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.
THE CLOTHES AND EQUIPMENT you will need very much depend on the school. Some schools like their students to wear a common uniform, and, in such cases, the school will usually sell what is required. Other schools allow students to dress as they like, although they often have guidelines. The following gives a general idea of what to expect.
Respect
The first principle to remember is that what you wear expresses your attitude and should show respect to the sifu, the school, and the art. Specifically this means:
1 Make sure whatever you wear is clean and neat, without holes, and is appropriate for a serious workout.
2 Do not wear a uniform from another martial art (such as karate).
3 Do not wear a uniform with a logo or emblem from another kungfu school.
The Basic Uniform
Colors
The traditional color for kungfu clothes is black—shirts, sashes, pants, and shoes. There are exceptions. In some schools, instructors may wear white to distinguish themselves from the students and make it easy for students to spot them to ask them questions. In sparring opponents may wear different-colored shirts. Schools of some styles are adopting different colored sashes to indicate rank, as in karate. For demonstrations colorful uniforms (especially in silk) are appropriate, especially for wushu, but black is generally the standard color for kungfu clothes and footwear.
Shoes
You must wear shoes; kungfu is not done in bare feet. (This is consistent with its origins as a form of self-defense in daily life.) Shoes should be sturdy, lightweight, and flexible. They must allow free ankle movement, which is required for toe and heel kicks and some of the deep stances. The soles should provide cushioning for stomping, should provide some traction—that is, they should not be slippery—but should not have deep treads that could interfere with executing smooth floor sweeps. They should not have metal buckles that might cause injury in kicking. Many people find that skateboard shoes are ideal. Beware of shoes made in China. While they appear more traditional and can be cheap, they may not be very functional. They have no arch, and some have thin, hard rubber soles that can be quite uncomfortable, if not painful. (If you like the style, wearing heavy socks may provide enough cushioning for comfort.)
Pants
Traditional kungfu pants are made of cotton. They typically have elastic cuffs at the bottoms of the legs and elastic as well as a drawstring at the waist. They are cut loose, if not baggy, often with an extra triangular piece of fabric sewn into the crotch to ensure freedom of movement for high kicks and jumps. When wearing a sash, students may wear one-size-larger pants so that the elastic band can be positioned above the sash, while the legs will still be long enough to “blouse” slightly at the ankles.
Sashes
Sashes are generally not worn by beginners; however, they may be commonly worn by senior students and instructors. Sashes are typically made of silk, six to nine inches wide and nine to fourteen feet long. The proper length of the sash is determined by the person’s waist: twice the waist measurement is the minimum, while four times the waist measurement is considered more desirable and more comfortable. Black is the traditional color, but other colors are being adopted by some schools as an indication of rank, much like the karate system. Originally, the sash worn in China served other purposes, in addition to simply holding up the pants. First, it was worn to support the lower back and control the breathing center (the dan tian). Second, very practically, it was used to conceal small weapons. The sash also served as a symbol of one’s country and ancestors, and the way it was tied indicated rank. Masters of literature and calligraphy wore their sashes tied on the left; masters of martial arts, in the middle; while martial arts students wore theirs tied on the