Guest Column
By Sifu Lorna
One of the obvious things with Kung Fu is that each class and every time we practice, we test our physical abilities. Gradings definitely test our physical stamina and push the limits of what we think our bodies can do. But far more importantly, Kung Fu tests our spirit. Can you keep going when you’re tired; or scared?
So many things in life are quite scary to do, and many of us struggle with anxiety. Maybe one of the scariest things we ask you to do in your journey is to lead a warmup. It really can be quite terrifying to do your first warmup – and perhaps the first of many warmups. Being in front of people is not something that all of us would choose to do in our daily lives.
My question is: isn’t that the point? None of the things we do at Kung Fu are the things we used to do as a part of our daily lives. We are learning to make physical exercise part of our lifestyle, but at the same time, we are learning self-confidence. We learn that we can do pushups; we can learn self-defense; we can stand in a ring and touch gloves. For most of us, these are not things we ever thought we would ever do. Yet here we are.
Leading your first warmup is scary. However, you know how to do a warmup. By the time you are asked to lead a warmup, you will have done hundreds of them. I am quite positive that not once in all those warmups did you ever hear anyone laugh at or belittle the one leading the warmup. You also would receive that same respect. You may forget things, you may say the wrong words, you might say something silly, but none of these things is fatal, and no one will think less of you for getting up there and trying. Each time you do a warmup, you will become more confident in yourself, and it will become easier to remember all the things you want to remember.
Please remember that your purpose in leading a warmup is to help the class get their bodies ready to do Kung Fu. You are not there to entertain everyone and be the best public speaker ever. You can work up a warmup that you repeat every time you lead. It doesn’t have to be new and different every time. Instructors will happily work with you to prepare.
If you should ever need to use your Kung Fu outside of the academy, you will be in a position where you are very scared. Will you freeze, or will you fight? Getting through things like gradings and leading warmups helps us to have the courage to keep fighting. There is a popular comedian who said it best: when she is asked how she conquers her anxiety, she says “I don’t. I just do it scared”.
Courage is not the absence of fear but acting in spite of it. 