The first challenge is fighting complacency...

Tonight is training. And here's the funny thing...its hard to get there.
I'm confident it has something to do with my broken psyche...or I'm just lazy.
The motivation to get to class after an entire day of kissing ass and taking names...is a thin and tired thing.

I'm no natural at Kung Fu, but I've been familiarising myself with WC (regardless of incarnation) for around 15 years. If I applied myself I would pick it all up fairly quickly. In fact, I believe if ANYONE applies themselves actively, they'll succeed beyond their expectations. I've even seen it.

My teacher is my <insert chinese 'older brother' title>, and he's pretty good. Lets call him John.
We trained in Lo Man Kam together for quite a few years until his interaction with VT in melbourne began.
The top level students in our class had fairly large egos...hell, even the lower levels did. I was my probably the only one that gave John any competition. While he was better than me with his techniques, I was much more powerful...and my technique wasn't too bad. No one else in the class could get past my defense. This is, of course, where the ego steps in. I realise now that I would've been opened up, and ripped apart, if I'd gone up against any number of different WC proponents. Ours was an inbred system...we only fought each other. We couldn't evolve, only mutate.

Consider this...8+ years of training. We both had this...John came back from Melbourne with maybe 6 months worth of training and...well...he ripped me apart. My ego was so damaged by this encounter that I could barely bring myself to look John in the eye. He could see it too.
Luckily cost him nothing at all to not react like a Dick. He didn't lord it over me. I could see...regret(?) for me? He had the exact same situation happen to him in Melbourne, only the other guy was SO much better than him. I guess the closest comparison I could hesitate with is: Your mum always said how your toasted sandwiches were the best she'd ever tried. And yet your girlfriend is honest and tells you that...well...they're horrible. Heartbreak ensues.

It took me 4 years to 'empty-my-cup', and even still I've got so many issues.
My two biggest hurdles were/are the weight proportion in my footwork. In LMK we were taught to keep your weight on the back foot, allowing the front foot to be almost empty. I believe this was so we could use the front foot to defend against kicks. There's a couple issues surrounding this, but I'll touch on that another time.
In VT I'm being taught to have a more fluid weight ratio. As I understand it, this is done to allow for greater/faster manoeuvrability. It also lays a foundation for being less "locked-up" in a particular stance. Sure, it may not allow for that 'first line of defence, kicky-kicky, shadow-kick", magic bullshit...but I've seen it work. And at this time, if someone tries to use their foot work against my Kauri-trunk legs (Kauri is a tree in NZ, the older ones are quite thick) then go ahead. I'll punch you in the nose. In theory.

My other big sticking point has been Bong Sao.

Here is a link to how I was taught to use Bong Sao.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MrKlmHVFkY

I mean no disrespect to Master Lo, nor to Sifu Cheng. I've met neither and I have heard both good and bad about them. The only perspective I have is as a student-of-a-Student of Bruce Cheng's who decided for himself, or was qualified by Bruce as, a Teacher in the Lo Man Kam system. It depends on who you believe...and there are enough childish/petty arguments on both sides for me to not even care thank you.
Despite all of the tooing and froing over who is right, and the internet penis measuring, the method demonstrated in the linked video, is the sole source for my blown-shoulders. I've got issues with my rotator cuffs because of that one technique. Sometimes I can't sleep on my side, and sometimes I can't lift my arm above shoulder height.
My limited understanding of WC suggests to me that the reason LMK uses, or merely teaches, this way of Bong Sao is due to his height. I could be wrong...I'm an initiate, a neophyte. A beginner. It's my PLACE to make assumptions and get things wrong. It is my privilege to not know any better.
The new way I've been learning to use Bong Sao has taken the full consignment of time AND is still difficult.
My perspective is that it's used almost as a last resort. Not like an Atomic bomb, or napalm, but more in an, "i didn't expect that to happen, I'd better throw sand in my opponents eyes," fashion. I perceive it as a technique, backed by a concept, which is required to defuse a particular situation...which, if used in the wrong place, will simply place the ball in your mouth and pull your pants down for you as the Gimp slowly approaches from behind. I assume you understand my implication?

The 4, or so, years is a long time in which to empty your head, just so you can battle your way to a meager understanding of ONLY two things. I say only because these were the hardest things for me to change, and then learn. These are what I've been concentrating on.
This doesn't take into account the difficulties with Jaam Sao, Larp Sao, Jaam Sao...hell, even Tan Sao. (Excuse the spelling...I'm not so good at it).
With larp sao I had to learn to stop grabbing. Over the years I'd built up a propensity to grab because I'm strong. Very strong. Now its used against me.

Tan Sao was taught to me as being the very first option I should rely on. This, and other things,helped me perfect the irrational technique. I'd 'chase-hands'. I'd detach my elbow from a height at which it can rely on by body to counter-act forces and act as a buffer. All that force would be sent directly into my shoulder, and often push me off balance. It was like a quick-centrifugal-sneeze involving all the speed, force and confusion of the aforementioned comparison.

If these two things have taught me anything, it's that to train within the confines of your own school is ok. To believe your lineage is the best is foolish.
In science one must work towards a goal using empirical evidence, repeatable exercises, and sound concepts.
When you make you further assume about the complexity of your style and the totality of its wisdom and effect...well...you join the cult. You delve into a religion as unhealthy as any in history, and put yourself into the hands of a snake-oil peddler.
Of all the styles I've tried, being only a handful I assure you, VT is one you must always take-to-the-streets to test. If it doesn't work for you, find out why. Talk about it. Get opinions. Form an opinion of your own. Then test it. Talk to your Sifu, and then test it.
Yes, Sifu is always right...you must always show Sifu respect. This is reasonable.
But Sifu should, in turn, respect that you're asking questions. Regardless of how stupid your theory may sound, you're asking questions. Its only a short stroll until you're asking the right questions.
So far, for me, this is the 'Wong' way.