Kung Fu First Dance: Perspective and Gratitude

During these unprecedented times, I think it’s more important than ever that we keep our training in perspective and are thankful for everything that it has given us.

A hundred years ago, we probably would have trained mostly for martial purposes. Today, with most of the world being largely safer and more stable, many of us train for other reasons as well.

When I started training in the martial arts more than 30 years ago, I just wanted to be like Bruce Lee. I could never have imagined that because of my training I would ultimately meet the kung fu girl of my dreams.

In October 2019, I married that kung fu girl—and I got to do a kung fu first dance with her that was magical. Neither she nor the dance would have been possible without my training.

Who would have guessed that my martial art would turn into a marital art? So, the next time you train, be thankful for all the ways your art has enriched your life.

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Water Boxer

Based in Los Angeles, instructor Grant Ching is one of the only water-boxing (Liu He Ba Fa Chuan) teachers in the United States. He primarily teaches water boxing's main form, Zhu Ji, as well as Xingyi Chuan's five old fists.