Q: How old do I need to be to join the Wu-Shin Chi-Dao Foundation for Self-Development?

A: Currently 92% of our members are adults; women make up about one-third of the total. The minimum age applicable varies from discipline to discipline. However, as in the long history of the Martial and Civilian Defensive arts, we do not teach young children (a modern, commercially-driven trend). Our youngest qualifying age is 13 years: once a person's body has bio-mechanically and neurologically matured to a reasonable and safe degree.

Q: How do I join one of the programmes or courses offered by the Wu-Shin Chi-Dao Foundation for Self-Development?

A: You will need to phone to make an appointment to meet with the relevant person - either Lao Tze Bob Davies, or Shaz Davis Sempai. (Refer Contact Us ). We are generally available 24 hours, seven-days-a-week… outside of teaching times.

Q: I like the sound of a number of the disciplines/courses youoffer - what should I do; how do I know which one will suit me best?

A: In this instance contact Lao Tze Bob Davies for an interview. With 40 years experience in a wide range of arts (modern as well as traditional) he is best qualified to help you make the right training decision 'for you' - based on your needs, your personal likes and dislikes, and what you hope to get out of your training… your goals. (Refer Contact Us ).

Q: What else do I need to know about joining?

A: All the relevant information pertinent to joining the Wu-Shin Chi-Dao Foundation for Self-Development will be given to you at the time of your interview or the recommended following trial session/s; according to the joining procedures of the relevant discipline in which you are interested.

Q: I don't have time to come in for an interview - what should I do?

A: Find another school - or one of the multitudes of commercial clubs. No personal interview = no information = no possibility of joining - it's that simple.

Q: What about costs, or a near-by branch in my suburb?

A: Costs are not given over the Internet, via e-mail, over the telephone - or even at your initial interview. Simply put: we are interested in discerning students who are concerned, from the outset, about the 'quality' of the instruction they are going to receive. We hope that you would use the same discernment that you would apply in choosing a University or College to the choice of your school for martial, civilian defence or health and healing arts instruction.

We are not interested in students who are motivated by the convenience of the location (looking for the nearest school), nor the price factor (looking for the cheapest school). Costs are reasonable (or we would not still be operation after 30 years; nor be the oldest Civilian Defensive Arts organisation in Durban; nor be the oldest Martial Arts organisation in South Africa). Costs are negotiable in certain circumstances, and given to suitable candidates in due course.

Q: What do we wear for training?

A: For your initial trial lessons any appropriate loose fitting clothing is acceptable; most of the training is done barefoot. We will also provide you with any training equipment you might require during this period.

You are expected to purchase the Wu-Shin Chi-Dao Foundation for Self-Development Gi (uniform) as soon as possible after being accepted as a member of the Foundation. Our Gi comprises blue, embroidered 'Kung-Fu'-style pants, a white Foundation T-shirt, and the appropriate belt or sash for your discipline and grade within that discipline.

Q: What does Lao Tze mean?

A: Lao Tze is the Chinese word for a teacher and in pronounced as follows: Lou as in the 'lou' of 'loud' and Tze as in 'Shir' in 'Shirt'. It is the title of the head of the Wu-Shin Chi-Dao Foundation for Self-Development.

Q: What other titles are used at the Wu-Shin Chi-Dao Foundation for Self-Development?

A: Students more senior to yourself are addressed as 'Sempai'. If you know the name of the senior you would then address them as xxxxx Sempai. 'Sensei' is also used but restricted to certain licensed instructors holding the rank of 4th Dan and above. Visiting overseas instructors brought over by the Foundation should be addressed as Sensei.

Q: Who is my senior in terms of training at the Wu-Shin Chi-Dao Foundation for Self-Development?

A: Anyone, in any of the disciplines, who started training before you is your senior; your Sempai.

Q: I have heard the term Yudansha used. What does it mean?

A: Yudansha is the term used for those students who hold a 'rank' in an organisation, for example, black belt and above; those who do not yet hold a 'rank' are referred to as Mudansha. Some organisations also use the term 'Kodansha' for those holding 'ranks' of 5th Dan or higher.

Q: Are there any special rules or etiquette that we should follow at the Wu-Shin Chi-Dao Foundation for Self-Development dojo?

A: Oh Yes! The Wu-Shin LifeCentre and related dojo are smoke and alcohol-free zones. We have an abbreviated list called 'The Top 40' - A Code of Conduct - that lists the major requirements. You will be given one of these lists once you are accepted as a member of the Wu-Shin Chi-Dao Foundation for Self-Development.

Q: Do you do realistic full-contact training?

A: The dichotomy expressed within your question warrants some comment. In our opinion the so-called 'full-contact' training practised in many 'clubs' is not 'realistic'. If it were, then the recipients of 'realistic full contact techniques' should be filling hospital wards, or the morgue. If the 'full-contact' techniques applied do not result in serious damage then one must question their effectiveness and validity - their realism. So to answer your question: Yes, all the techniques we teach and train in are 'realistic', effective and practical; No, we do not practise 'full-contact'… for obvious reasons. However, through intelligent training methodologies and a carefully structured pedagogy (sorry, no machismo here in our organisation), all our students learn to 'apply' their techniques 'realistically' in order to gauge their effectiveness - without using the faces and bodies of fellow students as punch-bags.

Q: What about the effectiveness of these new arts we keep hearing about?

A: The human race is driven by the need to be the first, the most important, to be recognised, lay claim to fame… 'Every generation re-invents the wheel, and calls it by a new name'.

The only problem we have with these so-called 'new' eclectic systems is that they are patently not tried and tested. Most of their 'founders/developers' are young, modern-day, highly motivated enthusiasts with limited experience - searching for 'the truth'. Like teenagers, who have little interest in following their parents' advice and are always astounded at how little their parents know about life, these 'searchers' reject the time and trial tested experience passed down through the generations by the genuine traditional systems, as being inappropriate and 'boring'. Of course, within this context of 'traditional' we do not consider the modern arts of Karate, Judo,Kung-fu, Aikido, etc. - they are all far too young and their training methods are, of course, only suited for the purposes for which they evolved, namely sport and competitions. So yes, for practical purposes, many of the newer 'styles' of the immediately previous generation are inappropriate. However, the truly traditional systems were born and bred in times of extreme strife, over centuries of extreme violence; at levels of intensity that make the present South Africa seem like a haven of peace and security by comparison. For those reasons, we teach only time-validated 'traditional' systems; we do not experiment with the lives of our students while 'searching' for the light right in front of our eyes.