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Central Texas Martial Arts
News for September 2010
Welcome back to Kung Fu….I hope everyone had a great summer.
Some of us went to the AAU Nationals last month in St. Louis where we brought back, 5 gold metals 2 sliver and 1 bronze, between just three students Bryon Minshew, Rhys and Hanna Davies! Their pictures are on the bulletin board in the Kwoon.
I would like to direct you to be sure and visit our web site at www.rrkungfu.com to stay informed on events and happenings at the Kwoon (Kung Fu School).
This summer we saw some fun movies starting with the Karate Kid. Now if you followed this movie you realized that the kid was not learning karate but kung fu. Now to many of you it is all karate and I must say this movie and people that do not make the distinctions between the two drive many of my fellow Kung Fu Sifu (Teachers) crazy! For me it is just another opportunity to educate the public to the differences.
Kung Fu is said to be approximately five thousand years old, in our own system we can trace with empirical evidence it being at least three thousand years old where as Karate in approximately 500 years old and Tae Kwon do only about 60 years old.
Along with the Karate Kid was the Last Air Bender, which both featured Kung Fu artist. While it may seem like all Karate to you:
We will start the year off by teaching the kids the differences between, Kung Fu verses Karate, and Tae Kwon Do. I have practice all three over the past 50 years as well as boxing and the biggest difference is linear verses circular movement for redirection of your opponent, which I believe makes the superior difference. The other arts are realizing this and have begun absorbing this into their systems however the root is Chinese Martial Arts. We also do not have the kids acting like little soldiers yelling out yes sir nor do they earn black belts another poly to separate you from your money.
For me another difference had to do with was what the Chinese calls learning a complete system which features strikes, kicks, locks, and throws. Matched with what the Chinese call Wude (acting with integrity). Kung Fu literally means having achieved greater skills over a period of time and effort.
Our philosophy centers on the Wude principle when we deal with bullies through first ignoring those that use verbal intimations. Our second line deals with telling mom or dad if someone continues to harass you at school to a point that is upsetting you. This is so mom and dad may intercede by talking with the teacher and inform the teacher of the families concern. Finally, if you are physically attacked learning how to redirect and throw somebody down and immediately seek help.
It is these lessons that we use to set the stage for the learning more of Kung Fu’s Wude etiquette of consideration, respect, and making good choices, which can lead to more privileges and greater responsibilities. We also explore that negative behavior and choices leads to negative consequences and restrictions.
As our kids program celebrates its 21st year, our school celebrates its 38th year, and I my 50th year in martial arts I remain steadfast in passing on the traditional aspects of Chinese Kung Fu to the community at all levels youth, adult, and seniors!
Sifu Dave
