Editorial

by Sibok Lloyd Fridenburg
Fu For You – Winter 2025-26

Without any prior planning, the theme of this newsletter seems to have drifted towards gradings.  Contributors aren’t given specific topics ahead of time and are very much encouraged to use their own initiative and experience to craft their article. So, this is a bit of an anomaly.

You will see that some articles are about understanding the grading process; class attendance prior to grading; why each new rank is a reset and a new beginning; and why parents need to become familiar with the process.  When I see contributors migrate towards a common theme, it often means that they have identified a general problem or opportunity within their scope of responsibility (Youth, Junior, Adult, or Parents) that they want to address.  And no, they don’t meet to exchange article ideas beforehand, a common theme is completely unexpected.

I have written and/or edited Fu for You since its inception (about 35 years ago) with the primary goal of keeping students and parents informed, educated about our process, and to help non-training individuals understand the rules of the academy.  The original format was shorter but was produced monthly and with only one picture per issue.  In many ways, it was more generally informative. 

The current format of articles directed at specific areas of our program was introduced in 2013 with the intent of offering students from all programs information specific to their age group.  Our contributors take great pride in their articles and spend a lot of time thinking about a theme and then producing the article, within a set of common guidelines.

Fu for You is intended to be read by every student and parent at WKFA!  Sigung remembers a time when he was still in the Junior program when Sigung Bob would hand out copies of the newsletter at the end of class.  Students had to go down on one knee and read the newsletter and were then told to give it to their parents and ensure that they also read it.  I have not so fond memories of standing at the photo copier in the store making dozens of copies for distribution while constantly clearing jams in the copier ☹.

We currently live in an era of “sound bites” and “snippets”.  People are groomed to read headlines or do a quick scan of information.  That habit should not apply to this newsletter.  It is your responsibility to read and understand everything; it will enhance your Kung Fu experience and shows respect to the writers that spend a lot of time developing the content.

Along with everything else at WKFA, the newsletter has been an evolutionary process and has changed to meet the needs of students and parents.  Starting in 2026, we will again be tweaking the format to make it more newsy.  Sigung and I will be discussing a new format over the next few months that will consider the current needs of students, parents, and WKFA.  It will still be full of photos, anecdotes, advice, and hints, but your duty to read it will remain the same.  

Editorial

by Sibok Lloyd Fridenburg
Fu For You Fall 2025

I once heard someone say, “man, I hate it when we do repetitions to the count”. It may have even been me, in the beginning. However, after time, it becomes apparent that there is only one way to learn any martial art and that is through constant repetition. The recipe for success is to learn, assess, practice, follow corrections, practice, assess, follow corrections, and practice more.

When I practice on my own, I can still hear the words of wisdom imparted by Grandmaster Pan in the early years of my training, “When you have repeated a single technique, correctly, one thousand times, you understand the technique.” Correctly is the key word in the phrase because, if you practice something a thousand times incorrectly, it will be extremely difficult to fix. Whether it’s an advanced spear thrust or the reverse punch you learned right at the beginning of your training, practice will ensure continuous improvement along the road to excellence and understanding.

Shadow boxing is a fantastic way to practice, if you do it correctly! Too often I see shadow boxing used as an aerobic exercise, with the focus on raising your heart rate and getting a sweat on. It can and should be used as an opportunity for self-correction. Watch yourself in the mirrors and listen to the words of your instructors; not just when they are speaking in class, but when you’re practicing alone. Keep your guard up, watch your stance, keep your chin down, use a full range of motion, watch your weight distribution, pivot on a reverse hand strike, don’t bring your feet together. All of these are things that you hear instructors vocalizing in every class; those words are embedded in your mind so listen to them when you’re shadow boxing and use the exercise as a tool for self-correction.

So, what about Youth and Junior students? We have had many younger students over the years that have embraced Kung Fu training and were extremely diligent in their training and practice habits. This, however, is the exception rather than the rule. Many students come to class, follow instructions, and then don’t think much about Kung Fu until their next class. With only two classes per week for younger students, practice between classes is essential.

Parents enroll their children in music lessons and demand that they follow a strict routine of practice throughout the week, yet seldom, if ever, encourage kids to practice Kung Fu between classes. The reason commonly expressed by parents is that they don’t want them to practice incorrectly. As someone that has taught a broad range of age groups over the years, I assure you that it is easier for instructors to make corrections for those that practice regularly, even if some things are incorrect, than it is to constantly re-teach techniques to students because they have forgotten.

Five minutes of practice is better than nothing; 10 minutes is better than 5; 30 minutes is better than 10. If you’re serious about improving your Kung Fu, listen to the words of your instructors running through your head as you practice, practice, practice!

Sibok Lloyd Fridenburg

Editorial

Instructors have an obligation to know, understand, and teach all requirements for your rank and to deliver it in a well-defined, proven approach intended to keep you moving forward in your training. We also spend a lot of time reviewing previous requirements so that you can improve those techniques. Continuous improvement is a hallmark of Kung Fu education at WKFA! That’s the reason it takes longer to progress to the next rank as you advance in your training. You may be able to attain your Yellow Sash in a few months, but the average time between attaining Brown and testing for Black is about two years; not because of an increased volume of material to learn, but because there is much more material to review and improve. Without exception, the only way to become proficient at Kung Fu is through repetition.

All techniques at all ranks are taught on a regular basis, but if your training is sporadic you, or your child, might be missing important components of the curriculum. Instructors know and teach all curriculum items on a regular basis, but it is impossible to know what elements of the curriculum you are struggling with or haven’t been taught. Beyond the rank of Orange, training a minimum of three times a week is essential to your progress.

Instructors have an obligation to know the curriculum and to teach the curriculum; you have an obligation to learn the curriculum. Knowing, understanding, and becoming competent with your requirements is your responsibility! You should review your requirement sheets regularly and check off the things that you are comfortable with, and ask questions about the things you need to become more proficient with, especially as you start to think about grading. You cannot become proficient with something by simply doing it a couple of times in class.

At the beginning of your journey through each rank you are presented with a checklist of techniques, forms, sequences, etc. that you are required to learn before testing for your next rank. Aside from current requirements you will frequently see a reference to previous requirements, and that you are expected to have improved the execution of those techniques. At WKFA you are not just tested on your current requirements; you are tested on your current requirements along with all your previous requirements. We expect you to spend a considerable amount of time reviewing and improving earlier requirements.

Comments are written down by the grading panel during your grading and you are presented with a copy of your grading comment sheet after the grading. The comment sheet highlights areas of concern that need to be improved. Reading, understanding, and correcting issues highlighted on your comment sheets are your responsibility, and should be given high priority following your grading. Reviewing your comment sheets is an important first step in preparation for your next grading.

The longer you have known a technique, form, or sequence, the higher our expectations are that you can execute it proficiently. So, always remember that learning the new goes hand-in-hand with improving the old.