Chuntian Academy International

Remember, you must walk before you can run.

Baby Steps

CAI Systems concepts and ideas should be easy to grasp for beginners. The System is based on the natural body structure and common sense found in fighting. However, in reality beginners can be overwhelmed with the amount of information, theories, strategies, and ideas that CAI has to offer.

Here are several tips and suggestions to help you the beginner, in you're training.

1) The best way to improve quickly is to focus on the basics.

I believe all beginners walk similar paths. The need to “show me something new bug” will always enter their skin. Nothing to be ashamed of, everyone goes through it. But, the key thing to remember is that if you want to get good and improve quickly, you need to focus on the basics. Its not how much you know, but how much of what you know that you've really mastered.

2) Regular partner to train inside and outside of class

It’s true that when in school, it’s good to work out with as many people as possible. The variety of different sizes as well as different skill levels gives you a taste of the many ways you need to adjust depending on your opponent. But, from my teaching experience it’s also good to have a regular training partner who’s at about the same level that you’re in. Together you can help each other grow in the art. Thus, I've made it clear to all my students, that your partner is your best friend. All too often I see people use the drills as a way of building ego and beating on each other. This achieves nothing and you also risk the possibility of hurting one another. You hurt your partner, you lose your partner, you hurt your training in return.

3) Concentrate on what you have to train, not what others are doing

Otherwise referred to as mind your own business. Sometimes in your training you’ll get that itch of curiosity, and see your older brothers and sisters working on other things. Focus on what’s at hand, not what others are doing. Everyone learns at their own pace, studying at CAI is not a race to see who learns the most quickly. Your teacher has designed drills for you specifically for a reason. Don't sway off the path.

4) Don’t waste too much time on the net

When you first start training in the CAI Styles and Systems, it seems like you can’t get enough information about it. So, you spend your time reading and checking out more information about it from videos, books, and the net. While all these are good ways to spend the time, don’t focus too much on it. The time spent reading on the net could be time spent practicing skills and drills. No one ever defended themselves and kicked ass by just reading.

5) Listen and trust your teacher

If you picked your teacher, then trust him. It’s okay to ask questions, but if you keep second guessing him, you’ll stall your own progress. Listen to your inner self, if you don’t trust what he’s saying, then its time to leave and find someone you do.

6) Time tables are okay, but look at it as a lifetime of learning

Belts, sashes, certifications, or levels should not be your motivating factor to push you forward. The fact is all those are meaningless measures of determining ones ability. I believe its okay to say, “I want to learn this or get good at this particular drill or exercise within, such n such a date” But, keep in mind that the total CAI System one can become proficient in a relative short time, but it takes a lifetime to master, and you have your entire life to learn it. Don’t look at it like a diet. Most diets fail because people don’t realize that you have to change your entire life style forever, not just for a 3 to 6 month period till they lose the weight.

7) Focus more on the drills than anything else

The drills are the #1 most important thing to focus on once you gets the basics. But, spend more time, learning the proper motions than anything else in the beginning. Don’t be so concerned about attacks and defending, until you got a decent reflex first.

8) Be consistent in your training

Whether you show up once a week, or three times a week the key is being consistent. Everyone has busy schedules but I’ve told my student even if you only practice at home 5 to 10 minutes a day, at least your building on something. Coming to class and then letting a month slide brings you back to the beginning every single time. Its understandable that this will happen on occasion, but the 5 to 10 minute practice is doable by all.

9) Teach to learn more

Digesting what you’ve learned doesn’t come full circle till you start to teach. Thus, it’s true that you have to teach in order to really learn the art. You cannot be a student your entire life, if you follow the path you’ll only know half the art. But, in the beginning don’t get so caught up teaching, till you’ve got at least an understanding of the main basics. Usually, you’re Sifu will ask you to teach certain things when he feels your ready. When the time comes embrace it and find out how difficult it is to teach. But, you’ll come to understand when you can explain it, do it, and teach it to someone else, then you’ll really know the details behind the motions and theories.

10) Ego

Almost everything that you do always comes full circle. A ego plays an important role, there is no such thing as having no ego. Having no ego in itself is an unnatural balance in things. But, the ego's job is to push you to want to be better, to drive you further. At the same time you must learn to control it, since it will kiss your ass in making you think your better than you really are. There is always work to be done, you can always improve. Appreciate the gains from hard work, but don't rest on it.

11) Don't be so concerned with fighting

All to often, beginners get so caught up in the fighting aspect of martial arts. Yes, you take martial arts in the beginning to defend yourself. But, I guarantee you even if you've never taken it before your mind is already filled with the ideas of how movies and TV represents martial arts to be. You train in the beginning to unlearn what you think you may have learned. Just because you can whack each other in the ring for 5 minutes, does not make you a better fighter. Without structure in the training first you will not ever achieve the proficiencies of being a good fighter. imagine you in a cooking school, and I just said in day 1, okay I want everyone to just make a cake. Sure you can whip something up, but that doesn't mean you know what your doing. Bottom line, beating on each other doesn't mean your developing fighting skills.

12) Keep it up

All too often when new students start a CAI program or any program really, the excitement of something new and different can be intoxicating, but can quickly fade. Be mindful of that, although the CAI System is exciting and if you keep on course you will notice a great increase in your performance. But also remember it's not always fun and games. We will sometimes do drills and develop skills to the point you will become exhausted. But keep it up as this system will rapidly make you proficient and you will have no regrets and in the future pat yourself on the back and thinking "this is one of the best decisions I have ever made - to stick this out". Take that on experience.

Matt