vetting a possible teacher

[wuwei sifu]

Hi yall ,
well, i wanted to know if anyone knows Mark Johson. i'll include some email info he sent me in hopes that it might rings some bells out there.

this should satisfy some, but know that i deleted this since i made my position known, hopefully clearly so . ; not because i agree with your outlook on the issue.

[kenneth fish]

Gary:

I think the tone of your messages would likely turn off even the most talented of teachers. If he has something worth learning, that would be a shame. Why not just go observe him, or take a private class and judge for yourself what his level might be?

Sam Tam is no longer teaching (to the best of my knowledge). If this teacher has some of his Eagle Claw or Yiquan skill it might be worth looking into.

As you know, John Chang was a friend of mine - does any of his group get together to practice his Xingyi? Is Mrs. Chang doing well? Also, if you see Abdul, please say Salaam Alaikum to him for me.

[RobP2]

I kind of skimmed that, but as an instructor when I've got e-mails or phone calls like that I always say "just come to class"

In the past I've had enough of people wanting "in-depth" discussions in my time who are usually the sort of people who don't turn up anyway. FFS go and see him or don't.

[Niall Keane]

I dont know the teacher or potential student but i wouldnt have responded from here:

based on your last reply, i'd like to know how i would be dealt with. i don't think i really need the outside of the forms. yet, i can't say that in totality because i have not seen what you offer to be able to make a realistic judgement.

some older stuff have things in the external forms that obviously have a direct martial/healthful application. these are the things that i need the most if they add to or go beyond what i already have

I presume he is an MA instructor not Burger King?

If what you possess is worth pursuing

I cant believe he actually replied first time, but this? Tell me he didn't?
Sure enough make sure your teacher "has it" you know maybe by like attending a class. But if you really want to make sure you wont be taught you seem to be going about it the right way, of course you could always spit in his face?

If i got an enquiry like that id assume it was from some 15yr old with a TapOut Teeshirt who just saw his first UFC.

[Chris McKinley]

Yeah, you come across as assholish for sure. Have I missed something or have you already posted an explanation of why he, or anybody else, should give half a fuck what you think before he's had a chance to evaluate if you're worth wasting his time on?

[Doc Stier]

"The whole business is built on ego, vanity, self-satisfaction,
and it's total crap to pretend it's not."
George Michael

[Bao]

Not only do you have a tone that is insulting. It's also very bad to publish a private letters like this. That is just wrong. I think he is much too kind replying your letter.

Edit: BTW, the admins should really take away the links to your sites to kill your SEO attempt. People get banned in other forums for this kind of shameless marketing and spamming posts with links. You don't even have respect for common forum rules.

[daniel pfister]

Not only do you have a tone that is insulting. It's also very bad to publish a private letters like this. That is just wrong. I think he is much too kind replying your letter.

Edit: BTW, the admins should really take away the links to your sites to kill your SEO attempt. People get banned in other forums for this kind of shameless marketing and spamming posts with links. You don't even have respect for common forum rules.

I second that motion. Putting up personal e-mails without the consent of the other person is totally irresponsible and should be taken down by the admins ASAP.

Seriously, is RSF a tabloid newspaper or WTF?

[Chris McKinley]

For perspective, let me make very clear. I don't mind healthy skepticism. Over the course of my instructing career, I've been subjected to more rigorous "skepticism" than 99% of this board and their teachers collectively ever will. So much depends on one's reason for training. If someone came along wanting to train and wanting to know why I'm qualified to teach them, I expect to be questioned in that regard. I would not consider training someone who didn't ask. That said, if someone came by acting like a prick as the tenor of this wuwei sifu's post reflects, he'd be immediately dismissed. If he didn't leave peacefully, it would not go well for him. He would be arrested at gunpoint or, if he pre-emptively attacked, I and/or my trainees would seriously injure the individual such that he would not be able to leave without medical assistance.

Certainly, most instructors do not have such a stark policy nor do they typically have need for same. My work these days is such that I am not in a position to take extra chances with either my own security nor those of my trainees. The OP may be fortunate he's only inquiring into Taijiquan training with this attitude, where he is not likely to experience any significant consequences to his behavior.

[GrahamB]

Being a teacher is a pain in the ass -

[JaMo]

I know this is the wqildest attempt to vet a teacher you folks have seen most likely, but i like to be thorough and pulll no punches.

If at this point in your practicing of Chinese martial arts that you call yourself wuwei "sifu".... Man, you should know better. :shame shame:

Perhaps when you go to visit him (ass-uming he is still even interested in meeting you to begin with.... Perhaps he won't "pull any punches" either.

[GrahamB]

"The whole business is built on ego, vanity, self-satisfaction,
and it's total crap to pretend it's not."
George Michael

But Doc, you gotta have FAITH!

[yeniseri]

wuwei sifu, the superlative descriptive of named self should be a clue that only you could make that choice. why delegate the task to others when you can weigh your knowledge to discern the qualification of any teacher? No drama needed, king or queen

[wuwei sifu]

hi folks,
thx. for all of the replies.

1st. it was no way to fully present what transpired with us without posting it. we weren't talking about any hidden/secret stuff that should be kept private/personal so that's why i posted what i did. if someone says something personal/private to me i respect that and always will. the stuff i don't hare would make one hell of a book in reality.

also i know how many folks are so i can see how maybe some think i'm rude. if you met me you would not think so though. i speak very frankly and respectfully.
like i said i don't pull punches. i speak to folks who say they know this and that, not knowing what type of background i have or how much i may know about their specific style or in general.

when they finish telling me about what they have studied or say they know; my first statement is always the same . can you show me your kung fu/ what you spoke about. most seem to be surprized that i even asked that question which for years has puzzled me because it seems like a valid question to ask under the circumstances.

so going back to Mark J. i thought about my reply to him each time i did so, i altered it in my mind before writing it so i would be 2 things.
both direct and respectful , as i said and you folks viewed i like to be frank. I know frankness is something that now days seems to be anything but nice/cordial.

Yet, after living 50+ yrs. folks seem to have respected my frankness. i have dealt with complete strangers who always seem to know that i'm not feeding them a bunch of BS. . also to be frank i don't know how they even know that i'm telling them the truth. i have had bulldog(A.P.B.T.) men tell me things over the phone that they have never mentioned to a stranger before. all the old timers who are good/legit dog men seem to be able to smell a bull shitter a mile away.

this is the 2nd. time i have ever asked for this kind of help. i have always have good instincts about people/animals not needing a second opinion etc. etc. .
Yet, i am still changing & growing which to me means maybe i should open up a bit to others and do things a little different then i always have. part of the reason i'm in the situation i find myself is that i didn't wish to make comprises or play along with the standard societal games that are played & adhered too; forcing one to be and act different then what they truly are.

Yes, i took my stands & did the right thing. i also have payed the price for doing so even though it was the right thing to do. Some folks can still respect that, but alot of folks these days simply don't have the balls to do so, even though in their hearts the want to. so i know i made myself vulnerable/opened myself up to criticism by making this post. I'm a big boy now i can handle that & even though my societal peng jin is very weak which annoys me to no end i am still strong enough to handle anything anyone has to say about me/to me. btw i can do so without getting pissed and loosing my cool too.


so far as ego tripping, i have very little left. i don't have to prove that to anyone, but if you were around me long enough you'd agree all on your own that you were just wrong. I'm very much like those A.P.B.T.'S who as tough and game as they are, can also be very gentle & sensitive in a substantial way, not being wimpish/nor lacking any back bone ...

lastly, people always ask me if i know of anyone that teaches this or that style i could recommend . i think about it & then them truth from what i know, i have also on occasional done so with specific warnings based on the person spoken of so they don't get smashed needlessly lol. so thanks for the replies and also thanks for letting me know that my own counsel that i have trusted all my life is still the most important even though my mind, body, and spirit has undergone drastic changes over the last 10 yrs or so

[wuwei sifu]

Hi Sifu Fish,

1ST. i have to repost everything i just wrote to answer your questions. it got lost when i couldn't submit my post. this site locks you out after a certain time, which ticks me to know end. my typing is very slow/poor & trying to match what's in my mind to post it is my own personal torture most of the time .

does any of his group get together to practice his Xingyi?

not that i know of. he didn't publicly teach his hsing i quan . I'm not even sure who actually got any of his hsing i quan. i have always suspected if it was anyone it would be gary tong, but i have not yet spoken to him about that. I do know that Dr. Chang had decided he wanted to start teaching his hsing i & that he made that known. yet, his health didn't allow that to come to pass.

he chose taijquan to pass on to the public. i was told at one time he actually taught his Wu style, but then stopped and only taught his Yang style from then on. I
have no clue why he stopped teaching his Wu style. although i have my own speculations none of them really matter cause unless someone reveals the reason why he stopped i'll never know.

a book was planed at one point but that was frozen and will never be released to the public. i have all the lined drawings that are contained in it that have also shown up in various books over the years. i also have access to the material in the book which would have likely been called Dr. Chang's 37 lectures. i peeked at it late last year and have not gotten back to deal with it yet. this year i'll will do so as time goes on.

i tried to make a case for allowing the material to be shared with trusted association members, but that was met with a firm no because of an agreement that was made while Dr. Chang was still alive on his lecture materials. John got some stuff Dr. Chang had after he returned to wu qi, but the bulk of it was sent to a cousin for Dr. Chang's . i don't know who he is, not even his name.


Is Mrs. Chang doing well?
the last i saw her was at the picnic 2012. she was looking very well and i didn't see her look worn out by the days events. it was very encouraging to see her full of life. still she battles on, but i have tears welling up now cause i know she can't do so forever. she's one of the toughest ladies/humans i have ever met. Yet, her kindness & demeanor is a great example to all that have spent any time with her.

just thinking of meeting her for the 1st. time is making it hard for me to type. we hit it off right away. i surprized her when instead of sitting in a chair or on the couch i dove straight onto the floor lol. it was always my way back then & she got used to it quickly. Her cooking skills would easily allowed her to be a professional & the oolong tea she made was the best i have ever tasted before or since. for years i have forgotten to ask her exactly what brand it is duhhh.