Sports are played for many reasons. Whether you’re bored, competitive, talented- or maybe there is another explanation. Maybe they are a safe space or an opportunity to let everything go. 

For me, Kung Fu has always been some kind of refuge, and Kidz Kung Fu Academy has given me this.

Since the age of four, I have expressed any feeling through the sport. A bad day simply meant more power behind each punch and more focus in each session. Any upset didn’t matter anymore- not after breaking free in ground fighting drills or getting my nunchucks right.

The love for this sport didn’t end after primary school though. Throughout my teenage years, Kung Fu has always been there for me.

But now it helped me with bigger issues. When friends were afraid to go out, I was instead happy to stay out longer. Martial arts give you skills every child needs. They aren’t a source of anger or aggression but teach self-defence and morality. 

I see children struggling from temper issues come along to classes and learn how to diffuse conflict. They are given a certain confidence from the sport that means fights aren’t sought out, but teachers are found instead. This is because they are given the chance to express themselves and are taught that any action taken should only be in self-defence.

This development in character is so special and so important. 

Not only do kids learn how to act in the face of a fight, but adults can also learn from the sport. 

Adults often consider themselves to be superior in their actions, but I think it’s obvious that this isn’t always the case. Lots of people join to show their strength, but it’s not about that. You can be the biggest and still lose in sparring and this extends into life – you can feed a big ego but other will still see straight through you.

People often come along to one lesson and realise their ability is irrelevant. This might mean you never see those faces again, but it can also be a learning curve. Over time, adults change as well, and I think Kung Fu allows anyone to learn respect alongside skill.

Young or old, Kidz Kung Fu Academy is an opportunity to be leapt at. The sport is a journey, in a way. It’s a source of growth – both mentally and physically.