Teacher's Corner

Teaching Properly

Students tend to be easy going. If you always give them what they ask or suggest, because you want to be good to them, then you are too easy for them and they start to become ignorant toward you. Even worse, they think they can control you; even unintentionally.

Regarding the way we train, I feel one should emphasize a non-fragmented, universal approach. Always stress the basics by explaining to students the close ties between the Siu Lim Tao and Chi Sau. If you only follow the students' desire, then most of the time they only want to spar because they think sparring is advanced and a good workout. But by sparring before they are really good with the basic forms, sticking, feeling and softness, they become trapped and encased in their own habits. Consequently, they develop a habit of applying only a few numbers of techniques during sparring. This will block the opportunity for further progress and the effect is like a half-baked muffin taken out of the oven. No matter what you try and how long you put the muffin back into the oven, it will never be like the muffin taken out of the oven at the right time. These people always need to prove themselves to show that their few techniques are indeed superior. Eventually, they find out that their specialty does not work against a particular individual. They will ask many fragmented questions which view the problem only from one angle.. The medicine against this problem is the sticking hand exercise with emphasis on form, and on the softness and feeling. If you are teaching, you have the responsibility to teach properly.

The above was a letter regarding the proper way of teaching sent by Dr. G.K. Khoe to his student Ray Van Raamsdonk. The message that was given was don't spoil your students or you will create monsters that can never again be corrected.