Kung fu is a Chinese martial art that comes in many styles including tiger style, long fist, monkey style, mantis fist, and my primary style, the eagle claw system. Kung fu has about 4000 years of history and development, possibly even more than we know today. Kung fu is not only focused on self-defense but also health and philosophy.
I started training kung fu near the beginning of the pandemic when a school in New York started training virtually temporarily. Although they don't train on Zoom as often as before, I still train virtually with my Sifus a few times a week, I even had the opportunity to visit the school over the summer. A year and a half in and training for my green sash, I've learned so much over my training.
Self-discipline.
You probably saw this one coming from a mile away, but, it's true! When you train kung fu, you must push yourself, not too far beyond your limits, but yeah, you're going to be uncomfortable sometimes. Kung fu isn't only about fighting even though that is of course the point, it is also sitting in horse stance, doing sit-ups, or saying no to a tasty candy bar. Self-discipline is also sometimes logging onto a lesson when you don't feel like working out.
Self-discipline is in a lot of ways kung fu, and kung fu teaches us discipline throughout our daily lives.
Balance.
Again, you probably saw this coming. But, I'm not directly referring to yin and yang. When someone thinks of kung fu they might just think of punching and kicking, but Philosophy shows us that there is also the inside that needs training. Yes, this sounds very much yin and yang. But, this idea is also true when we think of our health.
Alright, I'm gonna stop beating around the bush. What I'm saying is sometimes kung fu isn't always about breaking a sweat, sometimes it is learning to keep our balance (physically), fueling our bodies with better nutrition, or centering our minds. I embrace the time I spend training kung fu, but I also embrace the time I spend resting.
Bravery.
It is difficult to be brave at times, especially during a pandemic. Before kung fu I often never left my comfort zone, heck I even almost chickened out on my first kung fu lesson. 2021 was by far my most prosperous year yet mainly because of my newfound bravery. It was bravery that took me to New York City, to try new things and do things that seem scary.
I can't credit kung fu alone for my bravery. Much of my bravery comes from my parents, Sifus, and my sister who came with me to New York.
Excepting myself.
I've always struggled with body image and confidence, learning kung fu helped me overcome my issues with myself. I've learned that even though I'm a little heavier than my fellow Kung fu-ers, I can do everything the rest of the class can. During my journey of learning kung fu, I learned how to take care of my body and my health, remembering my mental health also needs a little exercise and realizing what I am capable of.
I've learned that my body is a machine capable of doing great things.
Not giving up.
My first day of kung fu was... difficult. We could not hear each other due to some Zoom technical difficulties (on my end). And as you could imagine this is one of many obstacles involved in virtual learning, others being losing internet, devices dying, not enough floor space, and last but not least, hitting your ceiling fan with a short stick. These of course are small issues but the big picture is not giving up, even when bigger issues arise. When I and my Sifus find an obstacle, sometimes we have to work with what we have. I've used a broomstick as a staff, a yoga bag full of clothes as a punching bag, and a branch as a broadsword.
To sum up what I'm trying to say here. Things are going to go wrong from time to time, but instead of giving up, you must work around these issues the best you can to chase your goals.
Summary
Although I still have a lot to learn as an orange sash martial artist, it was a pleasure to share a few things I have learned thus far. Maybe I will even be able to teach kung fu someday in the future. For those thinking about learning kung fu, this will be a long tough journey worth every minute. You will learn more about yourself and feel a thousand times better and healthier.
If you have any medical issues, please bring them up to your doctor before training.
Thanks for reading!
Holly
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