Do you teach kids?
No. The curriculum is designed with teens and older in mind. There is not an age cut off instead it's about ability to focus. It would be great to have kids learn someday.
How long does it take to get good?
Literally on your first day I make sure you have something useful to defend yourself. That said, I expect that after 6 months the foundations are firmly in place and that specialized sensitivity training (chi sao) can begin. Getting good depends on one's reasons for doing the martial art but I expect a trainee to be able to perform across many scenarios after 3 years of training.
Is it just self defense?
No. An integral part of any martial art is self defense, for Wing Tsun, it is just the beginning. Frankly, self defense against general opponents is straight forward and I expect obtained by SG3/4-6 months. Kung Fu, especially WingTsun, is about complete control of your movements and the movement of your partner/opponent. While I very rarely find myself in a situation where a physical confrontation is on the verge of occurring; the body awareness and control training is used most days. Straight self defense is great, and I offer that, but I also the ability to build beyond that.
How do I get good quick?
Learning Wing Tsun is not different than learning something else in a general sense. It takes hard work (the literal meaning of kung fu) and good instruction.
I suggest journaling your training - I have 2 full spiral bound books of my own notes so far. Once you've learned the basics, repetition, shadow boxing and fitness are the ways to improve on your own. I also suggest private lessons - time spent focusing only on your progress. These are the things I personally do.
What is a technician rank?
In Leung Ting Wing Tsun our first instructor rank is referred to as primary technician. It is similar to a black belt in that it signifies the end of the student grades and onto the instructor program. With regular training this is achieved in 3-4 years though it varies based upon the individual. The goal here is learning the "technical" details or the "techniques" hence the term technician. There are levels 1-4 for technician grades and then 5-10 are referred to as practicioners as they are now focused on a broader understanding of movement and less so individual techniques. Level 5 and above are referred to as master levels.
What if I did another martial art before?
I think it's great to test what you learn compared to what you have been exposed to previously. I am a believer in gathering data and making decisions about what is good and what is not. Generally being comfortable with movement and coordination will speed your comprehension of Wing Tsun and if you grasp the material quickly you will be taught as fast as you learn; however, everyone starts at the same level to ensure foundational material is not missed.
I have done Wing Chun before, can I start with Chi Sao?
Another good question. In short, I start everyone at the beginning. I started from the beginning when I came back to this family of Wing Tsun after training in other Wing Chun families for years and am very glad I did. The foundational material is literally the basis for the advanced techniques and it is unique to Leung Ting Wing Tsun. That said, I'd expect that someone from another Wing Chun family would already be comfortable with many Wing Tsun ideas and once the foundations are grasped they are not held back from being challenged at an appropriate level.
Why do you spell Wing Chun with the "Tsun"? Isn't it all the same?
I love this question as it gets at the heart of why I specifically love Leung Ting Wing Tsun. In short, the word Wing Chun are Chinese characters and there are several English spellings of the same character - so in effect, all Wing Chun is Wing Tsun. However, that's like saying all wine is just wine. Leung Ting Wing Tsun is spelled this way to differentiate itself from the other families of Wing Chun as we are proud of our head instructor and his method. Wing Chun/Wing Tsun look the same in photos but they are applied very differently. Some of these are things that are best felt rather than read but we focus on finding the right angle/alignment to overcome our opponent without resisting them. It can feel like the touch is soft but it comes like a whip without warning.
People say you don't have to be in good shape to do Wing Tsun, is that true?
Generally yes. The techniques are oriented based upon our shared bone/muscle/tendon structure and progression is related to ability to perform many detailed actions simultaneously. That said, improved fitness and flexibility is good by itself and permits more intense training. Those that are great at Wing Tsun tend to be quite fit as well.