10 years training in 35

How important is it to ensure you always train using your little idea? Surely you can get the same effect by making sure you really intellectually understand what is happening?

Let's put it in simple numbers. Sifu has been training for 35 years. He said that if he had been training the way he teaches now it would have only taken 10 years.

That's 25 years of extra training. 10 years was under a different lineage so it makes sense that he didn't make any progression in this style. Since then he has been training under Chu Shong Tin (my Si Gong) and he spent most of his time asking questions trying to understand the movements, the little idea, intellectually rather than actually training the movements. 

Also, at that time Si Gong didn't understand the best way to teach and explain what he could do. He could show people what he could do and tell people when they were doing it correctly but there was little explanation. 

Understanding is not enough. You have to practice doing it to get better. 

Don't misappropriate success

It's very easy to fall into the trap of, 'I did it! This time I was doing this!'

I know I've done it. You notice when Sifu is testing you that you moved slightly differently this time and succeeded. 

Maybe your balance was shifted, maybe your arm was slightly lower, maybe your elbow followed more of an arc...

The truth is that you may be right, but was it cause or effect? Was it because your arm moved that way or did your arm move that way because you were doing it correctly?

Even if you are right, you are in danger of falling into another trap. Next time you do it you'll be trying to remember what you did or thinking 'last time my elbow curved in' which will open your big idea. 

It's a vicious circle!