How long does it take? This is a common question that people ask when thinking about trying WingChun. The answer is not so straightforward.

One reason is that everyone has different goals and reasons for training. Here are a few popular ones.

• Health and Fitness
• Leisure Activity
• Self-Improvement
• Self-Defense
• Self-Esteem
• Admiration
• Basic Proficiency
• Mastery

Each one of these goals has a different answer. Let’s say that you want to learn the basics. That takes on average about 6 months to 1 year, which gives you a good repertoire of techniques for common situations and enough time to get you comfortable with the movements.

Most times, you won’t be an expert at something the first time seeing it. It is not like in The Matrix when you hook a cable in the back of your head and say “I know kung fu”. You need some practice.

So, regardless of your goal, it takes some amount of time, commitment, and effort. This is true in any martial art no matter its effectiveness.

Yes, some people claim that WingChun is the best and that you will see results quickly compared to other styles, but we would be misleading you by guaranteeing that you will become good in a few weeks or months. It depends on what state you start at and what you put in. Therefore, some people will catch on quicker than others.

Even if you do not become as good as what you have envisioned in a year, a little knowledge goes a long way. Most people don’t have even basic knowledge of martial arts, so learning something functional, like WingChun, greatly increases your chances. And success can simply be avoiding harm, not defeating someone. So in the year timeframe, you should be able to do something but will not be as clean or efficient. It may be just enough to get the job done.

And this realistic mindset of achieving goals in life is a huge benefit that you get from martial arts. It’s called discipline, and you can refer back to your experience when you try to achieve a different goal with realistic expectations, not quick success.

So this means that martial arts is a transformation process, which will change more things than just your skill in fighting the further you continue. And that’s good because it can be a shift in a positive direction.

This is a lifestyle change. Some of these changes are immediate, some between the 6 months to 1 year time period, and some longer. Over time, you might…

• Become More Fit
• Improve Your Physique
• Act More Decisively
• Feel More Alive
• Think Clearer
• Develop Positive Habits
• Choose Better Priorities
• Make Better Decisions
• Eat A Healthier Diet
• Develop and Improve Relationships
• Get a Better Job
• Do More Exciting Activities
• Go Traveling
• Live An Overall Happier and Healthier Life

To be a high-performance person, like an athlete or martial artist, (because not everyone is willing to do this), you have to cut out some things which are unproductive. A race car will not work without the correct fuel. You may not fall apart if you eat a cheeseburger, but the point is garbage in, garbage out.

So will you become a master? No one can say for certain, but obtaining the benefits are priceless and, hopefully you will train to at least enjoy some of them.

Do you want to start your WingChun journey with an at-home video program? Click here.