Gift VouchersTaiji Direct - Practical Aspects of Taijiquan Изпити в Сюангуей по Шаолин Цюан 24.01.2024
English languageБългарски език
Kung Fu for Children (and Parents)
« Back

Kung Fu for Children (and Parents)

Kung Fu 功夫 (Gōngfū), also known as Kung Fu, Kung-Fu, Gung Fu, Gungfu, or Gongfu, is the name for Chinese martial arts popularized by the legendary Bruce Lee. Kung Fu itself means skill, mastery, art, labor, effort, according to the exact translation of the Chinese characters. Together, these characters have this meaning, but separately they mean: 功Gōng - work, achievement, merit, good result; and 夫fū – man, adult, husband. In modern times, Kung Fu replaces the ancient term Wushu 武術 (wǔshù), which today is synonymous with sports martial arts in China and is far from the tradition that is signified by Kung Fu.

The tradition was actually a family form of passing down knowledge and skills, hidden within the family or within monastic institutions, similar to the famous Shaolin Monastery. Today, the art of Kung Fu is taught and accessible to everyone who wishes to develop as a harmonious person, not just as a form of self-defense. The struggle between traditional Kung Fu and the sports-oriented Wushu has made the competitive form popular due to the support of the Chinese government, while traditional forms make their way because of the value they carry. Thus, the advance of the "mainstream" and the "tradition" becomes an epic battle to win the hearts of children and youth.

Sport offers a sense of achievement with medals, diplomas, and thus provokes the ego, encouraging youngsters to express and overemphasize it by gaining popularity through social media, for example. In traditional Kung Fu, these things were not valued and still aren't today. Instead, modesty, moral and ethical norms, self-respect, and non-competition at any cost are valued qualities of a warrior.

Sports provoke children to fight and overcome problems at any cost, instead of finding solutions. It seems we cultivate in youngsters the victory-at-all-costs mindset and a pointless stubbornness. They are taught to compete and have opponents and enemies, instead of cooperating and making contacts and friendships, which is part of the tradition. Thus, solving a problem can be a way to attract friends, colleagues, or like-minded individuals to your side, instead of confronting and opposing everyone working on the same topic. Because the world is colorful and diverse, opposites complement each other for a cause, rather than hinder and oppose each other.

Of course, it's easier to hold children's interest by giving awards, belts, ranks, medals, and diplomas, but the difficult part is to build the understanding that training benefits them and is not for some external reward: fame, popularity, or dominance. Thus, from a very young age, the understanding of one's own importance can be formed without the need to humiliate a defeated partner to highlight our victory. The principle is the same as in teamwork - to win together, instead of only one being the winner.

Teaching children that training is as natural as breathing, sleeping, eating, and drinking, and to seek it as an inner necessity, is a valuable quality in itself. Because it creates a foundation around which a stable, harmonious, and happy life can be built. Thus, martial arts for children appear not as an element of aggressive attitude and mindset but as a way of understanding life, a philosophy, a means and techniques for dealing with life's difficulties, and mental resilience to the stress around us. The self-defense part of Kung Fu is no less important, but it comes naturally, without even intentionally seeking it.

Kung Fu training for children teaches them how to process their emotions and deal with those of others, how to recognize emotional and intellectual manipulation and avoid their traps. Developing emotional maturity and strategic thinking makes them a difficult target for schemes, manipulations, and deceptions, as well as for bullying, abuse, and aggression. All this happens because of the non-verbal signals that the body of a person trained in martial arts emits (namely, that they are a difficult target) and this prevents most conflict situations. The remaining potential dangers for children are a matter of sensitivity and intuition, so they don't get into them, and this is also part of Kung Fu training.

Teaching our children how to avoid problems is more important than teaching them how to get out of them! When you fall into the mud, even if you manage the unpleasant feeling, it's clear that you need to clean yourself afterward, but how to be observant and inventive to avoid puddles without getting dirty at all – that is Kung Fu! The smart way of Kung Fu is to teach children to jump over puddles, also to know how to handle it if they end up there, but not to seek it as their conscious decision!

Thus, we do not develop an aggressive approach and attitude in them, but give them the freedom to have this tool in their arsenal, knowing it, and having the moral values to use it only when no other tools are left to preserve their life! Being a warrior or walking the path of the warrior is learning to value and enjoy life, realizing its fragility and transience! It means learning to be responsible for your actions and not being reckless and thoughtless. Besides all these qualities, the children's groups in Xuangui allow children to train together with their parents, if they wish to, which helps strengthen family bonds through shared activities and communication channels.

7 Reasons and Benefits to Enroll Your Child in Kung Fu at Xuangui

  1. Physical Activity and Movement Culture Here, balance, coordination, strength, and flexibility are developed, but most importantly, children learn to understand the limits of their physical bodies and their capabilities to stay healthy and confident. Kung Fu contributes to endurance and strengthens the immune system through regular exercises, which include physical movements, breathing techniques, and attention development.

  2. Mental and Emotional Intelligence Through games, exercises, and stories that introduce them to the path of their own awareness and interaction with others, children learn how to behave and what to do in different situations. The social skills acquired in the hall will benefit them unconsciously in life. Learning to work in a team and being independent are qualities that build them as harmonious personalities in society. Communicating and interacting with others is a valuable skill nowadays and a way to make friends and contacts, not enemies and opponents. This teaches youngsters how to use communication to make friends and avoid conflicts before they arise.

  3. Strength of Spirit In the Kung Fu hall, confidence and self-respect are qualities that children acquire on their own, without anyone demanding it from them. This happens naturally due to the training method and the atmosphere in the hall, which help them overcome their own limits and fears. This is a tradition passed from the more experienced to the younger and is called tradition. Training the body induces changes in the mind and emotions, as the child's body language changes and others begin to perceive them subconsciously as confident and strong, even without them realizing it. This process is natural and comes with consistent Kung Fu training. Here, we do not teach children to be champions and to fight and win at any cost, but to overcome their own limitations and inhibitions to know their strengths and weaknesses and use them optimally.

  4. Orderliness and Discipline I often hear from parents: "I will bring him to learn discipline." In our school, we do not teach children discipline, but we hint at how they can find it themselves. Practicing together, similar to a family, the eldest help the youngest club members with attention and calmness, teaching them through behavior, not through demanding and forcefully imposed rules. Children are inherently correct and always try with their hearts to be liked and approved. When placed in the right environment, they form and follow the rules without being forced. This natural learning path is possible because the young naturally observe and imitate the older practitioners. Thus, children get used to the hierarchical structure in the hall, similar to school or later the work environment, and they do it out of their own inner conviction, respect, and love for what they do, not external coercion. Children understand mutual respect very well and reciprocate in kind, like in a game without feeling burdened. Focusing or maintaining attention in one discipline is learned and comes naturally when they like what they do, and gradually they learn to immerse themselves in training because it is their passion. This is the natural path to developing discipline and focus in the activities children engage in.

  5. Enjoyment of Physical Movement In today's digital world, children forget to play and lose interest in real movement because they don't know it, and the modern world constantly stimulates them to be virtual, making everything happen "for real." This forms harmful habits of inactivity, which is a prerequisite for numerous future diseases and problems: obesity, spinal and motor deformities, antisocial behavior, attention deficit, and an inability to communicate. All this is avoided by provoking and maintaining interest in physical activity in Kung Fu, which unlocks natural mechanisms for the pleasure of movement – dopamine and serotonin pathways, but not least the understanding and feeling of participating in something important and special, which brings fun! This process builds the habit in children to express themselves, seek and love movement because it supports life and health.

  6. Dealing with Daily Stress and Tension Turning children towards physical activity and Kung Fu, in particular, is a way to abandon harmful habits by replacing them with a wonderful way to cope with the stress and tension of everyday life at any age. Children are especially susceptible due to their openness to the world and quickly copy and apply what they see. For this reason, it is important to engage in Kung Fu from an early age, which educates them in an environment of physical activity, positive attitude, and emotional awareness.

  7. Striving for Self-Improvement The desire for self-development is formed from childhood, and the seed sown today bears fruit tomorrow, forming an open personality towards the world and new things, striving to develop as a person and to improve the surrounding environment. With the confidence that a child gets in the Kung Fu hall and the values, we lay, children become better students in school, strive for new and better achievements, and understand the meaning of education and self-improvement. This helps them shape their path in life and to find the right way for them without getting lost in the labyrinth of choices.

Conclusion

Teaching children Kung Fu not only fosters physical fitness and self-defense skills but also instills invaluable life lessons in discipline, respect, emotional intelligence, and the importance of continuous self-improvement. By nurturing these qualities from a young age, Kung Fu helps children grow into balanced, confident, and harmonious individuals who can navigate life's challenges with grace and resilience.

When to Enroll Your Child?

The appropriate age to enroll your child in kung fu classes is around 6-7 years old. At this age, children are preparing for school, and initial habits such as concentration and attention can be developed.

How to Enroll Your Child in Xuangui?

Before attending, a reservation is required.

Steps for Enrollment:

  1. Choose a Location and Martial Art: Review the schedule and select the appropriate martial art and location.
  2. Contact the Instructor: Reach out to the instructor listed in the schedule to arrange a visit and attend the first training session.

Instructors:

Email: xuangui@abv.bg

 

Sofia, 2024,  Bozhidar Stanchev

^