Pledge
I believe that constant practice in the art of Wing Chun will enable me to transcend to a higher mental and physical level. I shall show respect for the Art, my Sifu, Sihing, and Sidis. I shall exercise my utmost tolerance and consideration in dealing with people and general matters in and outside the Academy.

Rules
1) Students must respect all orders given by instructors inside the training hall.

2) Your instructor should be referred to as “Sihing” at all times. “Sihing Bill” is also acceptable. It is considered very bad form in kung fu tradition to refer to an instructor by a personal name, especially in the training hall. Grandmaster Lewadny is referred to as “Sigung”.

3) Don't disagree with a senior student. If you want to know why we do things a certain way, keep it short. Save questions for water break or after class. More practice time is more useful than explanations in the middle of class.

4) Wear a correct uniform for training.  It shows that you belong and that you take Wing Chun seriously. Beginners should get either a full uniform or at least a kung fu shirt. After the first grading, all students should wear a sash at all classes.. See our Store for details on uniforms . Students may wear clean indoor shoes or go barefoot.

5) Students of the Academy are not permitted to teach Wing Chun unless they have received permission from their instructor.

6) Don't talk too much in the middle of class. After class, it's great to socialize with the other students. We have a great group of people. In class, talk only if you need help or can point out something to help your partner. During class, only discuss  kung fu, not personal matters.

7) Students will bow before entering and leaving the training hall, when starting to work with a new partner or a new technique, and any time a senior student or instructor gives them instruction or a correction.

Terminology
Sifu                  Head Instructor
Sihing               Instructor below 10^th level
Sidi                   Fellow student
Sigung              My Instructor’s instructor

Shil Lim Tao            Little Idea Form
(pronounced Sil Lum Dao)


Level 1-2 Notes
Always refer to your instructor as Sihing, never by a personal name.

Download the Level 1,2 Worksheet
The Excel format worksheet lists everything on the Level 1,2 grading and has boxes beside each item. The idea is not only to make it clear what will be on your first grading, but also so that you can chart your own progress towards that goal. First, print off the worksheet (changing the name to your name first). Every time you practice a skill, I suggest you put a checkmark beside that skill. When all items on the worksheet have a good number of checkmarks, you can be pretty sure you are ready to grade.  It makes it much easier to be sure that you are ready to grade and haven't left anything out.

Starting Out
We want to ensure that you get what you are looking for from Wing Chun. We spend most of our class time on the practical self-defense skills, but we always include stretching and fitness training in every class. The warm up readies your body for physical activity, making Kung Fu safer and allowing you to learn faster. Please notify your instructor of any physical conditions or medication you may be taking. Your instructor will take that into account and help you work around any limitations. 

What to Bring to Class
Consider getting a full kung fu uniform soon. You will feel better and actually learn and perform better with dedicated clothing for this activity. See the store for uniform pricing. If you do not have a uniform yet, then wear loose clothing that’s easy to move around in (preferably black). For footwear, use clean running shoes or go with bare feet. Remember to pace yourself. Don’t eat right before class since we will be doing some conditioning. Please bring water since your body and mind work better when you are properly hydrated.

A proper mental attitude allows you to learn faster. Always show respect to instructors and other students since we’re all working together to learn new skills. We bow when entering/leaving a class and when starting/stopping working with a partner to show respect for what we are doing and the other people involved. The better you get at Wing Chun, the more fun you will find it. However, the best way to learn is by doing instead of talking about it so keep talking in class to a minimum.

Advancing
The skills are taught in a graduated manner. We start with the basics and build from there. There are ten levels to Wing Chun in which you can advance over time. All new students are Level 0. Wing Chun is one of the easiest self-defense systems to learn. Although any martial art can be effective, Wing Chun was created specifically to be more effective and easier to master than other systems.  

Your Goal – Your First Grading
Goals help you to focus. Set yourself a reasonable goal of achieving Level 1. You will be ready for your first grading after about 3 months, depending on how often you attend class. The more classes you attend and the more you practice at home, the more quickly you can progress.

You will be able to learn many useful techniques in just a few classes. However, you decide how quickly you progress. It’s okay if you miss a few classes. If you wish to progress faster, private lessons are also available and of course, you can practice at home with your spouse, siblings or whoever will agree to help.

Relax
Most importantly, you should relax. Your mind will be more receptive to learning and you will be able to do defenses better from a relaxed but alert state. Of course, you’re going to want to do your best but remember to enjoy the class, too.

With every class, there will be some review of what we have done before and some new material. If you miss a class or forget what we did in a class, don’t worry about it. We review the same material many, many times to learn the defenses really well so that it will work if you need to do it in a real situation.

Here’s a few suggestions for this level:

-     Focus on the basic stances & arm positions. Positioning is more important than speed or strength. Stay low in your stance since your power flows up from the ground.

-     Pick up your feet when you step & lift your knee high before any kick.

-      Keep your elbows in when punching and in most hand movements

-      It’s okay to make mistakes now and again, remember to always follow up with 5 punches