[Joshua]

We definitely need to be our own critics when training solo. I’ve trained online for most of my time in wing chun, and when I went to train in person at a school,the Sifu there was impressed with what I was able to pick up and he very few critiques. I think the trick is taking time with with everything, use a mirror, and practice at random moments throughout the day, whether it be walking through house doing chain punches, or siu lim tao when you wake up, take a shower and go to bed. Little moments like that add up.

• This reply was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by  Joshua.

[Josh]

I completely agree with you as it relates to being very deliberate in your movements and watching Sifu in the videos and trying to do it just the way he does. I do worry about not having all the equipment just yet or not doing something 100% correct. We all have to allow ourselves some grace here, I think. Wing Chun is hard, it is painful, but as we progress it seems to be sooooooo worth it. I also see this as a continual journey of effort and work. I just started this journey so I may feel differently later on, but I feel like I am in this for the long haul at this point. My body is feeling too good to quit.

[Joshua]

I think it just clicks at some point and you’ll discover that things start to come more naturally over time. Sometimes I’ll feel like I trained like garbage, but then I sit and ask myself if I learned something, and if the answer is yes, then I know it wasn’t a waste of time.

[Clint Chevalier]

I have to agree about being consistent and deliberate in your moves. If i feel something is not right with my Siu Nim Tao or Chun Kiu, I go back and rewatch the videos. I try my best to do it right,however sometimes our recall is not quite right.

[Greg Farina]

Yes Consistency and taking your time. Repeat watching Sifu’s Videos . Everyday and you start to realize

to correct the Nuances you may have missed

[MikeC]

Dustin,

Good topic! I look for balance in my practice journey. First, I like the term practice because I am trying to improve. I plan my practices based upon what I want to achieve. If my practice is intense then I try to figure in recovery time. This is the balance that is important. I am in my upper 60’s and my physical/recovery boundaries have changed with age. So, I plan based on that. However, I believe as you practice your tolerance and recovery transition should increase. I use a WC journal to make notes and plan practices. This helps me keep the balance in tact.

[Gary]

“Only perfect practice makes perfect!”

After my previous Sifu left town, I continued to diligently practice every day. I like to video myself doing forms at the start of every month so that I can look back and see the improvements since an old video, especially if I feel like I’m plateauing.

Imagine my surprise when I looked back at a 3 month old video and saw some extra moves that I was no longer hitting – at some point, I’d forgotten them, and continued to practice that mistake into the form!

[Deb]

Gary, I love the idea of recording your training every so often and looking back to see how you are progressing. What is really cool about looking back is that you begin to realize that you ARE learning even if it doesn’t always feel that way. You are reaching the the point where not only do you see what you are doing well, you also have learned enough to be able to see what areas you need to continue developing! I’m going to do it!

[Sifu Adam]

Developing a habit that turns out to be wrong should never stop you from practicing. We must refuse to let anything get in the way of our practice. Its part of the journey. In fact, I’ve practiced more things “wrong” than most practice at all. You can either practice or you can make excuses. But you can’t make both.