“A journey begins with the first step”. Those are the words my coach used to tell new students. Chinese boxing, like any other martial arts, requires lots of years of experience to just learn the basics. Therefore, the first few months are tough and usually boring.

As a new student working out for the first time, you will find yourself lacking flexibility, strength, cardiovascular endurance, body coordination and of course fighting technique.

Punching and kicking seem easy at first sight, but once you start your first session you will get shocked when you realize how much you lack in skills and how much time it would require to learn the basics.

Some students start with an advantage, especially if they’ve practiced other sports that give them any of the skills needed for Chinese boxing. That said, what matters the most is that the student starts with a lot of motivation and a will to learn and advance.

It all begins with little baby steps, and then slowly you see yourself advancing really fast and surpassing your goals.

Since motivation is very important for beginners, good chemistry between the trainer and the student is as important because this chemistry is the source of motivation.

A student should be able to trust his/her coaches and their skills while enjoying the training sessions. This makes training a way of life and not just a session to learn.

If there is no chemistry between the student and the coach, sessions will become boring and endless. A good coach should have lots of patience and should teach his martial art with passion and love.

So, in a nutshell, it wouldn’t be hard to know whether or not there is chemistry between a student and the coach. If hours pass by as fast as minutes, then you are on the right track and if sessions are endless, then you won’t be able to last and you should consider hiring someone else.

Francois El Rassi