Stunning! Amazing!! Fantastic!!! These were accurate words to describe a local Dance show. There were over 200 young performers and I delighted in the obvious pride of the Principal of the school having seen the results of her efforts.  I know I feel it when I see my Kung Fu Teens do the same. They are so skilful with such noticeable progression from the very young through to the confident teenagers and it is a real honour to be part of that development process.

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So, at the recent festival I was really looking forward to seeing how they performed when undertaking a demonstration for the Public. To my shock, my level of pride swelled not for what they did but for the way they did "nothing"!! Due to an overrun in timings, they were forced to sit in lines quietly. There was no fidgeting or messing about although all sorts of activity and mayhem went on around them. From little 4 year olds through to the teenagers, they sat quietly and in disciplined order for over 25 minutes in the hot sun. They were BRILLIANT and I could not have been prouder as they showed exactly what they were about.

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As soon as the shout went up "Are You Ready" they responded with a deafening "We Were Born Ready!!" They then went on to demonstrate so many of the skills they have learnt appropriate to their age group. No choreography, no rehearsals, no fore-warning - just "let's get on with it".

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It is this level of discipline, concentration and determination that will last with them. They will learn how to move better, be co-ordinated, improve balance, increase sports skills and defend themselves but, more importantly, these underlying traits of tenacity and "never give up" attitude will be the core strengths that will carry them successfully through life.

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There is a Chinese expression: "you can look at the reflection but you will never know the depth until you get in the water". Put another way,

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I Hear and I Forget; I See and I Remember; I Do and I Understand

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and there we have it. These young people are awash in the water and gaining huge amount of deep level mental and physical skills. They are "doing" it whilst achieving understanding well beyond their peer group and, I must say, it does make you feel proud of your efforts.

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So, I would like to say to my students, "well done" for doing NOTHING so well!

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—Sifu Steve