For the third time I’m off on a Kung Fu adventure – starting in Japan this time. I can hear you think “isn’t Japan the land of samoerai, karate and judo? And isn’t Kung Fu originally from China?” Yes it is. But tucked away here is also a great Kung Fu school.
It’s a small place of about 14 students. The thing I love most about these places, at least as much as the Kung Fu itself, is the community. People come from all around the world: from ten-year-olds to people well into their 70’s who can still kick at face height. I can only dream of being that mobile when I’m their age. Everyone brings their own level of fitness and experience. Since you live, train, eat, enjoy your free time and occassionally grunt at the hard work together, there really is no escaping getting to know each other quite well.
Everyone has a different reason for coming, and I love hearing the stories. Some want to turn their lives around: from never having been to the gym and smoking a pack a day to seven hours of Kung Fu a day, five days a week. I can only imagine how hard that must be, but they’re doing it. Other people want to be like Bruce Lee, got inspired by Kung Fu Panda, or are using the skills they learn here to add to their acting and stunt repertoire. Some are very young and are send here by their parents as a relatively safe option to travel alone, and others are looking for the healing benefits of Qiqong. Of course, there are also people who have been doing it as a hobby for some time and use these live-in schools as a crash course during their vacation time. And then there are some people who have made this their home. Some are more interested in Qiqong or Tai Chi, others in Shaolin forms and still others in sparring: there is something for everyone.
So many people, so many stories. And I feel lucky to meet them and be inspired by all of them.
