How to use kung fu

Yesterday I was teaching the childrens martial arts class, and I could tell that one of the kids was really getting frustrated when trying to do the particular combination that was being taught that day.

When kids come into Las Vegas Kung Fu Academy, many of them come in with the same kinds of fears as adults. They are afraid that they wont be coordinated enough or maybe they are afraid of not fitting in with the rest of the class. They may be afraid of looking foolish in front of others.

I took this kid aside and asked him what the problem was. He said that he felt like he was going to fail at martial arts. I asked him what he meant by fail. He couldn't really explain his feelings. I tried digging a little deeper. I asked him if these thoughts were going through his mind:

• “I am no good.”
• “I wont be good at this”

He said yes. I then asked him to replace those thoughts with these sentences;

• I have just started with kung fu
• I will give myself some time to learn martial arts.
• I want to be the best at everything I do
• I know that it takes perseverance and effort to learn anything worthwhile

Many times in life our internal attitude and dialogue may sabotage us in what we want to accomplish. Always being aware of the type of things you are saying to yourself will put you on the right track to be successful. Whether success to you is your advancing in your career, doing well at college or learning martial arts, it is all the same thing. It is only through hardships that one becomes stronger. If college and jobs and managing family life were easy, it wouldn’t mean anything.

Kung fu is not only learning martial arts or combat, but rather kung fu is a vehicle you may use to see yourself in a different light.

Kung fu is one of the only things in life where you can be completely honest with yourself, as far as your current skill level of where you are and where you want to go. This honest assessment of yourself can and should be used as a motivational tool.

What I would really like all of my students to take away from my martial arts school is not so much to fight, but rather the ability to apply the ways of martial arts to their personal life. At the end of class, the student who was initially so stressed out was much more at ease with himself and I thought he did very well that day.

Sometimes all it takes is a willingness to go into the unknown without guarantees and just trying your best. In my opinion this is the greatest type of courage.

Sincerely,
kevin kawada - Las Vegas Kung Fu Academy
Phone: 336-1095
www.lvshaolin.com