The Right Seed for the Right Soil
Every teacher knows the feeling. You pour your heart, time, and energy into a student who seems full of potential, only to watch them walk away. Not because they lacked ability, but because they weren’t ready for the journey.
In martial arts, particularly in traditional systems like Ving Tsun Kung Fu, this challenge becomes even more pronounced. We live in a world that demands instant gratification, where people expect quick results and immediate satisfaction. But true martial arts is about transformation—a slow, deliberate process that requires patience, discipline, and unwavering commitment.
The Challenge of Student Selection
Not every person who walks through the door is ready for the journey. Not every soil is ready to receive a seed. As instructors, we must learn to recognize the difference between someone who is genuinely committed to growth and someone who is simply seeking a quick fix or an easy path to confidence.
The student who asks, “How long until I can defend myself?” is asking the wrong question. The student who asks, “What do I need to do to truly understand this art?” is showing the right mindset.
Quality Over Quantity
In the modern martial arts world, there’s immense pressure to fill classes, to keep numbers high, to satisfy everyone who walks through the door. But this approach often dilutes the very essence of what we’re trying to teach.
“It is better to lose a number than to lose the purpose.”
I’ve learned that it’s far better to have a small group of dedicated students who understand the deeper principles of the art than a large class of individuals who are only superficially engaged. The committed student will carry the art forward. The casual participant will only absorb what serves their immediate needs and then move on.
The Deeper Journey
Ving Tsun Kung Fu is not just about fighting techniques or self-defense moves. It’s about developing a warrior’s mindset, building character, and understanding the profound relationship between mind, body, and spirit. This cannot be rushed. It cannot be packaged into a quick course or a weekend seminar.
The right student understands this. They come with humility, ready to be shaped and molded. They understand that mastery is not a destination but a lifelong journey. They’re willing to practice the same movement thousands of times until it becomes part of their very being.
Maintaining Integrity
As instructors, we have a responsibility to maintain the integrity of our art. This means:
- Being selective about who we accept as students
- Setting clear expectations from the beginning
- Not compromising our standards for the sake of keeping students
- Understanding that losing students who aren’t ready is part of the process
The Right Soil
When the right student appears—when the soil is fertile and ready—the growth is remarkable. These students don’t just learn techniques; they embody the principles. They become carriers of the tradition, capable of passing on not just the physical movements but the deeper wisdom of the art.
These are the students who remind us why we teach. They validate our commitment to preserving the authentic tradition of Ving Tsun Kung Fu. They are the seeds that will grow into mighty trees, eventually providing shade and guidance for the next generation of martial artists.
Conclusion
Teaching traditional martial arts in the modern world requires wisdom, patience, and the courage to maintain standards even when it’s commercially disadvantageous. We must remember that our role is not just to teach techniques but to cultivate character, to plant seeds in the right soil, and to trust in the slow, profound process of transformation.
Not everyone is ready for this journey, and that’s okay. Our job is to recognize those who are and to give them everything we have. For in their growth, the art continues to live, breathe, and evolve while maintaining its essential character.
Rafael González (Moy Don Xùn) has been teaching traditional Ving Tsun Kung Fu for over 30 years across Texas, Puerto Rico, and Connecticut. He is a disciple of Grandmaster Moy Don in the Moy Yat lineage.