Guest Column
by Sifu Jim Gardner
Fu For You Fall 2026
Editor’s Note: While this article is from 20 years ago, Sifu Jim’s words are as relevant today as they were back then.
In class, we sometimes mention the following old Chinese saying; this saying led to the name of the first form anyone learns at our school—the Single Step Form, the start of every student’s kung fu journey.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
But we should also remember that after walking a mile, or ten miles, or a hundred miles, the remainder of the journey also begins with a single step.
There’s no way we can suddenly take a dozen steps at a time. We can’t skip past any part of our training; we have to do the work. Of course, every student’s journey is different—we start at different places in our lives and level of ability—but we still can’t leave out any part of the road.
We can’t simply avoid the things we find difficult. We have to work to overcome or deal with our limitations. We also can’t “jump ahead to the good stuff.” We have to learn the basics first, to give us a strong foundation for advanced techniques. If we try to take shortcuts on our journey, we might get lost.
On the other hand, we should never fear taking the next step—it’s the only way to keep moving forward. Once in a while, we might feel intimidated by what we see coming around the corner, For example, when beginners move to a higher class or face their first grading. Nervousness is natural and probably healthy, as long as it doesn’t keep you from going ahead anyway. The higher sashes have gone through the same transitions, and will help you with any adjustments. It’s just a matter of one step at a time.
But “one step at a time” should apply to everything we do: the small scale as well as the large. Every punch, every kick, every warm-up stretch is a step on the journey. If you let yourself take it easy, you stop making progress.
I’m certainly guilty of not always putting my best foot forward. In the middle of class, I sometimes realize I’ve just been going through the motions without paying full attention. I suspect this happens to everyone. But to correct your course, you just have to get back to taking meaningful steps. Make your best effort on the very next move: if you’re stretching, make sure every stretch challenges your body; if you’re practicing techniques, make each one real; if you’re working on forms, really work them instead of running on autopilot.
Wherever you are on your kung fu journey, the rest of the distance begins with a single step. You have to take that step over and over again—with each technique in class, with preparation before class and with practice after. In a way, the journey of a thousand miles is only a single step. You can never do more, and you should never do less.
Outside the Kwoon, Sifu Jim is an accomplished science fiction fantasy writer. His published works include 12 novels, a book of short stories, novellas, and plays among others. In August 2026, Sifu Jim was inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association‘s Hall of Fame. Congratulations Sifu Jim and thank you for your contribution to the Waterloo Kung-Fu Academy and Canadian fiction! Read or listen to Sifu Jim’s interview on CBC: Kitchener’s James Alan Gardner inducted into Canadian sci-fi writers hall of fame