Profile of Alexis Tomlin
I began training Wing Chun in 2005 under Sifu Mark Phillips. I
found Wing Chun through a recommendation of a friend who told me
Bruce Lee had studied it prior to his development of his Jeet Kune
Do system. Having watched his explosiveness and fluidity of motion
in his films I thought to myself I’d love to be able to move
like that and thought I’d give it a go.
I had previously only had a very limited experience of the martial
arts. It was not only Bruce Lee that attracted me to this style.
Its’ reputation as a practical and devastating close quarter
fighting system based on Shaolin kung Fu but with a much shorter
chestation period between learning forms and application was the
most appealing factor for me.
My intention for learning a martial art was initially to learn
to fight proficiently in a street scenario where there are no gloves,
weight categories or rules about the number of aggressors one may
face at any one time or what they may be carrying. Hearing the system
was developed by a woman intrigued me further as I wanted to learn
a system that did not always pit brute strength against brute strength
but was more intelligent in its approach to combat.
As I have developed my ability and understanding of the system
within the organisation my motivations for training have changed.
Realising the potential for harm the human body possesses I would
much rather avoid fighting altogether and seek alternative means
of diffusing a situation that would otherwise hospitalise one and
see another in the courts.
Being offered a position as an instructor within the organisation
after such a relatively short period training is a great privilege.
I have found great satisfaction in helping others on their journey,
watching them grow in self confidence as well as in their martial
ability. I find teaching makes me a better martial artist as when
you teach you must train harder in order to achieve the standard
required. Also students have different learning preferences and
body types and as an instructor it is always challenging to teach
as you must learn to articulate the same information in different
ways in order to pass it on effectively to them as individuals.
This encourages the instructor to continuously intellectualise the
information he or she teaches and subsequently helping them to become
more proficient in their application of the system as one finds
oneself experimenting, trying different things to find out which
is best for each situation.
A common question I get as an instructor is ‘How long have
you been training?’ Although it is in terms of chronological
time a relatively short period, the question they should ask next
is ‘How often do you train?’ I am very comfortable training
with students from other schools who have been training for far
longer periods of time then myself. This is not owing to me being
outstandingly talented, as I am an average student within the organisation,
but is due to the regularity and systematic approach toward my training.
Many people are under the false impression that ability is based
on the length of time someone has been training while overlooking
the fact that it is a combination of this and the amount of man
hours that have been dedicated to training within that period of
time.
I find on my own journey that I am continuously learning new things
and re-learning things I have already learnt previously from new
angles and intentions. As such I have begun to understand the meaning
when it is said that the martial journey is ongoing. I was once
in a rush to get to the end of the journey but now I am pacing myself
and find I am enjoying the journey more while also learning at a
phenomenal rate both about Wing Chun and myself in the outside world.
Training Wing Chun as I’m sure in any art has provided me
discipline, confidence, patience, and tolerance both in and outside
the Kwoon. In terms specific to learning Wing Chun, the theory of
dominating the centre line and economy of motion has also aided
me to be more direct and assertive in my approach to life in a world
where procrastination is common and often the only thing holding
back success.
To those of you who are looking to embark on your martial journey
this year I look forward to being on of the many instructors to
welcome you to the organisation should you chose to train with us
and wish you all the best on your journey.
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