Youth Student’s Corner
by Chantal Moylan
Fu For You Spring 2026
Did you know that to become better at Kung Fu, you don’t actually need an hour of training every day?
What if it only took you five minutes each day? A lot of students might think they can only improve during classes. And yes, classes are important for getting corrections and learning new things. But the students who improve the fastest usually do something else: they practice at home, even if it’s just for just a little bit. And it doesn’t have to be for an hour, not even for 30 minutes – five minutes is all it takes!
Five minutes might not sound like a lot but think about it like this: if you practice for 5 minutes a day, even just 5 days a week, that’s 25 extra minutes of training. You can even have a parent set a timer for you.
If you aren’t sure what you could practice for those 5 minutes, here are some ideas to help get you started:
Minute 1: Stance Sequence. Try and make sure all of your stances are nice and low! Remember: you won’t be holding them for very long.
Minute 2: Forms. In just 1 minute, you could probably practice your form 2-3 times! Pick either your current form or an old one.
Minute 3: A Section of your Form. After practicing your whole form, pick a section you think needs some work and drill it a few times.
Minute 4: Kicking Sequence. Pick either an old or a current kicking sequence and try it out to both sides.
Minute 5: Blocking Sequence. Make sure you’re in a low horse stance and run through your blocking sequence a few times on both sides.
And that’s it! It’s not a lot of time but you can accomplish lots of things in that time. Some days, you might not feel like practicing. Maybe you’re tired from school or sports or maybe you’d rather play a game or watch TV. But remember: It’s only five minutes and it will help you to become a strong and disciplined martial artist!
Here’s another thing: If you come across a move or part of your form you are unsure of, you can write it down and ask an instructor for help at your next class. This also helps you remember exactly what you need to work on when you have the extra time to practice in class.
So here’s a spring challenge for you: For the next few weeks, pick a time like after school, before dinner, or before bed and practice your kung fu for five minutes – without being reminded! After those few weeks, see if you notice any changes, whether it’s stronger stances, sharper techniques or more confidence in your Kung Fu. Having success in your training doesn’t come from one giant effort. It comes from lots of small efforts repeated over time. So take just five minutes each day this spring – that’s all it takes!