Yes, you can get private instruction, but I don’t recommend it if you want to learn a modern style or Sanda. Private lessons can be very good if you are learning Taiji or a very traditional style, but they are often slow and can become boring. Instructors are used to teaching classes of 15 to 30 students, so training one-on-one can feel either very exhausting or, on the other extreme, really dull.
If you are on a short vacation and only have two weeks or less, you can probably learn more with private lessons. But it’s almost impossible to learn acrobatic wushu jumps with a private coach who doesn’t demonstrate everything himself. Classmates will show you things all the time, and sometimes they will teach you more than your coach. In a regular class, you get used to a real training routine, training is more fun, and your coach is less likely to overtrain you. Also check out our wushu section if you want to get ready.
More: Private Wushu Instructions
Take private instruction if
You want to train for only a few days or a few weeks.
You want to learn something very traditional that nobody else practices.
You want to learn Taiji.
You don’t want to train with little kids and teenagers.
You don’t want too many people watching you all the time.
Attend regular classes if
You want to learn acrobatics.
You want to learn Sanda.
You want to learn a wrestling style.
You want to learn a modern style.
You want to compete.
You are training in China for more than one month.
You want to learn Chinese at the same time.
Mix private and regular classes if
You want to learn acrobatics, but there is also a traditional form you want to learn as soon as possible.
You are not interested in competitions, but want to learn forms and get into shape at the same time.
You are injured and want to take it easy for a few days.
Advice: Private Wushu Instructions
Most wushu schools in China, including Song Jiang Wushu School, will assign you a private instructor if you don’t ask to train in a regular class. From my experience, I can tell you that your private instructor will not always show up at 5:30 in the morning with the Chinese students. So even if you prefer private lessons, it can still be a good idea to train with the Chinese students in the morning.
If you go to a wushu school where there are too many foreign students, ask if you can train in a different class. Often all foreigners are put into one group, and the training becomes extremely slow. Instructors talk more than they teach, and you just waste time. If you go to China for high-level wushu training, you are probably not looking for a chat room. Also ask how many Chinese students there are and what is taught in the regular classes. Some schools have 15 Chinese students and 30 foreigners—and that really sucks. At Song Jiang, you are allowed to train in any class, but if you want to join a top-level class, you should ask in advance or already be very advanced.
At Song Jiang, you don’t have to pay extra for private lessons, but you also don’t get a refund if you decide to attend regular classes instead. However, if you plan to train with Chinese students for a long time and you speak enough Chinese, you can try asking the headmaster for a discount. Of course, you will have to explain that you can’t afford the full price. There is no chance they will lower it if you can’t ask directly without the help of a translator.
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