By Sifu Greg Meinzinger
Adult Student’s Corner
Physical balance isn’t the only form of balance a martial arts student should hone….
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines balance as follows:
bal·ance noun \ba-lən(t)s\
- the state of having your weight spread equally so that you do not fall
- the ability to move or to remain in a position without losing control or falling
- a state in which different things occur in equal or proper amounts or have an equal or proper amount of importance
Balance in Kung Fu is more often than not associated with the physical sense of the word. In fact, from the day a new student walks onto the kwoon we begin to help them understand their bodies in order to develop, amongst other things, balance.
But physical balance isn’t the only form of balance a martial arts student should hone….
Balance your RESPONSIBILITIES
Whether you are in high school, university or working full-time we all occasionally find conflict with our Kung Fu training schedule. Even when you are preparing for a high sash grading, it is important not to neglect your other responsibilities. People are depending on you, and as a Kung Fu student it is important that you show them that you take all your responsibilities seriously. Your Kung Fu training should be one of your areas of focus, but it needs to be balanced with your future goals and the ones you love.
Balance your TRAINING
Kung Fu training challenges your body in many ways; strength; flexibility; speed; agility to name just a few. In class we go through great lengths to provide numerous drills and exercises to help you develop your body and increase your skill. In order to accelerate your progress, consider balancing your Kung Fu training with other physical activities such as; weight training; running; swimming; yoga or even meditation classes. Each of these activities will provide you with benefits that are transferrable to your Kung Fu, leverage them to get the results you want.
Balance your HEALTH
There is no doubt that the training you receive at Waterloo Kung Fu Academy can be rigorous at times. In fact, I can safely say that there is always something that I feel is tired, sore or worse… injured. If you do suffer an injury in training, it is vitally important to listen to your body. Let your Sifu know about your situation so they can suggest or permit a modification. If serious enough, take time off to let your body heal, being careful not to rush back to soon just so you can “make that next grading list”. An early return can set you back further then if you had you simply taken a little extra time. If you find yourself in this situation, discover balance by, working your forms in your mind, performing your hand techniques sitting down or any number of creative options.
In the end, each of our situations are unique to ourselves, and it is our own responsibility to find our balance. Sometimes it is not easy, but neither is Kung Fu….