November 19th, 2019

The first 5 years
If you would have told us 5 years ago when we started Sung that we would be hosting a seminar for Ada, that we would run yearly seminars for 50 people who were training in CST methodology and that we would be taking students to help us run seminars in Prague, we probably would have laughed at you. We are just three highly obsessed guys who trained together (and still do) in garages, kitchen and cellars whenever the opportunity presents itself. We are not a big club, we are not in it to make lots of money and shouting to the world they all do it wrong, we just say it as we see it and teach what we believe. For me that is the first step to running a club under the lineage of CST and it needs to come first in what we do.

It’s a bit concerning to think that each year has been better than the last, because perhaps next year will not live up, but I am as ever a man with plans to move forward and showcase CST method as best as we can. There are lots of highlights during the year, so its worth saying them so we do not take it for granted (in no particular order):

1. Hosting Ada was a fantastic experience for everyone who came. I selfishly wanted to get time for me, Mark and Jon to learn from her and to give students an experience of something they would otherwise never get, a true window into what it felt like to touch Sigung. We definitely got both. We had three private sessions with Ada and the group seminars covered the pure methodology of what CST taught in the last years of his life and I hope reinforced what we have been teaching. I was scared that such ability might make some students realise what a difficult path we are following, but it was clear after that they were inspired.
2. The European Gathering was such a chilled out but intense weekend of training, curiosity and friendship. Nearly 50 people many from different schools but everyone had some experience of CST methodology and they all left inspired. It was so good literally everyone signed up to come next year. Soon we will need a bigger venue!
3. Something I am proud of is the development of our students. There is a real change from the competitive type of chi sau to a more internal understanding of the power of relaxation. There is nothing wrong with competitive chi sau, but with the right methodology it makes it a lot easy to turn on when it is required.
4. Every time we see our friends from Prague, Mark and I will plan the seeds of ideas with them so they can go back to their club and practice. It was great to see they for the third time this year in October and see how they are developing. A real bonus of our trip to Prague though was to see our students Craig, Gavin and Ziggi really flourish as they realised how much knowledge they had built up in their short period of training with us. I asked if they would help and do a little chi sau and a surprise to us all (including them) they taught with confidence what came natural.
5. Despite knowing Mark for about 15 years it never ceased to surprise he how fantastic his ability is. I have chi saued with CST and about 12 of his top students so I have an idea of what is good; in my opinion he is one of the best in the world in what he does and what he knows. I talk to him about wing chun all of the time, but I was blown away by an off the cuff talk he did in April in response to a question of a student. Mark is priceless.
6. Jon is the quiet one in the group, he always underestimates himself but finally his confidence has grown and it must be obvious to him how good he really is. With Mark’s ability and my big mouth it can be hard to shine as a teacher but it is evident the respect students hold for Jon and his high level of relaxed power.
7. We have made a great friend and training partner in Mark Allanson. On each visit to us he inspires us and our students with the ability he has.
8. My skill level has improved a lot this year, I can tell as I get a lot more for less effort. This is down to my exploration of the Alexander Technique as a method of understand how I use my body and how others use theirs. I train 8 hours a week (teacher training) with some of the best teachers in the world, but not so I can make a hybrid system, so I can have the tools to understand the CST system better. Nothing in the world is new; things that look like magic powers are usually the result of a lot of work, and understanding your own body is no different. To become more effortless is costing me a lot of time, effort and money but I love it and I see the benefits for students when I teach.
9. We are getting more interest from sifus from various lineages of wing chun and I am teaching private lessons to several so they can take some of our methodology into their classes.

What Next

• The plans for the next year are really more of the same, its nice to get more students into class but for me more important to build up the skill of those who attend and train diligently. I say this in a purely selfish way as one of the reasons for starting Sung was to give us access to training partners!

• Next April’s gathering will be bigger than ever, there will be 50 there and I have turned away maybe another 10 people. I am hoping to do a smaller gathering later next year for the most diligent of students where we can spend a whole weekend doing Hong Kong training with good people.

• I have been asked to teach seminars by several other clubs in the UK so I will likely take one or two offers up (sunny destinations take priority). I know that Gav, Craig and Ziggi are keen to tag along!

• We want to take a handful of diligent students to train as assistant instructors; teaching is the best way to learn when you reach 2-3 years of training. Hopefully this will lighten the load for us and in exchange we can spend more time with them on advanced practice.

• I plan to increase my hours as a trainee Alexander Technique teacher so that one day I can do that and wing chun as my job. Imagine doing what you love and being paid for it!

• It would be nice to host a seminar for an Hong Kong based student of CST. I’ll be honest I am not interested in organising an event for 50 people who want to dip their toe in CST wing chun as a short seminar like that would not be of enough value to our students. I could have had at least that manty to Ada’s seminar but it was limited to 20 so everyone got a deeper experience. Ada was very kind not to make large financial demands so hopefully someone will see the attraction of a visit to Sheffield and do the same. Or maybe Ada will come back…