To say the least, these are interesting times. Many are inflamed with a nagging insecurity that lacks a clear diagnosis, let alone a definite cure. And it’s contagious! Without a strong defense, we are also soon infected. There are no easy fixes when fundamental change (in action, behavior, and habit) is necessary. Just like borrowing our way to wealth or dieting ourselves to health are temporary at best but ultimately fail. Poor basics always catch up to us. Hint, remember to review.

In Self-Defense, we have mere fractions of a second to perceive, decide, and react. So ignoring reality, perhaps in the form of a fast fist, quite hurts. Even, or especially, when we don’t want to directly deal with it. We learn that we can’t wait to do something. But rather than fight, instead we activate insight. How about shifting aside to attack the root of the problem? However you move, it must be swift and sure.

In the daily routine of the good old days, we forget that nothing is set. When in fact all is unpredictable flow. Yet no matter how difficult the situation, everything always began and ends with individual choices. That includes whether to sit and sigh or to stand and smile; whether to blame someone or to improve something; whether to be overwhelmed by or to overcome fear; whether to back down or step up; whether to avoid or confront the hard truth. Decisions, decisions.

If you suffer from chronic hesitation, indecision and procrastination then you need a consistent, effective and transformative remedy. Thus, we train to ingrain better tendencies. Obviously that refers to our Regular Classes, Special Events and Private Lessons where we use physical interaction to tease out and take out our common weaknesses. Be they manifest in body, heart or mind. But what is training actually? Simply:

Training = Repeating actions to create behaviors

Over time, these solidify into habits. Defined as such, you are always training! Consciously or unconsciously, for better or worse, like it or not. In WingChun, we choose the former course. That is, consciously developing better habits we like. By default, the latter occurs when we aren’t aware that we’re going in the wrong direction. Unfortunately, this zoned-out zombie state is all too common.

Again, repeated action becomes automatic. Thus, we undergo an ongoing process of conditioning. So the condition of your processing is imperative. Using WingChun, we integrate high quality programs and super practical methods that improve our responses to stressful stimuli. New pathways are laid down that reduce anxiety and reveal assurance. However, the first thing we typically give up when we conversely need it most is such personal practice, whatever this may be. For some, it’s volunteering, hiking, climbing, knitting, cooking, singing, meditating, painting, dancing, or journaling. For us, it happens to be WingChunning.

In short, because it evolves your perspective and elevates your skillfulness, WingChun can help you define a life worth defending. What that exactly is and how it’s done is up to you. But you’d be smart to apply the focus you get from Siu Nim Tau to run your errands, the power you get from Lat Sao to recharge your motivation, the speed you get from Puen Sao to reach your goals. Not to mention reinvesting the confidence, courage, and care we get from each other into your other duties and obligations. Use it or lose it! You won’t believe until your achieve, nor achieve until you believe. You can’t know how until you try now.

The relevance of WingChun is not just attacking each other’s arms. No doubt we excel at these technical displays of powerful movement. However, if you pay attention and think carefully, you’ll figure out how the Pak Sao (Slapping Hand), for instance, concept is useful for clearing all sorts of obstacles. But only if you train!