We are very excited to have our YouTube channel up and running again.
Here’s a short video to start things off.
self defense
Believe that You Can. Decide that You Will.
Believe that You Can. Decide that You Will
I hear a couple of phrases from students on a regular basis:
I can’t.
And –
I’ll try.
What they don’t realize is that when the say these kinds of things they’re only defeating themselves. What we think becomes reality.
When we think we can’t do something, no matter what other stories we may tell ourselves, we make failure become reality. It’s a vicious spiral of frustration.
There are variations on this sad theme:
I can’t find the time to practice; I’m just too busy; I’ll try to get into class; I can’t make it in to class, etc.
On the flip side, if we tell ourselves that we can, and we will, that becomes our reality and we make real progress in our ving tsun.
It’s a fact that kung fu takes a lot of deep practice. That’s what kung fu means – hard work over a long stretch of time, like a lifetime. It takes daily practice. In order to have good skill, a practitioner must change this mindset around their practice.
If you think with a negative, I can’t mindset you’ll just keep finding things to fill your time, and you won’t practice. You can’t, “FIND” the time, you must “MAKE” the time. Change the I can’t into I can and I will.
I will make the time for my daily practice.
I will make it to class today.
If you are always waiting to find the time to practice, you never will. You have to MAKE the time to practice. Set your intention in your mind. You might ask yourself, how you’ll feel if you don’t do your practice. Because it’s all a matter of priorities. If it matters to you, you will MAKE the time to do it. All kinds of things come up that you don’t have time for, and yet you do them. Think about it. How do you want to spend your time? What kind of person do you want to be? Ving tsun has the capacity to transform every aspect of your life for the better but you have to do the work, wishing won’t make it so.
Practice of ving tsun must be a daily thing you do, like brushing your teeth. Finding the time is self defeating. Make the time. Make that commitment to yourself.
I also hear phrases like this during practice:
I can’t do the technique.
I’ll try to do my form better.
Again, if you believe you can’t, you will never try harder.
Kung fu practice is hard. It does take a lot of time and effort. Don’t make it harder on yourself with these self defeating phrases.
My students hear me say this all the time:
“ If you want to have good ving tsun, you must take the I can’t and I’ll try out of your vocabulary.”
It’s true. See for yourself.
Remember Yoda’s famous line, “ Do or do not. There is no try.”
THIS WEEK IN VING TSUN
Lots pf great training at the school last week. Here are a few snap shots of what folks were up to. Notice, the notebook! Taking notes is a really good idea.
Also note the long pole, which is very advanced practice.
October Ving Tsun Challenge
We are launching a new series of intensive training programming for our students in 2019; a series of seasonal, intensive weekend long training camps to take your ving tsun to a whole new deeper place.
Each camp will be unique and will have a specific focus including not only the physical aspects of Ving Tsun but also the ethics and morals, the Mo Duk as well as the place of meditation in your kung fu practice and much more. The first full weekend camp will be in February 2019.
As a lead up to all this, we are offering our students a mini-version in December which includes the following challenge.
The idea is to take the challenge for the months of October and November, then come to the training camp with your discoveries and questions. And I guarantee you will make discoveries AND have questions.
At the camp we can all discuss and learn and take our knowledge to the next level.
So, here is the challenge for October:
Train your Siu Nim Tau each and every day.
Only once, but EVERY DAY.
Each hand in the first section for one minute.
That’s it! Do it every day and see where it takes you.
Like I said, I guarantee you will be amazed at what you learn.
Take notes, write things down In your notebooks and bring it in December to the training camp.
Want to get to the next level in your Ving Tsun practice? Here is the way.
Take the challenge!
At the first of the month in November I will let you know what the challenge will be for next month.
Keep the fire burning.
Why I study with Sifu Matt @ the VTSDA
Why I study with Sifu Matt @ the VTSDA
Jeff T has been with the school since December of 2012. He’d been wanting to study ving tsun for a pretty long time, so he was quite happy to find Sifu Matt and the Ving Tsun Defense Academy. We’ll let him tell you why.
Ving Tsun Students All Levels
At the Ving Tsun Self Defense Academy we train everyone together. Beginners, long-time students, adults and youth. It makes for better training and more of a traditional feel. This is how my Sifu, Ip Ching teaches in Hong Kong at the VTAA. Not only do I see that it works well for him, but in my own school, I see that students learn better, form the kinds of tight bonds and lack of ego that you want in a good school of kung fu sisters and brothers and that their ving tsun develops nicely.
Here are some photos from tonight’s class. You can see every kind of ving tsun training happening at the same time.
Think it loks good? We’re currently accepting new students. Register or call for your interview today.
Sifu Matt Featured in 2City News
Sifu Matt Johnson and the Ving Tsun Self Defense Academy is in the news!
Recently, the local news group 2City News conducted a three-part interview with Sifu Matt Johnson. Here is part one, in which Sifu gives the audience a basic grounding in what ving tsun is and why it’s so effective for self defense.
The article focuses as well on the problem of understaffed, under-served urban areas in which residents often feel they must fend for themselves:
Check out the rest of the article and the first video segment. And of course, stay tuned for part two, tomorrow!
Thanks to Zack Isaacs and the whole 2City crew for focusing on the academy and such an urgent set of security and self defense issues. As one of the very few U.S. schools with direct links to the Ip Man lineage of Ving Tsun/Wing Chun, we are dedicated to teaching ving tsun in it’s purest form to those who wish to defend themselves and their loved ones. We extend an invitation to anyone who may be interested to come in for an interview, watch a class and if interested, attend up to a week of classes free of charge, to make sure the school is a good fit for you and your self defense goals.
Sifu Matt’s Level One Seminar in Iowa
Sifu Matt will be in Iowa this August 26 at Chris Kellner’s Ving Tsun Martial Art Association at 4551 SHERIDAN ST , Davenport, Iowa 52806. The Sunday afternoon seminar will cover Siu Lim Tau and all material up to and including don chi sau. Bring your notebooks and be ready to enjoy a very active seminar at the VTMAA. Tuition for seminar is $50. RSVP. Limited number of spots available.
Your Ving Tsun Tool Box
So, yesterday, we were talking about your ving tsun tool box. You might feel like, I’ve been in ving tsun awhile, I already have a couple of good tools. Why do I need to add more? 
Let me ask you this…what will you do, if someone really attacks you – where ever – at home, on the street, outside your local sandwich or burger joint…and that technique you always use, which seems to work so well, doesn’t work this time and the guy’s still coming at you?
Or, maybe, you’re going to be in a chi sao tournament soon and you could have the same problem. Maybe that pak sao just isn’t going to do all the heavy lifting for you. Maybe you already experienced this – if so speak up now! Tell us about it.
Whether you want to save your life or prevail in a tournament, you need more than one tool in your box and ready to use. That way, when one thing doesn’t work, you stil have an answer and live to tell the tale another day.
Local students, take a clear, honest look at your own chi sao and ask yourself a few questions…
Do I do the same techniques over and over again in my chi sao just out of habit? (We all do sometimes, but it’s up to us to bust ourselves on our own ineffective habits.)
Do I have all I need to be really sure that if the chips were down I could handle it? Do you do the same techniques over and over again in your chi sao just out of habit?
If you answer yes to any of those, then this seminar is your chance to create more effective tools for yourself. RSVP now, and click the link to formally reserve your spot and pay the tuition.
https://mjvingtsun.org/pay-your-tuition/
See you on the 21st! If you have questions, contact Sifu Matt Johnson Ving Tsun. 773-301-6257. Questions about tuition payments for the seminar, contact Hillary Johnson. 312-714-4563
Matt Johnson Ving Tsun/Chicago 