Obviously if you do not have the method you cannot even start training towards your objective. For example, you may wish to acquire the art of tiger and crane fighting, but without the method or form you cannot practice. You may wish to acquire the Tiger and Crane form of fighting on your own, but it would be by sheer luck and would take a very long time even a lifetime to acquire. However, the result is unlikely to be as good as that developed from the proper method or form.

But more important than the method is the teacher or sifu. Nowadays one can read up on many Kung Fu training methods from books or even on video, but without the personal instruction of a competent teacher is difficult - though not impossible - to get good results. There are at least two reasons why a teacher is necessary. First the teacher can explain the finer points and overcome individual problems, both of which cannot be done adequately in books or video. More important is the second reason. The teacher provides the confidence students need, so that they are assured that whatever happens the teacher is around to help them.

The most important requirement for attainment in any art, however, is not the teacher but the students. You may have the best method and the best teacher, but if you are unwilling or not ready to devote yourself to the art, you will not achieve the objectives of your training, You merely have to practice regularly and persistently according to the method and teaching. Lack of practice is the reason why many students fail in their objectives.

Entering in the new year, you must keep in mind that Kung Fu training is very demanding, calling for great discipline, endurance, perseverance and determination, as well as time and effort. But the results are very rewarding, and the extent of your reward depends mainly on how much purposeful practice you have and will put in. So keep training hard in the new year and may your training be fruitful and effective.

Written By Sifu Rino Côté