Oh Canada

Training in kung fu presents certain unique challenges. Chinese hand forms tend to be fairly lengthly and they cover quite a bit of real estate. Finding a location outside your kwoon that gives you enough space to complete an entire form uninterrupted is almost impossible. Most of us break our forms down into segments for practice at home and piece them back together when we return to class. Weapon forms exasperate the issue, and in most cases, are impossible to practice indoors safely.

This brings up the unique challenges a person faces when practicing the martial arts in a northern climate. At our latitude, the climate can force us to keep our training indoors for seven months of the year. That’s a long time to be away from your weapon practice. During the deep freeze intervals when the temperature drops below -30 degrees centigrade, any outdoor cardio exertion is impossible without the cold, dry air damaging your lungs.

I do believe these unique challenges give us the opportunity to become better martial artists. Overcoming the limitations of the short daylight hours and extreme weather in the winter help us prepare for the other inevitable pitfalls that end up crossing our paths.  Like any other challenge that falls your way, it’s how you choose to react to the challenge that determines whether or not you will come out ahead for it.

“Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are." - Bernice Johnson Reagon (b. 1942)