It’s Just A Cigar

 

‘Is it a good idea to ask questions?’

Obvious answer, YES!

 

I have addressed this topic in blogs in the past, but I wanted to address this issue again as it is such and important factor to take onboard and could be the deciding factor in not being so hard on ourselves.

 

I will always encourage my students to ask questions and to not just DO because they were asked to do.

 

The more you understand a technique and more importantly how it works, the more you are going to make that techniques work for YOU.

 

Occasionally though questions may be being asked that do not need to be asked.

Perhaps this is because it is something that you should experience and answer for yourself (possibly by way of a right of passage) or perhaps it is something that should be obvious and you are allowing yourself to be spoon-fed information rather than trying to discover things for yourself.

 

I once asked Master Ip Chun:

“How do you deal with a student who is struggling to get a technique right?”

His answer?

“Walk away”

 

Now initially this may seem like a harsh reaction, but the mentality behind this is simple.

 

If you are finding it hard enough to get something right, the last thing you want is an instructor standing over you breathing down your neck!

 

Give them time to get the feeling and work it out for themselves.

 

Of course if they are doing it wrong or ask for help and guidance, give it, but at least allow them to try first.

 

Lots of people these days are happy to pay their fees and sit back waiting to be taught rather than taking the initiative to learn.

 

When a child takes its first steps it doesn’t wait to be shown does it?

 

There is a wonderful tale I enjoy telling to my students:

Which I just refer to as:

‘The Cigar Story’

 

This is regarding Professor Sigmund Freud, who was a physiologist, medical doctor, and also known as the Father of psychoanalysis.

 

Hope you like it:

 

 

A teachers help is always there waiting for you, but occasionally it may be wise to see if you can work it out yourself first, then have it check or corrected, rather than just asking without real need.