often or hard enough? Do you really understand what you're learning, and do you know how to apply what you've learned? If you are specifically training in our school (because we can't speak for other instructors), then understand that we care about each and every student that walks through our doors, enough to take the time to teach as properly and exactly as we possibly can. We sincerely believe that to progress a student too quickly is doing the student a great disfavour, and will create a very weak foundation upon which not much can be built. That said, we are also likely to progress a student more quickly if there has been a tremendous show of effort and understanding in the student, because we also believe that students should not be held back in progress if they are ready for it.
   
   The best way to find out how you are doing is to ask your instructor for their honest opinion. You may learn something that may help you train better.
   
   TOP
   
   
4. Why is there no belting system to help me measure my progress?
   
   The belting system was never used for any of the students under Grandmaster Wong Ha's lineage. Students progress from form to form (some are fist forms, others are weapon forms or even two-person forms), and depending on the personality, body type, and strengths of the student, he or she may follow a different learning path than others in the school. We test each student when they are reasonably competent with their forms, and we move them on to the next one if they are ready. Our school does not focus only on forms of course, but also on practical application and hands-on partner training. However, we sincerely believe that belts are not necessary for our students to know whether they are progressing satisfactorily. We simply ask the question: do you understand the moves in your repertoire enough to apply them? Are they ingrained enough to be second-nature to you? To KNOW that you have a true understanding and ability to apply your learning is far more valuable than any system that we can invent to validate that.
   
   TOP
   
   
5. I feel like I am not being taught as much as the person next to me - is the instructor holding me back deliberately, or have I done something wrong?
   
   See question 3. But before you do, know this: no students are ever deliberately held back for reasons other than a lack of effort. And if that was the case, then perhaps the question you should really be asking is: are you holding YOURSELF back?
   
   TOP
   
   
6. Should I measure my progress by the number of forms I have learned?
   
   This question can be answered partially by question 4. Yes and no. You can only learn a new form if you have demonstrated a good understanding of your previous ones, so technically you ARE progressing. However, practicing forms ALONE is NOT the way to make yourself an effective, well-rounded martial artist. Hence it should not be used as the ONLY way to mark your progress.
   
   TOP
   
   
7. Why are we expected to practice all of the forms that we learned since the beginning, even though we need more time to practice our new forms?
   
   This question should actually be preceded by, "Why should we even bother practicing our forms? Aren't they just for show? Do they serve any real purpose?"
   
   You bet they do. Again, as with all of the other questions, we speak for only the Choy Lai Fut system as we teach in our school.
   
   TOP
   
   
8. Why can't I learn to use weapons right away?
   
   Many people have come to our school asking if they can start using weapons without going through the usual preparatory training first. This is particularly common among those who have already studied martial arts in other systems. At our school, it does not matter if you have learned Choy Lai Fut before even -- it is our strict policy not to give instruction on weaponry to newcomers.
   
   We have two reasons for this. Firstly, it is a safety issue -- as much as we practice mostly with non-sharpened weapons, it there is still a great possibility that someone without a good foundation will injure himself/herself. The second reason is this: all weapon skills in Choy Lai Fut are based on our hand, arm, and fist techniques. You cannot possibly understand how any of our weapons are wielded unless you first understand the theory behind our fist forms. Before you run, you must first learn to walk - it's a cliche, but it makes sense.
   
   TOP
   
   
9. Why can't I learn to spar right away?
   
   Actually, the answer to this is pretty much the same as the previous question about using weapons. But honestly -- if you think you are already good enough to be sparring with people right away, why bother joining a school? Choy Lai Fut is a complex SYSTEM that has its own unique footwork, flow, and modes of attack and defense. It is not just a simple 'collection' of moves that you can learn in a few easy lessons and then be applied immediately on the street. If you don't have the patience and self discipline to study the system with as much intensity and focus as it deserves, then this is not the right school for you.
   
   TOP
   
   

More to come soon.

TOP