Insecurity

from dictionary.com:

in·se·cu·ri·ty [in-si-kyoor-i-tee]
–noun, plural -ties.
1. lack of confidence or assurance; self-doubt: He is plagued by insecurity.
2. the quality or state of being insecure; instability: the insecurity of her financial position.
3. something insecure: the many insecurities of life.
—Synonyms 2. precariousness, shakiness, vulnerability.

so what does insecurity have to do with 詠春拳? i believe that in martial arts, as in life, insecurity is the cause of all politics and interpersonal problems. i have trouble seeing a factor that drives a person to intentionally inflict physical or verbal harm on another living being that cannot be traced back to the aggressor's own insecurity. (yes, there is revenge, but revenge is a response to a harmful act, which can also be linked back to an initial harmful act caused by insecurity.)

in martial arts, a practitioner must feel secure that the art he is studying is a proper match for his personality, goals, and potential. furthermore, a student of an art must feel secure that his classmates and instructor either share or acknowledge the goals that he seeks, and can assist him in his journey. i find it to be especially important that the instructor takes a genuine interest in educating and guiding his students, or at least those that truly wish to learn. and thus, such an instructor must make his students aware that this is indeed the case, to save them the anguish they might suffer from doubts and insecurity.

there is no question that a teacher must feel secure in the art he trains and teaches--insecure teachers are more liable to deceive their students, fearing that their students will come to the realization that the teacher or art is lacking. unfortunate effects of this include negative attention being drawn to other styles or instructors--attempts to divert attention away from the insecure teacher's own feelings of inadequacy. little does the teacher realize the (sometimes blind) devotion of his students, who take his every word to heart. the students thus imitate their teacher, consciously or sub-consciously, and make a habit of bad-mouthing others.

a worthwhile goal, then, would be to eliminate one's own insecurities. WingTsun can be a vehicle for achieving this goal (though by no means the only one). through our constant training with a partner, especially in chi sau, we learn how others' actions affect us, and how our actions affect others. we learn how to react only to those things that matter (e.g.--attacks that could cause damage), and even in those circumstances, to react efficiently and avoid complicated solutions. through training one can achieve a heightened awareness and control of one's own body and being. sufficiently understanding one's self and one's body (and their limitations) results in a calming and reassuring sense of identity--and thus security.