How do you find a good wing chun school?

What are the characteristics? Is there a wing chun federation that can certify a certain level of quality?

How do you find a good wing chun school?
Yes, there exists a federation known as the International Wing Chun Martial Arts Association. On that site you can check to see if the sifu of the school is certified. Other things I would look out for are the advertisement and the price. Schools that heavily advertise themselves or depict themselves as being the "best of the best" should be approached with caution. Likewise, expensive classes are another thing to look out for. One thing that never fails is to watch one class session and to see if the class fits your requirements.
Reply:My suggestion would be to test out the classes (they should let you try it for free) and ask about their lineage. See who they learned from and how they treat their students while they hold the class.





Above all, ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask about anything that comes to mind or that you are curious about.





Check out the Wing Chun organization mentioned above (I forget it's name while I write this) and/or the Wing Chun Kung Fu Council. I can attest for the latter of the two that it is a credible institution. I'm sure that between the two, you'll find something that you will be happy with.
Reply:Trial and error. It's that simple.





As with many Chinese Martial Arts (CMA), it is hard to find decent instruction in the West. Because many traditional CMA's don't have overarching federations or organizations, you end up with isolated pockets of instruction. Which is why there are so many CMA styles anyways...because of China's cultural isolation into diverse regions.





The only way to find a good wing chun school is to personally visit any in your vicinity. CMA's are just too few and between to typify instruction.
Reply:"A good _ing _un school" is an oxymoron.





Take a fighting art that has an actual proven track record: Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling, Judo(Newaza), BJJ, Sambo, etc.





_ing _un sucks. Its unrealistic close quarters slap boxing.
Reply:Personally, I'm not a big believer in certifications. I think you should visit as many schools as you can, and watch them train. Just by watching you can tell which schools will be a better match for you.





It's not important whether the the teacher is a great fighter (or certified, or blah blah blah), but whether the teacher can make you a great fighter.

lilycare