Formaility and discipline in kung fu: what is typical?

Sifu Chuck Kennedy · #46 (**permalink**) April 15th, 2008, 01:39 PM

“	Originally Posted By: Jade_Dragon_03 So to be able to make a go of it teaching I think that it is important to have some type of way to mark ones progression. If I were new to martial arts and I went to a school that didn't have a belt/sash system or even a black belt then I probably would not join that school.	”

I can understand this from a marketing point of view, but from a teacher point of view you might have a different perspective.

I think that the point is to make sure you recognize students who work hard and practice their art.

So outside of belts/sashes/certificates/ how do other schools recognize the progress / dedication of their students?

Jade_Dragon_03 · #47 (**permalink**) April 15th, 2008, 01:55 PM

I do teach but only to a few and it is private lessons. I try to teach like I was taught but I do use a little bit of my own "flavor" to my teaching style. For a marketing standpoint I use a sash system. I have what should be learned at what sash but it can vary a little bit depending on certain things. But I try to stay with the what I have written down. My curriculum is a little different from what my teacher used though. I added grappling in with the kung fu material. I have a little bit of wrestling/grappling back ground from where I wrestled for 4 yrs in high school (and went to Ohio State wrestling camp and Clarion University wrestling camp) and did BJJ for a brief time (about 1 year). So what I have done is added takedowns & submissions and escapes & reversals to the curriculum even though this isn't really kung fu. I have always kept up and in shape with my wrestling skills. I just feel this is important to teach now days especially with everyone learning how to grapple and the MMA craze. I start teaching grappiling at the second sash (yellow) all the way up to Black sash.