2023: A Reflection on Kung Fu

At the end of the year & the beginning of the next we like to send out a message about an aspect of Cambridge Kung Fu that we consider useful to share. One of the thoughts I have had about what Kung Fu is, is this:

At some point in human history we realised that work done now would at least sometimes be rewarded in some way in the future. Growing crops for example would have emerged at least in part as a result of people realising that work done now would reap a reward in the future most of the time, enough of the time to make it a worthwhile investment.

We also realised at some point that as well as external investment reaping rewards, it was also true that internal investment in skills would often lead to increased chances of success. Survival skills would I am sure have dominated this early expansion of the development of personal skill: Hunting & Gathering, building shelter & making fire as well as martial skills for example.

At some point in China this concept was given the name of Kung Fu: The concept of working hard and with intelligence now, in order to reap the reward of attained skills at some point in the future. My teachers teacher, Sifu Wan Kam Leung explained to my teacher Sifu Benno Westra that the idea of this ‘Work’ that must be done to attain skill is not just about it being hard and using intelligence to attain skill but that there is the additional idea of dealing with discomfort. That it is through learning how to deal with discomfort both objectively and subjectively that true attainment in Kung Fu is achieved. That the skills that we seek to develop are often found on the other side of what we personally find uncomfortable and that the foundation for the capacity to face what personally challenges us is found in physical practise. One of the key skills in learning to deal well with discomfort is found in the ability to distinguish pain from discomfort. The ability to discern what is truly harmful from what is challenging is such a powerful skill, which Kung Fu seeks to cultivate. For in this place lies many of the great treasures of life such as courage, peace of mind and clarity of thought along with many others.

At Cambridge Kung Fu we seek to continue this great tradition past down to us from our teachers and bring it into the time & location that we live in today.

We thank you all for supporting us in achieving this, and we wish you a Happy New Year for 2024.

Sifu Ross