By Sifu Lloyd Fridenburg

Editorial

Diligent training and perseverance brings us ever closer to that elusive goal, the Black Sash. It is the icon that has come to symbolize mastery of a martial arts discipline. Mastery that is, to all but those who have attained it.

As students progress slowly and sometimes painfully towards this goal it, at times, seems almost out of grasp. One moment it can be seen clear as glass but like glass it can quickly become cloudy and distorted. The Black Sash, for many, becomes an obsession in itself. It is seen as the pinnacle of martial arts training. “Wow! That person has a Black Sash; they must be really good.” is a common thought amongst those of lower ranks and beginning students. A better thought would be, “Wow! That person has a Black Sash. They must be really dedicated and committed to Kung Fu.” Even though the newer student may view a Black Sash as an end, the more advanced student begins to view it as a beginning.

Even though you can look back and see the vast improvement you have made over the years of your Kung Fu training, those same feelings of inadequacy are still there just as they were in the beginning, for now you face a new beginning.

Kung Fu training at advanced levels highlights the “pane of glass” analogy. By this time, students begin to realize that training is a non-linear activity and it sometimes appears that the closer you come to the goal the cloudier it appears. Many never pass this often impenetrable barrier. If placed on a piece of graph paper a student’s progression would more closely resemble the deeply cut blade of a bush saw than that of a straight line. It is the deep cut periods of regression or stagnation that are the most frustrating to students of all levels.

Mental attitude, injuries, and social factors can all have a profound impact on the speed and intensity of your progression. Constant and dedicated training can in itself take a toll on your motivation. Instructors must constantly be on the lookout for signs of burnout so they can help students over these hurdles.

Kung Fu training is one of the most intense individual activities you will ever encounter. Your level of expertise or competence has no bearing on who may suffer from burnout, or who will ultimately complete the journey. We all need a change of pace and a change of scenery from time to time. As I have heard many times from many of my own Kung Fu instructors, “I’ll believe a person has the dedication, knowledge, and commitment to reach the rank of black sash when I see it around their waist.”

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By Sifu David Moylan, Owner, Waterloo Kung-Fu Academy

Sifu’s Corner

I am once again writing this article following our annual Awards Party, which was held Feb.20 at St.George Hall (our largest to date, 84 all told). Congratulations to all of the award winners! It had me reminiscing back to when we used to cram into the basement of the Lai Lai restaurant in Kitchener to sit down to what seemed like a 20-course meal! You could always tell the party veterans because they knew to pace themselves on the
first few courses! We’ve grown in size considerably since then, but it’s still fun to think back to some of the good times we had back in the day.

Speaking of growth, this February has been much busier than normal, with new students joining all of our age programs. I would like to formally welcome all of the new families to the Academy! We will do our best to give you the best possible introduction to kung-fu and we hope it becomes a lifelong activity that you can benefit from and enjoy!

I extend my gratitude to the members of our Lion Dance team! As we enter The Year of the Monkey, we had our fullest performance schedule yet. On January 30th, we even had one team in Guelph and another in Waterloo performing at the same time! The team experienced some very well received shows, which I attribute to Sifu Robin’s patient teaching and Sifu Sydney’s watchful eye at our weekly practices. There are some photos and videos up on the Facebook Group site for the Academy.

Our Competition Team is into full gear again with practices held on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. A lot of new members joined the team this year. I am eager to see their skills develop under the enthusiastic guidance of Sifus Cory, Greg, Mark, Lorna and Spencer!

Our grading dates are set from now until the end of June too. Youth and Juniors have opportunities to test on March 19, April 30 and June 18. Adult gradings are planned for June 11 (Novice II) and May 14th (Int/Adv) where we have Sihing Benny and Sije Serena planning to test for their Black Sash!

Thank you to the student body for your generous gifts. As many of you know, I am also an avid cyclist. This year I received a gift certificate to my favourite store, MacPhail’s and a really good mountain biking helmet. The mild winter gave me a chance to test it out right after the party! Works great – thanks so much.

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Sifu Anne Vandrus

Youth Student’s Corner

In class we train our bodies a lot, but your best tool in self-defense is your brain – and being able to think of non-physical ways to get out of a bad situation. It’s best to avoid them altogether, but sometimes you can’t prevent it, which is often the case with bullying. In Kung Fu, we learn from the five animals (tiger, leopard, snake, crane, and dragon), and what they teach us can help not only in the kwoon, but at home or school too. Here are five lessons from the five animals to help you deal with bullying:

1. The tiger teaches us strength.

You don’t need big muscles to be strong – it takes mental strength and a lot of courage to stand up to a bully. You are not weak just because someone says you are. Being mean doesn’t make you strong. Real strength is what it takes to keep going to school every day even if you’re scared; it’s confiding in trusted friends or adults about what’s going on. Everyone can be strong; don’t ever let a bully convince you otherwise.

2. The leopard teaches us power.

Bullying is about who has the power in the situation, and bullies like putting you down to make themselves feel more powerful. Remember that your voice has power – so if someone is making you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, say something. Be confident and assertive; tell the bully “no”. Tell teachers, parents, friends, and anyone you trust. You have the power to do something, so speak up. Bullies aren’t as powerful when you have help.

3. The snake teaches us speed.

Snakes can be very still… but when they’re ready to strike, they waste no time. If you know a problem is recurring, be it physically or verbally, online or in-person, then it is time to act. Don’t wait for the bullying to get worse before you get help. Telling someone you’re being bullied doesn’t mean you’re a “tattle-tale”, it means you’re standing up for yourself in a responsible way.

4. The crane teaches us balance.

Try to balance out the bad with the good in your life. If someone tells you you’re worthless, keep reminding yourself that you matter. Remember to take good care of yourself (that means sleeping, eating, and keeping clean), keep doing your homework, keep practicing your Kung Fu, and always keep your head up.

5. The dragon teaches us to ride the wind.

If someone is picking on you – calling you names, physically harassing you, gossiping or treating you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe – that is the bully’s problem and the bully’s fault. You do not deserve it and you are not to blame. Most importantly, you are not alone. Try to move on from the negativity of whoever bullied you. Dragons don’t fight against the wind, they ride it. When life wants you to move on, go with it and head towards the positive, bright things waiting for you.

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Sifu Greg Weir

Junior Student’s Corner

Last month our mental theme was Commitment. That can mean any number of things in terms of Kung Fu; for example, being committed to concentrating while you’re in class, committing to making a punch look like a punch in a Form, etc. What I’d like to talk about here are some of the overall benefits of your Commitment to train at the WKFA.

No doubt you kids today are busier than ever. I hear you talking in the lobby before class about the other sports you play, clubs you belong to, the music lessons you’re taking—not to mention all of the regular schoolwork you have to keep up with. I’m sure at times it feels like you’re being pulled in a million different directions and that something will have to give. I may be biased, but I sure hope Kung Fu isn’t the thing that falls by the wayside—because I believe that your martial arts training will actually help in all of those various endeavours.

With respect to other sports, the benefits of Kung Fu are readily apparent. Whether you’re a soccer player, a dancer or a racquet sports enthusiast, the increased strength and balance you get from Kung Fu will help you immensely. Furthermore, the stretching and core training we do should decrease your chances of getting injured during other physical exertions.

Kung Fu also teaches a valuable lesson about breaking large jobs into smaller, more manageable sections. For example, it’s always a bit intimidating when you start learning a new Form. Especially when you sneak a peak out the corner of your eye and watch someone do the Form from start to finish. You probably think, “I’ll never be able to do all of that.” (I know I did.) But if you begin with the Bow, then learn a few moves the first week, and a few more after that, and so on and so forth, eventually you’ll know the whole thing. The same is true of trying to learn Algebra, French, a new violin concerto, or anything really. Break the thing down into manageable pieces, build upon what you’ve already learned and eventually you will achieve your goal.

Another skill you’re learning at Kung Fu (and it’s a vastly underrated skill in life!) is effective listening. When you’re in class, with other kids around you doing different things and music coming from the dance studio next door, you really have to concentrate to hear—and comprehend—what the Sifu or Leadership Team member wants you to do. Believe me, that ability is going to serve you well in all other aspects of life.

I could go on and on about the benefits of training Kung Fu, but mostly I wanted to hit upon some of the main reasons why your Commitment to martial arts is important and how it will pay off. So keep it up!

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By Sifu Rebecca Knapp

Adult Student’s Corner

We talk a lot about increasing and maintaining flexibility in Kung Fu. Let’s consider why it’s important and how we gain it; next time I will address specific types of stretching in more detail.

Flexibility is needed to perform everyday activities with relative ease…things like getting out of bed, lifting children, or sweeping the floor. Better flexibility improves athletic performance and can decrease risk of injuries by helping your joints move through their full range of motion and enabling your muscles to work effectively. Think of it this way: if you can’t get your body into the “right” position to execute a technique, it will compensate by drawing on other “wrong” muscles; this will have a lasting negative impact on mobility, joints, muscle balance, body pain and posture.

Flexibility tends to deteriorate with age: As we grow older our muscles lose strength and become stiffer, which in turn makes simple movements more difficult and in some cases impossible.

Staying active and stretching regularly (every day!) help prevent this loss of mobility. Stretching also increases blood flow to your muscles.

Martial arts movements help maintain flexibility because many techniques are either deliberate stretches, or stretch the muscle in the course of executing the technique.

Two types of flexibility important in Kung Fu, and examples of stretches that facilitate each, are listed below:

Dynamic Flexibility: This is flexibility in motion. Dynamic stretching is used to develop dynamic flexibility – you essentially relax the extended (antagonist) muscle and simultaneously contract the moving (agonist) muscle through a plane of motion. An example of a technique we use to generate dynamic flexibility is the forward leg raise: the hamstring is the antagonist (it relaxes) while the quadriceps is the agonist (it contracts). Dynamic flexibility is fundamental in developing speed, reducing response time and increasing power and range of motion.

Static-passive Flexibility: This is the ability to take up a stretch and hold it. The two types of stretching associated with this type of flexibility are: a) relaxed/static, like splits, quad stretches, forward bends etc., and, b) isometric, aka: partner stretching (although you can do it solo), aka: PNF, (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation). PNF/isometric stretching is one of the most effective, ways to increase flexibility and range of motion. To do it, you passively extend the muscle to your “maximum” and then contract it. Introducing tension to a passively lengthened muscle sort of “tricks” the muscle into thinking it can maintain this longer length. After the isometric, the muscle will relax further into the passive stretch. In class we have mostly focused partner stretching on the muscles of the legs, although it can be used for several muscles, and it’s relatively straightforward. So, in a front leg stretch, our partner lifts the leg up, and we apply pressure or tension downward for a number of seconds, and then release, at which point we are (theoretically) able to raise the leg higher.

Next time: Examples of these different types of stretches, and how to use them to increase flexibility and range of motion.

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by Sifu Patricia Fievoli

Parent’s Corner

At our Academy, our first Kung Fu form is named the Single Step Form. You will regularly hear students and instructors reference:

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” ~ Lao Tzu

As parents and guardians, witnessing our children take first steps in their journey is often accompanied by emotions of joy, protectiveness, reluctance, and so on.

Whether a child is taking their first steps in life; taking their first step alone on the first day of school, or walking into the kwoon for their first class, first sparring experience, first grading, first competition, it is another step in letting go … letting grow.

We want our children to succeed, to be independent, to be happy, but let’s face it, in talking with other parents and guardians, I am not alone—letting go can be challenging.

I recall a discussion I had many years ago with Sigung Bob Schneider when Rebecca was in the Youth Program and April was in the Little Ninja Program. We were talking about Rebecca’s advancement and even though she had attended all her classes regularly, had learned her current form and had her time requirement filled Sigung said that Rebecca was not ready to advance at the upcoming grading and that I should trust his judgment.

Sigung knew what was best, and in hindsight Rebecca benefited from more time at that rank; she needed more time to build confidence and skill. It was another six months before Rebecca graded. Sigung was sensitive to my role as parent and he balanced it with the reminder that while I had my journey at Kung Fu the girls did too; their journeys separate from mine. That lesson has given and will continue to give me insight through many moments of letting go…letting grow.

During the upcoming months children will have many opportunities at WKFA. Gradings, special classes, in-house tournaments are on the agenda. At the Waterloo Kung-Fu Academy we are privileged to witness the Kung Fu journey of our children. We have the privilege of ongoing communication and information; to attend gradings and tournaments; to watch classes from the waiting room; and, Sifu David encourages open relationships with students and parents.

Whether a grading, a tournament, a first class in a new program, enjoy a moment for you too as your child benefits from many new experiences.

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By Sifu Lorna Jones

Guest Column

It is natural for adults to question whether they are ready to face a grading and move on to the next level. It’s quite frankly scary! At WKFA, our gradings are not easy, and they are not designed to be easy. They are designed to test your knowledge, your ability to prepare yourself as you need to, and your ability to focus and perform under stress. While physical preparation is extremely important, mental preparedness is a major contributing factor to your success on the day of grading. You need to believe that you are ready. Coming out to class and training consistently will help with that confidence.

But on the opposite side of the coin, there may be a time where you think you want to grade, and a Sifu might ask you to wait for the next grading. This doesn’t mean that you aren’t doing well. It may just mean that we think you would benefit from more time to be ready for your next rank. If you rush through the ranks, your foundation will be shaky for all the rest of your levels. We are trying to set you up for success. Please remember that this is not a race to the ‘end’, but a journey. It’s not just about forms and kicking sequences, but there are underlying lessons to be learned as you progress through the ranks. Humility, leadership, dedication, focus and patience are all vital lessons that can be learned in your training. So racing through to learn your forms as quickly as possible is not necessarily of benefit to you.

For the Junior students, and the students who have just moved up to the adult program, we have another special milestone ahead of you. Because our adult gradings are different and more intense than the youth and junior gradings, we require junior students above the rank of Orange to do a preliminary grading. While this isn’t a pass/fail situation, it should absolutely not be taken lightly. Each group of preliminary graders comes up, and the previous tells them how difficult the grading is. It seems that each new group thinks they will withstand it better than their predecessors, and are shocked on grading day at how hard it actually was. They then tell the next group, who again don’t believe, and the cycle goes on.

Please understand; adult gradings are hard! You need to prepare for your preliminary grading much differently than you did for your previous ones. This preliminary grading has proved time and time again to be a necessary step before attempting an adult grading to a new rank. At the end of your preliminary grading, if all your requirements are met, you will receive your solid colour sash of your current equivalent adult rank. After this grading, you will hopefully understand the amount of work that will be necessary for you to be ready to test for your next adult rank.

At the end of the February adult grading, Sifu made a request that students trust the instructors. This goes for both when we tell you we think you ARE ready for a grading, but also if we tell you that we think you aren’t ready yet. If we think you’re ready, then get training! If we think you aren’t ready yet, then get training! The journey is worth it.

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Student of the Year: This award is presented to the student who best reflects the spirit of Kung Fu. He, or she, is a true role model dedicated to furthering the art of Kung Fu through both training habits and attitude towards the art and fellow students.

Most Improved Student: This award is presented to the student who has shown the most significant improvement in their Kung Fu abilities over the past 12 months.

Most Dedicated Student: This award is presented to the student who gives that little extra to help the school, as well as his, or her, fellow students, throughout the year.

Most Improved Novice Student: This is the student who has shown the most significant improvement during their first few months of training.

Sigung Bob Schneider Memorial Award: This award is presented to the outstanding leadership team member. Sigung was always passionate about grooming future leaders.

Black Sash Instructor of the Year: This award is not necessarily awarded on an annual basis; only when it becomes apparent that one instructor, for a variety of reasons, raises a notch above the rest.

Congratulations to All

This year’s Adult, award winners are:

MOST IMPROVED ADULT NOVICE STUDENT

Geoff May

MOST DEDICATED ADULT STUDENT

Sarah Rank

MOST IMPROVED ADULT STUDENT

Ryan Serbanescu

ADULT STUDENT OF THE YEAR

Cristina Prudencio-Brunello

BLACK SASH INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR

Sifu Sydney Gibson

SIGUNG BOB SCHNEIDER MEMORIAL AWARD

Jeremy Norris

This year’s Youth award winners are:

MOST IMPROVED YOUTH NOVICE STUDENT

Lauren Arndt

MOST DEDICATED YOUTH STUDENT

Sienna Volpe

MOST IMPROVED YOUTH STUDENT

Samantha Berton

YOUTH STUDENT OF THE YEAR

Dilara Samarakoon

This year’s Junior award winners are:

MOST IMPROVED JUNIOR NOVICE STUDENT

Urwa Ghazi

MOST DEDICATED JUNIOR STUDENT

Renée Ruszer

MOST IMPROVED JUNIOR STUDENT

Charlie Romeo

JUNIOR STUDENT OF THE YEAR

Michael Prudencio-Brunello

This year’s Little Ninja award winner is:

LITTLE NINJA WARRIOR SPIRIT AWARD

Hudson Lehtonen

JUNIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Daniella Jolley

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