Parent’s Corner
by Sifu Veronica Sas
Fu For You Fall 2026
Summers at the Waterloo Kung-Fu Academy are typically quiet. Some families take the entire summer off, while others take only a week or two off. No matter what you did this summer, I hope you and your family enjoyed some time together and that your child is now ready to get back to Kung Fu.
What happens when someone takes a break from physical activity for an extended period? Either a break over the summer or because of an injury or illness? The most common thing is forgetting skills that you’ve already learnt. Unfortunately, your child might get discouraged because things that were easy in June are now more difficult. You might have to remind your child that this is normal and that they will get their skills back, it just takes time. This is one reason why we teach forms in small chunks. The more you repeat something, the more likely it is to be recalled. They may no longer remember what they learned right before they left, but hopefully they can recall their earlier techniques and forms, and the rest will be remembered in time.
Forgetting forms is not the only obstacle your child might face. Even if they’ve been active all summer, some areas of their fitness may have declined. Have they been practicing their push-ups and abs? Push-ups seem to be the one exercise that many children and adults struggle with. This is why strength requirements are done in each class and why we also recommend doing them at home. Personally, I found when I could not train, my push-ups were the first skill that I lost. If your child is struggling, encourage them to practice at home to build up their strength and confidence.
It is important to manage your child’s expectations when they return to class. Many of our students look forward to their next grading, but after an extended break, they might not be ready for the grading in October. At each rank, there are both skill requirements and time requirements. Even if your child has the time needed at their rank, their skills might not be developed enough yet. Each rank builds on what they learned at the previous ranks. Since repetition is the key to remembering, these skills are hopefully easier for your child to remember. However, it is expected that these previous skills have improved from the last grading, so they still need to be practiced.
When in doubt, please remind your child that the instructors are there to help. Instructors are usually at the Kwoon fifteen minutes before class starts. This is a great opportunity for your child to ask questions or get some extra practice in before the weight room gets too crowded. Your child’s instructor will let them know when they are ready to grade again, just reassure them that they might need a little more time.
