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by Sifu Charlie Romeo
Fu For You Summer 2024

In my previous article, Weapons 101: Weapons Are Not Toys, I discussed the importance of possessing the correct mindset when using weapons in Kung Fu. Having control and not using weapons as toys are crucial first steps in wielding weapons in our training. This second part of the article is going to dive further into weapon use for more experienced students. The information here may be more applicable to our advanced students, but it can still be a beneficial read for novice and intermediate students to get excited for what lies ahead.

A great drill for testing your understanding of a weapon is to wield it in one of your open hand forms, such as using double daggers in the tiger form. While some small (or drastic) variations will need to be made, the foundation of the form must remain the same. This is not a drill that will come easy; some moves will work well, and others will take serious thought and adaptation to appropriately represent the form as well as the weapon. It’s important to not rush this drill, but instead take the time to understand how your weapon can be used effectively and adapt as needed.

We can often get so comfortable with a weapon that we forget to think about what exactly we’re doing in our movements. This is a result of muscle memory, which while not a bad thing, can lead to a lack of intent. One way to avoid this is to try working your drills and forms with the weapon in the opposite hand. You will find that swinging a tonfa with your non-dominant hand requires a lot more thought processing than you have needed since you first started using the weapon (this, of course, is less true for the lefties out there). When you switch the weapon back to your right hand, begin to think more about the intent of the weapon rather than wielding it through muscle memory and habit.

By the time you reach the highest junior ranks, you will learn to use a minimum of 5-6 weapons through learning your curriculum forms. Each one of these weapons requires its own commitment to deeply understand, and they are all used very differently from one another. As an advanced junior student, it is important to go back to revisit your previous weapons and re-evaluate your understanding of them. A Jr Brown Sash should have a far better understanding of the staff compared to a Jr Orange Sash. Take the time to break down your weapons forms – alone, with a classmate, or with an instructor – and ask yourself: Are there any moves that I don’t know the purpose of? Do I have any questions about the weapon I’m using? 

Revisiting previous weapons as you advance can help you become a better student and will also help you as you begin your journey as a Leadership Team member. Control of a weapon is important, but as you advance, a more in-depth understanding is expected as you continue your Kung Fu journey.

See all of the articles about Kung-Fu Weapons.

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by Sifu D’arcy Langois
Fu For You Summer 2024

As Martial Artists, we tend to be more physically active than the average person in our community. Within the Adult program, we are encouraged to attend three classes per week, giving us a solid three hours of guaranteed workout (not counting personal training). There is even a solid number of people in the student body who blow that three class average out of the water; training four, five, six or more times per week, and that is incredible! It’s great seeing a group of people so interested in, and dedicated to the art that they are willing to make that much time in their busy schedule to attend so many classes. That amount of training, however, does come with a cost; one usually paid in torn muscles, loose joints, and an overall feeling of fatigue. So here is a friendly reminder: DON’T SKIP RECOVERY DAYS!

For those of you that know me, this may seem a little bit ironic coming from me, but that’s why I felt the need to emphasize this point. Your body and your mind both need time to recover. As always, a recovery day can mean different things to different people, so what I say here isn’t a catch-all. This is meant to get you thinking about the concept of recovery days, and why you should be weaving them into your training regime.

Experts recommend taking at least one day off per week in your daily workout routine, to help build your strength and prevent injuries. What does that look like? That’s completely up to you, but it should be a break from your normal workout pattern (so yes, it may mean not attending a class on a day). Taking a day off of our strenuous, anaerobic style of activity, and instead doing light cardio (e.g. jogging, swimming, or a bike ride), or mobility focused activities (e.g. yoga, or stretching) is a great way to promote healing, while keeping your body moving.

On top of taking that important recovery day to heal, cooldown stretching after every strenuous workout should be a priority. A handful of minutes performing some static stretching (focused on the muscle groups you just abused) can go a long way to making your day after the workout more pleasant. Stretching eases the muscle fibres, helps work some of that lactic acid build up out, and promotes the healing process to keep you feeling fit the next day. Making this a priority can also reduce the number of recovery days you are forced to take.

Finally, sometimes your brain just needs a break. If you find yourself getting frustrated over and over in class, it might be a good idea to miss a class or two to re-center yourself. Take those recovery days to help reset your mind, before coming back focused (hopefully), and ready to continue your Kung Fu journey.

Don’t skip recovery days! And see you in the Kwoon!

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by Sije Veronica Sas
Fu For You Summer 2024

Originally, I had another topic planned for this newsletter. However, after helping with the Intermediate/Advanced Youth and Junior combined class a few weekends ago, I thought talking about advancing into the next age program would be more appropriate. This is a topic we are currently discussing in my own household – my daughter is now eligible for the Adult Program, and yet is hesitant to join. 

Waterloo Kung-Fu Academy has four different programs, each is designed for a specific age range. However, it is not necessary to move to the next program immediately after your child’s birthday. There are certain times in your child’s training that might make the transition easier. If your child is looking to grade soon, after grading is a great time to switch. Depending on the rank, they might have to switch classes anyways! If you’re in doubt of how close your child is to grading, ask your child’s Sifu or Sigung to see if it is something to strive for. Another great time to transition is the start of the new school year.

Ranks are slightly different between programs. When your child moves into the next age group, you might notice that their rank will decrease. A Youth Blue Belt moving into the Junior Program will become a Junior Green Sash. Likewise, a Junior Green Sash moving into the Adult Program will become an Adult Orange Sash. This does not mean your child won’t be learning new curriculum! The Programs are designed so that your child will still be learning new forms and techniques. The ranking system can be confusing when you see many colours of belts and sashes in the same class, but if you have any questions about your child’s rank, please ask an instructor or visit our ranking sashes and belts webpage for more details.

If your child is like mine, they might have many different reasons why they don’t want to transition into the next program. The first reason I got was “I want to grade first!”. However, now that she’s thinking of grading soon, she doesn’t want to switch immediately after. Another reason I got is “I don’t want to leave my friends!”. Unfortunately, this is a fact of changing programs. If one of your child’s friends are also close to moving up, encourage them to move together. Students can also plan to attend the Sunday family class together, where all ages and ranks are welcome. In my case, I’m giving my child a deadline of Sept 1 to move to the Adult Program. Hopefully knowing the transition is coming will make it easier.

Each Program at the Waterloo Kung-Fu Academy is designed for that specific age group, so there are advantages to moving into the next program. Your child will be in a class with kids their own age, or slightly older (unless it’s in the adult program, where it’s 15+). The curriculum will change slightly, and expectations will also be more demanding, reflecting on the growing focus, maturity, and capabilities of the student.

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“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

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