There are a number of reasons to start learning a martial art. I know when I began wing chun training it was more out of fitness and a side effect would be the ability to kick but. I didn’t really enjoy going to gyms with their beefy muscle walking around just grunting at your direction.
Others learn wing chun kung fu to build confidence. Which is ideal. Learning a martial art or any method that offers security and a sense of pride. A lot of the times we live or lives in fear, what is going to happen with me? This applies to all aspects of our lives.More to the point i have found that it is the biggest bullies that seek to impose their physicality that are the most fearful and insecure.They are usually bullies and seek to be the strongest.
However a side effect i have found during my wing chun training was that the more i learned the more comfortable i became with myself.Being out with friends i was relaxed and calm.When someone was acting inappropriately - maybe drunk and calling out names, previously i woud get upset and felt insulted and had to prove my self by how strong i was and how much of a big man i was.
However as I developed my skill and came confident in my abilities I came to realise that it I was the only one I had to prove anything to.A drunken loudmouth does not determine who you are or have the power to control you or provoke you, i had an understanding who i was and what person i wanted to be. To be totally superficial, did I need to prove to the world that I was able to beat up a drunk who didn’t know better.If there was a physical threat I had the confidence i could defend myself.. I didn’t need to start an unnecessary altercation to prove anything. I confidence that i did not need to prove myself. That is the gift wing chun training gave me.