Sifu Lloyd Fridenburg
Editorial
‘Twas the night after sparring and all through the school, not a creature was stirring; not even Sifu. The students had crashed and were rubbing their heads, while visions of gradings danced in their head. Their t-shirts were hung from the mirrors with care in hopes someone would wash them and bring them back there.
Bala with his sword, and Karthik with his sais, were still a bit shaky from Christmas sparring class. Then up on the roof there arose such a clatter they sprang from the floor to see what was the matter. Away to the back door they flew like a flash, tripped over Niaz and came down with a crash.
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow gave a luster of mid-day to objects below. Then what to their swollen black eyes did appear but our own Sihing Tom, with big box of cheer. As they drew in their heads and were turning around, they were smacked from behind and were back on the ground.
Bala rubbed his ribs and they picked themselves up, when Sifu Adam said, “you really must focus!” He was dressed all in black from his head to his foot. His hair was hidden beneath a black hood. A bundle of weapons was flung on his back, he said, “Down, give me ten or I’ll give you a whack!”
“My ribs are so sore?” Bala said with a frown, as Sifu Adam grabbed a large kick-shield and started dancing around. He jumped, and he spun like a tiger gone mad, and then turned to our friends and said, “Back to your drills, and don’t look so sad.”
Just as they thought their end must be coming, they forced their eyes open and felt their hearts pounding. Drenched all in sweat from their head to their toes Karthik and Bala just bowed and went home.
Shaking her head, Niaz gave a cold shiver then turned to the sky with a bit of a fright and said, “Merry Christmas to all; man what a night!”
It has been an honour to teach and train with such dedicated, inspirational, group of martial artists over the past year and I hope everyone of you has a great holiday season and continued success in your Kung Fu journey. In time you will see that Kung Fu is not just something you do; it’s something you are.
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