“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times”

My time in China has definitely had it’s ups and downs. After a week of training I became seriously ill which is why I didn’t train for some time. The Wingchun master, master Zhang, even after only knowing me for a week, helped me throughout that time with trying to diagnose my symptoms and bringing me different kinds of traditional chinese medicine. And after 6 weeks and 3 doctors I was finally able to train again and finally start my journey. I initially thought Shaolin is going to be the one thing I´d like to do but after some time training Wingchun I learned to love this martial art and it’s teacher.

Master Zhang is an amazing teacher focusing a lot on basics, stance and repetition not only knowing a lot about Wingchun but also about other martial arts, as well as TCM and chinese traditions and culture and therefore not only teaching us a fighting style but also a lot about the life and history in and around China. He teaches in a wholesome, humorous way making sure everyone is satisfied with the training, getting the attention one needs and having a good time in the same moment. As it is a martial art that focuses a lot on using the subconsciousness to apply little force with great impact in a moment of danger, it teached me not only how to get one with my body but also how to calm my mind and relax when my instinct screams for tension.

With the time master Zhang has become more then just a teacher. He became more like a friend or even father figure always looking after his students and wanting the best for them. He has been a great help and leader throughout a period where I was lost many times.

In the morning and afternoon I did Tai Chi with Master Liu. A martial art which, despite the fact that it looks like meditation, is immensely dangerous once you master it (which I am of course very far from). He showed incredible patience and knowledge with every student, showing the form many times and being mostly helpful also when he was sometimes going too fast forward with new moves.

Master Wei, the schools headmaster, created a space where people from everywhere around the world could come together in a peaceful environment and enjoy hard training, funny game- and movie evenings (organized by students) as well as bond-building trips.

The food is good and even if simple, I always loved it and looked forward to lunch and dinner. The kitchen ladies do an amazing job and even with the language barrier they are great and loving people to have around. Shushu, the guy who keeps the whole place running, is always grumpy but gets u everything fixed and is very helpful and fast with what he does.

Also Joy is an amazing part of this school always heartful and caring she takes care of every concern and has been a great help with me getting better when I was sick, always responding to questions in a clear and effective way.

Last but not least the translators have been amazing. Eve (杜娇) and David (佃伟) are simply angels on earth that will help with everything you want to realize or organize. Without them this school wouldn’t run in the same way as it does and they always make sure that everything is prepared for your happiness. Eventually after knowing them some time they became friends of mine and I even was able to spent some time in Davids hometown with him.

9 months of China have been insane. A mix between slow paste moments and days, weeks and months passing by in a blast. It has been a humbling experience, showing me not only a completely different culture, people, language and cuisine but also many different views on the world, group dynamics and how to work your way around problems, how to stay disciplined as well as how to endure in times were one doesn't feel like enduring anymore. But the biggest treasure amongst all of this were the people met and the moments shared, the laughs laughed and the discussions made with them. It shows once more that it really does not matter where you come from as, in the end, we all have one thing in common: we are human.

Kind regards 

Simon