Adult Student’s Corner
by Sifu D’Arcy
Fu For You Spring 2026
I first heard this quote in an iconic scene in an incredible TV show, and it’s one that has stuck with me since I watched that scene. On the surface, it is a call to not assume anything about someone without having all of the facts. While there are certainly aspects within Kung Fu that this facet applies to (e.g. sparring), I am not going to touch on that part today, maybe save it for a rainy day once spring finally arrives. No, I believe this quote can also be applied to oneself: don’t assume your abilities without first getting all of the facts – Be Curious, not self-Judgemental.
Physically, this is a pretty obvious one. How many of you have heard a technique called and immediately thought to yourself “No way!”? From the first call of a Turning Double Side Kick, or a Jump Spin Outside Crescent Kick, or my personal example, the Jump Turn 270 Degree Side Kick. Many students, myself included, fall into the habit of assuming that they can’t do something long before they even try; before they have all of the facts. Before uttering one of those dreaded words, take a minute and be curious – absorb the lesson that is surely to come. The Instructors at the Academy will have ways to help teach the various techniques we do, often in a variety of ways to support different learning styles. Be curious and absorb the information, ask the questions, listen to the answers, and most importantly TRY.
Being curious in your training is a great way to keep yourself engaged, and interested in the pursuit of the Art. The greatest students (in life, and not just in the Academy by the way) are not those who believe they have all of the answers. Those students who have the answers tend to get stuck in ruts, or cages of their own making, with progress being a long and drawn out process. The best students are those who have figured out how to ask the right questions and are not afraid to ask those questions. They seek out the answers and listen to those answers – never assuming they already know what they are going to hear. Keeping curious in your journey is a great way to stay engaged, even in those times where you feel like you are slogging along through the curriculum.
At the end of the day, this is just another piece of mental training to employ along your Kung Fu journey. It is not something that Instructors can teach, and truly not something we can even enforce – but it is important. Just remember, before you catch yourself saying that you “can’t do something”, or “you know all about something”, try to be curious instead. Learn how to find the questions you need to ask, and more importantly learn how to listen to the answers. Be curious, not judgmental.