Monday

Is it new?

When I first started training with Sifu, I found that he periodically gave students glimpses of what I thought was 'new' material: bagua, sword, sticks etc.

Years later, I now know that most of the syllabus is dan-level and never revealed to beginners by Sifu. The unfamilar things we are occasionally shown are not new material. They are glimpses of the syllabus that lies way beyond our understanding.

Peter Southwood taught the same way. Nobody really knew what Peter knew because he didn't advertise his skills or share things readily. To see, you must earn the knowledge. Through hard work and patient practice.

Sifu never demonstrates on cue. He's not a performer. Occasionally, he'll indulge the keener student, but usually he wants people to keep their mind on the work at hand.