Questions
Joining
Q1 – Am I able to join without attending the Introduction Class?
Q2 – Do you offer a free trial class to see if I like it?
Q3 – Can I come and watch a class before joining?
Frequency of Training
Q4 – How regularly do I have to train?
Q5 – My work schedule is not fixed, the days I can train keep changing, is that ok?
Q6 – I can only train once per week or less, is that ok?
Q7 – Is there a minimum time frame I should train for?
Q8 – I want to progress/grade faster, how can I do this?
Fees and Uniform
Q9 – What are the fees?
Q10 – Do you have to wear the uniform?
Other Styles of Martial Arts or Lineages of Wing Chun
Q11 – Am I allowed to train another style and learn at the Wing Tsun Academy at the same time?
Q12 – What happens if I already have Wing Chun experience?
Suitability to Join
Q13 – I am leaving for a number of weeks soon after joining, should I still join?
Q14 – I am big, can I still train at the Wing Tsun Academy?
Q15 – My fitness level is low, can I still train at the Wing Tsun Academy?
Answers
Joining
Q1 – Am I able to join without attending the Introduction Class?
A1 – Should you, after careful consideration, wish to join the Wing Tsun Academy without attending the Introduction Class, you are able to by following these steps.
a) Request via email to join without attending an Introductions Class
b) Complete and return via email the forms we will send to you
c) We will let know you the dates we are next taking new students. Let us know at least 2 days in advance which date you plan on attending as your first class.
Generally, people who wish to join us without attending the Introduction Class do so for one or more of three reasons.
- Impatience/enthusiasm to start
- Inability to attend our Saturday Introduction Classes due to work or other commitment
- Previous Wing Chun experience
Impatience/enthusiasm to start
We strongly recommend attending an Introduction Class. At the Introduction Class we aim to provide all the information you need to make an informed decision to spend your free time learning Wing Tsun at the Academy. Learning a martial art takes time and diligent training. In our experience, those who have considered the points below, seem to be better prepared and endure where others become impatient and give up
The Introduction Class is to assist with the following decisions
- Is Martial arts is right for you?
- Is Wing Chun is the right martial art?
- Is the Wing Tsun Academy is the right place for you to learn Wing Tsun?
Unable to attend our Saturday Introduction Classes due to work or other commitment
At the Wing Tsun Academy we have a dual teaching method. We teach the Wing Tsun system which is comprised of: forms, drills, exercises, flexibility and fitness etc. In addition, unlike many other schools members can also choose to learn the application of Wing Tsun. This is taught on Saturdays or through very limited availability private tuition from the Wing Tsun Academy’s Dai Sifu (Senior Teacher). Therefore, if you are unable to attend on Saturdays and cannot participate in private lessons, you will learn only the system of Wing Tsun. Many members, for a variety of reasons, prefer not to learn application, practice sparring or train for self defence and choose to learn only the system because, the Wing Chun system in and of itself, is both enjoyable and beneficial in many ways including improving: fitness, flexibility, posture, confidence, relaxation, discipline, mind-set and concentration.
Generally, grading and other special classes are held on Saturdays therefore, other arrangements will have to be made.
Previous Wing Chun experience
3 – If you already have Wing Chun experience, we are enthusiastic for you to join and have a programme for migrating people with Wing Chun experience through the Wing Tsun Academy grades. However, question 3 (Is the Wing Tsun Academy is the right place for you to learn Wing Chun?) is important and should be carefully considered before deciding to join – without first attending an Introduction Class. All Wing Chun teachers and schools have a different emphasis, focus and teaching method and you may find the Wing Tsun Academy is different from what you were looking for. People who have attended the Wing Tsun Academy Introduction Class are able learn about about the differences between the Wing Tsun Academy and others schools, ask questions that they might have, and then, if they decide to, join are better prepared to cope with the differences or re-learning parts of the system they have already experienced.
Q2 – Do you offer a free trial class to see if I like it?
A2 – We relate to this request and encourage thorough consideration before joining our Wing Chun classes. As with all martial arts and most other sports, it takes time and commitment to acquire the art (skill). However, a “test” attendance does not provide sufficient insight for a beginner. Furthermore, it could impact the training of our students. For these very good reasons we are not offering “test” attendance (paid or unpaid).
Instead we offer to assist those who might be interested in deciding one or all of the questions:
- Is Martial arts is right for you?
- Is Wing Chun is the right martial art?
- Is Wing Tsun Academy is the right place for you to learn Wing Tsun?
We offer this in our regularly held, free “Introduction Class”.
Q3 – Can I come and watch a class before joining?
A3 – Attending a class to observe does not provide sufficient insight for a beginner to decide whether or not they should join the Wing Tsun Academy. The content of a class without context could be misleading or confusing and lead to making the wrong decisions about joining. Furthermore, to respect the privacy of our members and ensure they have a high quality class with minimal distractions, we do not allow observation of our classes.
Frequency of Training
Q4 – How regularly do I have to train?
A4 – We provide a modular training system. This allows people to train at the pace they wish to make time and finance available for.
Members are able to choose to take more classes when they have fewer commitments and more free time, or when life is busy reduce the amount of classes they attend. Instead of attending classes, when some members are extremely busy, they choose to take private lessons less frequently and this way they are able to maintain progress or in some cases progress faster while spending less time in class.
Q5 – My work schedule is not fixed, the days I can train keep changing, is that ok?
A5 – Yes. It does not matter which day you are able to train, there will be a group practicing at your level.
Q6 – I can only train once per week or less, is that ok?
A6 – Yes. Our modular training system allows our members to train at the frequency they choose, we do not have a set number of days per week you must train. When a member has reached the prerequisite ability and total attendance requirement they will be invited to grade and progress to the next level.
Q7 – Is there a minimum length of time I should train for?
A7 – Wing Chun as with any martial art takes many years to master, however, the practice itself, regardless of what level you attain can be both enjoyable and beneficial for health and fitness. Particularly at the beginner level we have a strong focus on fitness, posture, stance and footwork – this can have carry over benefits to other sports and martial arts.
Our modular training systems allows you to tailor your training to suit your needs. You could choose to training intensively for the duration you are at the Academy, which could give you equal or greater benefit compared to training regular classes spread across a longer period of time.
Q8 – I want to progress/grade faster, how can I do this?
A8 – Members who desire faster progress are able to make use of our modular training system and request to take as many lessons as they wish to make time and finance available for.
Fees and Uniform
Q9 – What are the fees?
A9 – To accommodate the difference in personal and professional circumstances as well as the existing experiences of individual members we provide a modular training system. This allows people to train at the pace they wish to make time and finance available for. All of this is part of the explanations given during the Introduction Class.
Q10 – Do you have to wear the uniform?
A10 – Yes, we take pride in our uniform, it is part of our identity and the Academy’s spirit.
Other Martial Art Styles or Lineages of Wing Chun
Q11 – Am I allowed to train another style and learn at the Wing Tsun Academy at the same time?
A11 – It is up to the student to decide to engage in another martial art as well as training at the Wing Tsun Academy. We believe that Wing Chun is so significantly differently that, in our view it is hard to learn Wing Tsun and another martial art at the same time. Each students fastest progress is dependent of the degree of openness to learn in a different way without taking over methods from learning something else and that would include other marital arts. Ultimately, it is good to understand more than one martial art and at our highest levels we encourage this, however early on, depending on the student and the type of training it could be a hindrance to their fastest possible progress in Wing Chun. This is explained in more detail in our Theory Class “how to learn Wing Chun” which is available to all members. After roughly a 1-3 year period you would be better equipped to make a decision about training another martial art and Wing Chun.
Q12 – What happens if I already have Wing Chun experience?
A12 – We have a programme for migrating people with Wing Chun experience through the Wing Tsun Academy grades.
Suitability to Join
Q13 – I am leaving for a number of weeks soon after joining, should I still join?
A13 – It is up to the student. We have a modular teaching system which allows students to decide the rate at which they progress. If you attend several classes and practice what you have learned you will be able to return to the same module and will not be disadvantaged or disadvantage your classmates by taking a break. Usually the best time to start something is now, take advantage of drive and enthusiasm to begin new habits and healthy endeavors before busy lives distract and us from doing what we would like.
Q14 – I am big, can I still train at the Wing Tsun Academy?
A14 – Yes. Each person’s body type creates different advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes there is a preference to change the body composition sometimes it requires you to work around your particular physical iattributes, this could in some cases be age, injury or body type. There is however no body type that is unsuitable for Wing Tsun.
Q15 – My fitness level is low, can I still train at the Wing Tsun Academy?
A15 – Yes. Particularly at the beginner level we teach about fitness and support our members to gradually increase fitness in a safe way, at their own pace, based on their individual starting fitness level.