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IF YOU TRAIN IN KUNGFU seriously—which means two or three, or even more, workouts per week—your school will begin to seem like a second home. Therefore, consider carefully before you make a commitment. What’s available in your area will certainly limit your choice, but do your best to match your goals and personal preferences with the style of school—and particularly the instructor—that you choose. This is an important first step toward satisfaction and progress in your studies.

Personal Goals

Begin by asking yourself why you want to study kungfu. What do you want to get out of it? What do you want to achieve? Five common reasons are described below with comments as to how this would influence your choice of a school.

First, and perhaps most obviously, people take up a martial art because they want to participate in a combat sport. They like to spar, as in wrestling or boxing; they want to learn theory and strategy as well as effective techniques. People with this goal in mind should be sure there is plenty of sparring at the school they choose and that the teacher (sifu) is well versed in the applications of the moves of the forms taught. In this case, a traditional kungfu school is likely to be more suitable than wushu (which is more focused on performance, see below).

A second reason for studying kungfu, closely related to the first, is self-defense. Again, some schools emphasize these aspects with many free-sparring sessions and careful demonstrations of the applications of the moves in the practice forms. Those concerned about self-defense should be sure the school they join can provide this training.

Third, many people take up a martial art for physical fitness. You may mainly want to “keep fit,” to lose weight, tone muscle, or simply stay healthy. If so, then consider carefully what “fitness” means to you, because different styles of martial arts exercise the body in different ways. Vigorous forms—with a lot of kicking and jumping—offer cardiovascular fitness and stress release, while the more quiet forms tone muscles and regulate body functions. Schools offering long sessions with vigorous activity will suit the person who is mainly out for exercise.

A fourth reason is performance. Some people just like the look of it (or, more accurately, like the look of what they’ve perhaps seen in “kungfu movies”). Modern wushu is largely for competition and performance, so the forms being created and taught by wushu/kungfu schools are designed to display grace, speed, and agility with dramatic acrobatic movements. As with gymnastics, people may study at these sorts of schools because they want to develop those qualities and/or to perform in tournaments and public displays.

Other people study kungfu for cultural reasons. They have interest in the traditional arts of China or in its philosophies and want to deepen their understanding through physical participation. (Even Confucius encouraged his followers to study both the literary and martial arts.) The martial arts have long been known to build strong character as well as strong bodies. Traditional schools and instructors will probably better suit students with these interests in mind.

Style of Kungfu

One aspect in the choice of school is the type of kungfu being taught. While there are many styles of kungfu in the world, there are only a handful being taught widely in the U.S., and the number being taught in your area could be very small. Fortunately, at the beginning stages the style of kungfu is not as important as the instructor and the quality of the school. Many of the techniques (stances, punches, kicks, and so on) are very similar in all styles. Once you have a firm foundation in any one style, you should easily be able to pick up another or others. Thus, you may start in a style that doesn’t quite attract you because you’ve found a good sifu or school nearby and feel confident that your time and effort will not be wasted. Indeed, this could be to your advantage, because, when you do have the chance to study the style of your choice, you will be able to make rapid progress from a well-laid foundation.

On the other hand, if it so happens that you do have a choice of styles, then by all means consider this factor in your choice. Chapter 3 includes descriptions of the most popular forms of kungfu currently being taught in the U.S.; you can undoubtedly get more information from the school itself—both from talking to the instructors and from watching the students at work.

Style of School

A third factor to consider is the style of school. Kungfu is an ancient art, handed down through generations, over centuries, and now across cultures, and thus, the style of its teaching has naturally evolved. In the past, political and social pressures influenced the status of the martial arts; today, economic conditions and cultural norms create new pressures, influencing how and to whom the art is taught. In China in the past, kungfu skills were traditionally taught individually, handed down from a master to selected students. Money was not an issue; often a good student paid no fees and was possibly supported by the master. In contrast, in the West today, public class teaching has become the norm, and kungfu tends to be taught more like other Western athletic disciplines and sports, in large schools supported by the tuition of students. The result is a range in school styles from traditional/Chinese to modern/Western, and any specific school will fall somewhere between the ends of that spectrum. A new student out to choose a school should be aware of this range in school styles and then choose what he or she finds most comfortable.

Traditional Schools

In the old days, a kungfu school was structured and run much like a family. There was mutual commitment between student and teacher in the context of shared historical and cultural traditions. The teacher accepted the student like a son or daughter with the responsibility to teach, guide, and support students in their studies and development. Likewise, the student accepted the teacher like a parent with the responsibility to respect and obey him or her, and to study with full devotion to the art and dedication to the school. And both teacher and student felt appreciation of and responsibility to the long line of teachers and students that went before them, because it was only these previous efforts that had preserved the art and made the present learning possible.

This means that, in a traditional school, there is a strong presence of Chinese cultural traditions. There is a hierarchy of respect and responsibility among students, and there are subtle obligations above and beyond the mere learning and teaching of fighting strategies and techniques. In these schools, learning kungfu is part of the greater education of mind and character. Older (that is, more advanced) students will often spend time with the teacher(s) after class; they will assume duties around the school (for example, cleaning); and social events will be organized for holidays and special occasions. They will also assume responsibilities for teaching the younger or newer students.

The teaching style in a strongly traditional school also differs. The teacher, or sifu, will often teach more individually, according to each student’s capabilities and much more in the context of long-term development than short-term gains. The teacher-student relationship tends to grow in depth and breadth over time. That is, in the beginning the sifu may be assessing the student’s commitment, discipline, and inner qualities, even more than his or her physical abilities. As the student shows sincerity, so the sifu will extend the teaching, matching the commitment of the student. Thus, learning in a traditional-style school could require much more self-discipline and be much more personally challenging.

Modern Schools

In contrast, a kungfu school leaning toward the modern end of the spectrum will be structured much more like classes in other Western athletic sports or disciplines. The responsibilities between teacher and student are much more limited in scope. Generally, classes are large; students line up for work-outs and follow the instructor as he or she goes through the routines. Then, typically, students break up into smaller groups to work on special forms, or according to different levels of ability, for special instruction. Time in class is usually well structured. This sort of school is very suitable for people who have limited time and energy to commit to their workouts, who simply want to get some exercise and training, and who like the structure (and greater anonymity) of the group sessions.

Assessing Schools

Once you know your motives and understand the spectrum of school styles— from traditional to modern—the next step is to see what is available in your area. To find schools, you may ask your friends for recommendations or look for advertisements in the phone book, on the Internet, in recreation centers, and so on.

Then visit schools that seem promising. The best approach is to call in advance, find out when you might come watch a class, and then make an appointment. When visiting, you should be assessing the school itself, the teacher, and the students, as well as what is being taught. All will give you clues as to whether this is the place for you.

First, assess the school itself. Is it clean, spacious, well equipped? You may see modern weight-training equipment as well as racks of weapons and trophies. Wall mirrors are very useful for correcting movements and learning new postures. If it is a traditional school, some area of the practice room will likely be set aside to commemorate past masters and/or to show devotion to the art. In the old days, there would have been an altar with incense, fruit, and a statue or painting of Guan Gong, legendary general and patron saint of justice and the martial arts; today, one may find photographs of past grand masters and calligraphy. These are meant to inspire students and remind them of their responsibilities, their goals, and the cultural heritage of kungfu; they are not religious symbols.

As for the teacher, find out his or her background. Whom did he learn from? How long has she been studying? How many styles does he know/teach? Do you think she is qualified? Do you like his forms, her style? Does he personally instruct, or do senior students do most of the teaching? Can she explain theory as well as applications of the techniques being taught? Assessing the teacher is admittedly difficult, especially for a beginner. Not all teachers from China are necessarily good; not all Westerners are necessarily second-rate. Knowing more than one style is almost necessary to truly understand the techniques, but no one can be a “master” of any style (much less more than one style) unless one devotes one’s life exclusively to practice. The more a person studies kungfu, the more humble he or she should become—as well as more skillful. The longer people teach, the better they should be. But, even so, all great teachers start somewhere as beginners too. Follow your “gut instincts.” Rather than analyzing a teacher’s background too critically, perhaps simply try to determine whether you could get along with this teacher and whether you feel you could learn effectively from him or her.

Watch a class. First, see if the teaching style suits you. In some schools, classes are quite formal, and students practice together in ranks. In other schools, students learn and practice individually with the teacher circulating among the students correcting them as necessary. Some people prefer the discipline of a class; others enjoy the freedom of self-study. Second, see if you like the look of what students are learning. Does this style of kungfu appeal to you? Is this what you would like to do yourself? If some of the students are doing spectacular aerial acrobatics that you think are totally beyond your abilities, do not be put off. First, such techniques are not essential—they are not fundamental aspects of kungfu, nor are they necessary to learn. Second, you really don’t know what you can do until you train, have instruction, and then try!

Next, after class is over talk to students. How long have they been studying? How often do they come to class? Are they dedicated? If they’ve been studying a long time at the same school and come regularly, then it is likely that they are satisfied both with the quality of the teaching and their progress.

Do you like the students? Are they the kind of people you would like to become? Kungfu is more than mere physical exercise; it is also a journey in self-development. If you like how these students are developing, then this is likely to be a path you too will benefit from. Furthermore, once you join, the older students will become your teachers, so you should be prepared to give them respect.

Finally, you must consider cost in terms of both time and money. Can you afford it now? In the long run? Is the school convenient to your home or work? Will you be able to arrive at class on time, regularly? These are practical questions that need to be considered as well.

The Single Most Important Factor

Certainly, many factors should be considered in choosing a kungfu school, and we have tried to describe the more important ones above. But if you talk to seasoned students, they will emphatically and unflinchingly insist that the single most critical factor in choosing a kungfu school is, and should be, the teacher (or the sifu, as a teacher is traditionally called in Cantonese). Do you like him? Does he accept you as his student? If the answer is yes, then everything else will fall into place. If you like the sifu, like his style, appreciate his teaching—then you will come to class, you will learn, you will progress, and you will find the commitment to weather the inevitable periods of discouragement and disappointment. If you like the sifu, then you will probably like the style of the school, you will probably like the other students who are studying there—and they will probably like you.

Studying kungfu should be a lifelong commitment to personal development of body and mind. The techniques come from a particular cultural tradition, but the qualities and the virtues inherent in the study are universal. In choosing your school, go for the one that can help you be your best.

Do You Need a School At All?

A final question that may have occurred to you, as you contemplate studying kungfu, is whether you need a school at all. Couldn’t you just learn from this, or some other, book together with videos? These resources are widely available, especially from martial arts supply stores and Web sites. The short answer is that you may not need a school, but you definitely need a teacher.

The long answer is more complex and partly dependent on your nature. At the beginning levels, you may be able to learn the basic stances from pictures and descriptions. You can begin to train muscles, open joints, and stretch. This mostly requires time and effort. As you advance, however, your needs will become more complex, just as the moves themselves become more complex. You will need demonstrations, personal guidance, and feedback on what you are doing. There is a rhythm to learning the forms; there are subtleties of technique that you must see in action in person and that you probably will not see until you are trained. Furthermore, there is great value in group work; you can learn much from fellow students, including the feeling of combat in sparring.

If you live in an area where there really are no schools, or if it is just not financially possible for you to enroll in a school, but you are determined to study, then by all means begin. Use this book, and any others you can find, to begin training and developing muscle, coordination, balance, and flexibility. Meanwhile, look for your chance to find a teacher or to attend a seminar—to somehow learn in person.

Finding a Good Student

Kungfu is a living art that can only be transmitted from person to person. This is partly why the personal relationship between teacher and student is so critical. It also means that, just as you are looking for a good teacher, so every teacher is looking for a good student. And for the teacher, finding a good student is absolutely essential for the survival of the art. So if you are a good student, with sincere respect and dedication, then you will be welcome in any kungfu school, regardless of your physical ability.