Remove Your Shoes (And Your Egos) Before Entering The Training Hall- An Article By Shafagh Amiraftabi Instructor WCMA

On Wednesday lunch times I run my Tai Chi class at Trax along Heene Rd in Worthing. To get to our Tai Chi room we have to walk through the gym and up some stairs. The room is also used by other Instructors and right at the top of the stairs one of the Instructors has left a note on a piece of paper on the floor;

“Remove Your Shoes (and your egos) Before You Enter The Training Hall”

Whenever I enter the room I always smile and find it sad that such an important sentiment is left on a piece of paper on the floor. It should really be framed and placed on the wall.

I have been training for a long time now and as the years roll by my love of training and teaching increases. I find it so rewarding to see students learning new moves or forms and the look of excitement and satisfaction on their faces when we have had a very good training session. Very soon I will have my first student in Worthing who has learnt the whole of the Suang Yang form. Robert Lyne is only 4 moves away. He trains twice a week religiously and has always shown his enjoyment. He takes correction in a very positive way and his form improves daily.

I myself am always pestering my Instructor, the Chief Instructor, for corrections. I always feel a little nervous and excited when I perform my patterns for the Chief Instructor, as I want to show him how much I have improved, and always ask for corrections. I feel almost disappointed when I don’t get any corrections. Of course Kung Fu is not just about forms or fighting. The etiquette rules and regulations are designed to make us better people; more thoughtful, respectful, honest and not self serving, proud in the right sense of the word and happy because we are doing the right thing.

There is a danger, that as the years roll by and our Martial ability improves, that little goblin called ego starts to appear. One of the signs is not being able to take correction in a positive way and feeling that we are above taking correction whether in the physical side of training or the observations of the rules and regulations of the club.

As an Instructor I want to provide the best of me for my students. In order to do this I insist on taking correction from my Instructor, and in this way I hope that my students would take corrections from me in a positive way. This way we all grow together. I am very fortunate to have the guidance of the Chief Instructor and find it to be a very positive force in my life. I would like to hope that I have a positive influence on my students whom I care deeply about.