The Three-Class-Per-Week Mindset

Editorial

by Sibok Lloyd Fridenburg
Fu For You Summer 2023

Kung Fu is different from other forms of physical exercise because you are getting fit as a result of learning increasingly complex techniques, forms, and self defense.  To become a martial artist, you need to immerse yourself in all aspects of training and never think of it as a fitness program.  You are learning a tremendously valuable lifelong skill.

Before you test for your Green Sash we ask you to produce an essay about the significance of attaining your Green Sash.  I have read hundreds of these essays over the years and a common theme runs through, or is at least mentioned, in most of the essays; the need to increase your training commitment.

Up until you reach the rank of Green most students can learn, progress, and maintain a decent fitness level by attending a couple of classes per week on a regular basis.  Even though most students acknowledge this fact in their essay, many don’t put the words into practice.  The result is frustration, because it becomes more and more difficult with each rank to learn new material while constantly having to maintain everything you have learned previously.

This transition can be even more challenging for Junior students (who only attend two classes per week as Juniors) when they move into the Adult program, because it is not only the mindset of students that needs to change, but the mindset of their parents.  Here, I’ll make one statement, you can’t dabble in Kung Fu at an advanced level!  You need to commit just as much time, effort, and practice as someone that has reached an elite level in dance, music, basketball, or hockey.  Often that means making tough choices.

At WKFA we have a requirement that those wanting to test in an Advanced grading must maintain an average of three classes per week for a period of six months prior to the grading cutoff date, and students are constantly reminded of this requirement for months ahead of their grading.  This is not an onerous requirement because everyone over the rank of Orange should be in the habit of attending three classes per week as part of their normal training routine.  In fact, that average should be increased to four or five times per week for the last couple of months before the grading.  And that doesn’t include practice time (several hours per week) outside of class.

The WKFA curriculum is broad and deep, and our expectations are high.  It requires many years of dedicated training to attain the rank of 1^st Degree Black Sash. In fact, those that have attained the rank of Blue Sash in the Adult program at WKFA would likely have attained their 1^st Degree Black in many other martial arts programs.

Congratulations Sifu Antonia and Sifu Jeremy!

Regardless of the number of years you have been training at WKFA, you are not automatically entitled to a promotion.  You have to do the work, put in the time, and make a commitment to yourself and to your instructors.   So, the sooner you get into the three-class-per-week mindset the more enjoyable and fulfilling your Kung Fu journey will become.