Questions

Asking questions allows you to get more specific information about what you are learning. As well, you become much more engaged and immersed into whatever you are involved in. Earlier this week, Sifu Brinker emphasized the importance of asking questions. Not just that, but asking the right questions.

Don't look for THE answer, look for AN answer. If you merely try to find a specific answer, you may lose what you were asking in the first place. What I mean by this is you are given the answer, great. However, you will most likely lose that information as soon as you get home. Your brain did not have to work for it, so it will remember the information as easily. As well, the instructor might not understand what you're getting at. The key, I find, is to think about possible answers to your own question. Sometimes, just thinking about possible answers gets your brain thinking and you may find your answer yourself. This also allows you to intelligently ask what you need to know. This is definitely something I am still working on myself.

Another reason I think Sifu believes questions are so important is because it show him and other instructors that you are in the moment. If you just do what they say and don't question, they don't know if you are truly getting what they are trying to pass on to you, or if you are simply going through the motions.

I find it difficult asking questions most of the time. It's not that I'm not in the moment, I am certainly thinking about the lesson, but it takes me a while to think about the proper question. This again is something I have become better greatly since becoming part of the I Ho Chuan. I've recently made a point of asking at least one question per lesson, becoming more engaged and attentive and I'm learning way more!

Take care everyone.