On the weekends here in Jamaica I have Kung Fu classes. I've enjoyed doing Kung Fu for over a year now and here's what a normal day looks like-
Kung Fu practice begins with our first warm up exercise: 10
laps on the stairs up to the third floor of the building- up and back down is one lap. Next, we will
then line up in 3 lines; usually 3-4 people are in each line. I’m in front. We start doing frog jumps. I squat and then extend my legs to jump as far as
possible to land softly on the balls of my feet. My thighs are already burning
as I continue across the parking lot. I look to my sides to see the
others who were at the front of the other lines way ahead of me. My jumps are
pathetically small. Still I keep on jumping. At least 5 laps later I can barely
jump at all. Still I keep attempting to jump. When mercy is shown to the class
we get a change of pace, slightly. Now we will do duck walks. Squat as low as
possible and then walking/waddling across the same parking lot. I have no idea
what’s going on in the minds of bystanders but I don’t dwell on it too long
because pain is at the forefront of my mind. Not only are there pains in my
legs during this exercise but as we make it to each end we will have to do
push-ups. All this back and forth across
the asphalt teaches you to keep your balance because falling flat on your face
really doesn’t feel good! (Some times if we are "lucky" we also get to do bear crawls, floor sweeps, and wheelbarrows.) Eventually our warm ups aka: slow and painful deaths
are over for the time being. We grab a partner at this point and we’ll begin
practicing our kicks, punches, and blocks on each other. Tired and aching legs make this feel
impossible. Speed isn’t a factor, yet. Precision is our goal. Slow movements
build muscle memory and muscles in general.
We start by not using our blocks because it helps both you and your partner get the punches
and kicks in the right places. Just because they are doing it slowly doesn’t
mean that your partner won’t accidentally kick you in the ribs, hard. It’s a
relief when you are given the ok to start using your blocks. It’s even cooler
to start blocking and then catching your partner off guard with an unanticipated round house
kick.
Saying I’m sweaty at this point feels like an
understatement! Saying I’m drenched in sweat and my clothes are all wet from it
barely cuts it. By now we are over half way done and the remaining 30-45
minutes will be spent either doing self-defense maneuvers, sparing, or doing forms. Sparing and self defense are pretty self-explanatory and while
waiting my turn I’ll usually be off to the side stretching out my legs. Forms
are a series of moves (kicks, punches, and blocks) that are performed at
competitions. I am one of 4 that are currently doing the Pyramid Form. This has
28 moves. I know them all by heart, but we are working on perfecting these moves. I get
stuck at a point where I pivot into a stance with my right leg bent at a right
angle in front of me and my left leg stretched out behind me with my foot flat
on the ground. My fault in this move is my left leg isn’t always perfectly
straight. It is extremely frustrating to not get it right even though I know
what to do in my head. But, in my head, my legs are still pleading for mercy. When
we are finished I am filled with a mix of exhaustion, relief, hunger, and
thirst. And I walk away on numb spaghetti legs.
I have been doing Kung Fu for a while now and at times I will leave feeling sick and I still end up hurting. My legs will hurt. My shoulders will hurt. My knees, ankles, ribs, hips, back-everywhere will hurt! I have practice on the weekends and then the pain will last well into Wednesday. So why do I submit myself to this torture? Why am I ok with being covered in sweat? Why do I make myself look like a fool waddling across a parking lot where anyone could see me? Why do I push myself, continually? I ask myself these questions all week long especially when I am stretching out my stiff legs. But if you were to ask me right after I finally get home, have drunk a ton of water, and had a cold shower I might say something like “Because if I survived this week I can make it through another practice next week”, or “I know that I will regret it later if I quit now”, or “ because I enjoy exerting myself”. Most importantly I prove to myself each week that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
I have been doing Kung Fu for a while now and at times I will leave feeling sick and I still end up hurting. My legs will hurt. My shoulders will hurt. My knees, ankles, ribs, hips, back-everywhere will hurt! I have practice on the weekends and then the pain will last well into Wednesday. So why do I submit myself to this torture? Why am I ok with being covered in sweat? Why do I make myself look like a fool waddling across a parking lot where anyone could see me? Why do I push myself, continually? I ask myself these questions all week long especially when I am stretching out my stiff legs. But if you were to ask me right after I finally get home, have drunk a ton of water, and had a cold shower I might say something like “Because if I survived this week I can make it through another practice next week”, or “I know that I will regret it later if I quit now”, or “ because I enjoy exerting myself”. Most importantly I prove to myself each week that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
This is a Doctor Bird, the Jamaican national bird
The view from where we stayed in Ochie
