Question about an academy

[Katsu Jin Ken]

Has anyone heard of sifu Glenn Cozzens.  He teaches at the American Shootfighting Academy.  I just wanted to know about him if you all know of him or anything about his previous students, or anything at all.  I would apprechiate it greatly because I am going to take Wing Chun lessions from him and just want to know about his history from a second hand source.  You know what i mean?

[SiGung Vincent A. Cabais]

Is he the Wing Chun Instructor from Kansas City or the one from Springfield?

[Katsu Jin Ken]

Wing Chun for Springfield.

[SiGung Vincent A. Cabais]

Oh.. that guy!  I've heard about him.  I've never met him.  Some of my previous students decided to check him out.  They were not impressed at all.  You may be though.

[Katsu Jin Ken]

what werent they impressed about? His Wing Chun or the other arts he teaches?

 

Also, he is the only one i know of that teaches Wing Chun in Springfield.  If you know of another please let me know.  Also, what do you teach? Just Shaolin? I might have to come and check out your school sometime.

[Matt Heckman]

"Just Shaolin"

 

[SiGung Vincent A. Cabais]

They were not impressed by his skills or his ability to teach.  I would give him a chance.  You may never know until you try.  You might like what he has to offer.

[Katsu Jin Ken]

They were not impressed by his skills or his ability to teach.  I would give him a chance.  You may never know until you try.  You might like what he has to offer.

 

But see your students are used to the best.  You.  So an average teacher probably looks like crap to them.  Im not interested in anything but quality instruction.  If i wanted to learn "medoicore martial arts" id just buy a Wing Chun video and learn from that.

[Gene Dobbs Bradford]

Katsu Jin Ken,

Finding the right teacher is a very individual matter.  When you say that we are "used to the best" I agree that I have chosen the system and teacher that are the best for me. It is the best for me because I embrace the concept of "development of the mind through discipline of the body."  That is what I hope to gain from my training, and the Shaolin Lohan School of Kung Fu is the best school to help me achieve that.  However, I know that this school will not be the best for everyone.    Different people respond to teaching in different ways depending on many factors including how they learn best and what they wish to get out of it.  Someone may observe one of our beginning classes and not be impressed with our curriculum because there is no sparring taking place.  Indeed, if combat was the main motivator in choosing a school, then our school would probably not be the right one for you.  If  a hypothetical person with this mindset told me that they not impressed by the Shaolin Lohan School of Kung Fu and I decided not to investigate the school for myself, I would have missed out on a school that was right for me.

I hope that you will take Sifu's advice and observe Sifu Cozzens for yourself. Only you will know if he is the right teacher for you.  I would only be concerned if he had a reputation of being dishonorable, and I have seen nothing to that effect in the posts on this forum. 

Best wishes and I hope that you find a teacher that is the best for you!

 

 

[Katsu Jin Ken]

Thank you all for the GREAT advice.  I cannot see him until Wednesday because of today being a holiday im not even in town.  I will let you know how it goes if you want.

[Gene Dobbs Bradford]

I am curious to hear how it goes.  But I am more interested in what you are looking for in your training.   Let me know if you are so inclined.  Take care.

[Katsu Jin Ken]

I havent been to his school yet.  Monday being a holiday and all i wasnt in town.  Im going tomarrow.  Let you know how it goes MeanGene.

[Matthew D. Shouse]

A little off topic, but Sifu mentioned a wing chun instructor in KC and I was wondering if you were referring to Master Lee McField in Raytown.  I was just curious about what you think of him?  I was able to participate in a couple of the introductory classes and listen to what his school is about, and he seemed pretty easy-going and knowledgable to me.  I thought the practice of not allowing higher ranks to strike lower ranks (though the reverse isn't true) was a pretty interesting concept, in that it forces them to learn to maintain control of a fight while handicapped.

My overall first impression of wing chun was that it is bizarre (though decidedly effective ), but then again I have no real basis of comparison since I only know our system and what ive been told of ATA.  But I thought the school is worth looking in to.  Sifu, opinions?  Comments?

[Katsu Jin Ken]

I went but wasnt overly inpressed.  He only teaches during the week and i have to have weekend classes.  His weekend private lessions are $50 an hour, i dont have that kind of money.  So i guess im to videos and books, which isnt a bad thing.

[Harvey Meeker]

My overall first impression of wing chun was that it is bizarre

Hmmm, I practiced with a Wing Chun guy for a few months.  I didn't really find it bizarre.  Certainly different than our style, but not in an odd way.  They are just much more linear than we are.  Still, I like the style, it's simple and effective.