Questions to think about before training in China
Deciding to study martial arts in China is a very important decision that is worth putting a lot of consideration into. Each person wants to come to China for their own reasons; some people have never practiced any martial arts, some have done some part-time training, and others are already professional martial arts athletes or coaches.
There are a lot of things to ask of yourself, and of those you'll be training with in China, BEFORE you leave.
Some questions to ask yourself, so that you greater understand what it is you're after:
1. Do you really love Martial Arts or are you interested in mostly having fun or travel?
2. Can you handle hard training every day?
3. Can you handle Chinese accommodation?
4. Can you accept or handle Chinese culture?
5. What are your final goals when you finish your training in China?
6. Are you sure that you can stick to all the curriculum of your Chinese Master?
To choose a proper Wushu style
There are more than one hundred traditional Wushu Styles in China. You should understand that this is one of the most important decisions to make. It is very important to find the right style for yourself based on your body type, experience, and other goals. Some different styles of Chinese Wushu are listed below:
1. Compare with other Traditional Chinese Wushu, Shaolin Wushu is the most popular in the world. Within Shaolin, there are many different styles based on a variety of functions. Some styles are for performance such as animal boxing, and more jumping styles; some styles are for use in combat; some styles for art; some styles for health; some styles for weapons. The list goes on.
2. Some individual traditional styles such as Xin Yi Liu He Quan, Ba Guan Zhang, Yong Chun Quan, Xing Yi Quan, Baji Quan, Fohan Quan etc.. They are famous styles in China. You need to find a master to teach you by traditional family-style training. It is hard to find a good master for some styles at a commercial Wushu school, especially one that is geared towards foreigners.
3. National Forms. This is the official standardized Chinese Wushu forms for competition which is loosely based on Chinese Traditional Wushu. You can find a place to train this style at a large school or official training center, typically in the larger cities.
4. Taiji Quan. This is a very special style to help exercise your body to gain greater healt. In general, it is divided into Chen, Yang, Wu, and Sun styles. To study the styles, it's best to find a Taiji Master or Taiji-specific School.
5. San Da and free fighting. The two styles have been developed by recent years for competition in China. Usually, you will be taught San Da part-time at some of Shaolin Schools, if you like.
Choosing the Right School and Master
It is a difficult process to find a good school and master for a foreign student in China. There are many Wushu Schools in China, and many of them are in Dengfeng Town, in Henan Province, not far from the original Shaolin Temple; there are nearly 60 Wushu Schools there. For example, the more famous schools there are: Taigou School, Epo School, Shixiaolong Shaolin School, Songshan Wushu School, Wushu Monk School, Shaolin South School. Taigou (14,000 students), Epo (4,000 students) and Shixiaolong Shaolin School (3,400 students) are the largest and most commercialized schools in China (these numbers are as of December 2007).
Those three largest schools are the ones that also have the most foreign students training there. They also charge a far higher fee than other schools. You are taught Wushu by following young coaches (even if they are referred to as Masters, most are not), and will not be taught any theory, because of the language barrier or lack of theory knowledge by the coaches. We do not recommend several of those big Wushu Schools, because it has been shown time and time again that they don't care about your opinions when you have some problems or difficulties, and also you have to share one coach with more foreign students. It is impossible for one coach to correct all students one by one when you practice.
Some of these coaches are good practitioners of Wushu, but may not be a good instructor; this is the difference between a 'coach' and a 'Master'. A good Master is not only an excellent practitioner but also has a deep understanding of theory, and will typically have practiced Wushu for more than 15 years Wushu at a high level of theory and education. A good Master will also take a personal interest and have a responsibility for his students.
If you are a serious martial artist, you should find a school with an interpreter and a good master. You need to know both "how" (practice) and "why" (theory) when you undergo proper Wushu training. At the very least, an interpreter can explain all the theory during condensed sessions, for your whole week's training. It is easy to remember and correct your movements yourself when you understand the theory behind the movements.
Before going, another thing is to find more information about some schools or Chinese organizations on the Internet. Websites in English that update regularly (like ours!) are a great resource. There are not many schools or Wushu Organizations that are even capable of updating their English websites themselves, so information can be years old. Some school's English websites are almost 10 years old, and show incorrect prices, inaccurate photographs and other errors.
Some foreign (non-Chinese) travel agents or organizations have English websites for Chinese Wushu Schools, but these are not recommended, as they typically lack a deep understanding of the culture, and lack updated information on the school(s). They also lack resources for organizing local accommodation, travel, visas, and they are not able to help you out in person at the school should there be a problem while you are there. This is not only inconvenient, but could also be potentially dangerous.
It is also very important to find a school with people who can understand western cultures and speak good English. There WILL be cultural conflicts and misunderstandings-- that is a given. But it is not a big problem if it is handled properly; the key is in finding a school who also understands that there are different cultural conventions, and who are willing to work with you. A good school will be able to manage a proper cultural exchange where everyone productively learns about each other.
Before you head off to China to a school of your choice, you should make sure all your questions are answered... by asking the school. You can judge the quality of their service by the emails back and forth.
About your visa, expenses and travel
A good organization or school can send an official invitation letter to you for the purposes of you obtaining a visa. They can guide you to deal with such things. The best flight route, expenses and travel will be recommended to you before you come to China. If the organization or school doesn't offer this, or claims they offer it but never produce it, you may want to reconsider your choice.
There are different types of visas to apply for:
1) L – tourist visa – good for 3 months in China;
2) F – business visa – good for 12 months in China
Usually, you can not get the full duration on your first visa, when it is issued by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in your country. Your visa can be extended in China. It is very important for a school or organization to be able to consistently and without hassle, extend your visa when it expires.
You should also ask for information about being picked up at the airport, nearest city, etc. Be sure to ask for all costs in detail to prevent problems in the future. Of course, always be sure to bring some extra money, for unexpected expenses. If you need any other special service, be sure to ask about them ahead of time, if possible. A reputable organization should be able to help you with any aspect of your journey.