On August 7, 2024, we partnered with Project Shine for their annual Born to Shine Summer Camp to teach kids kung fu and lion dance. The energetic students, aged 5 to 12, learned basic martial arts skills as well as traditional Chinese lion dance.
It was an amazing experience and a nice surprise for all the kids who were originally signed up for a free summer camp. Read on to find out what we taught, the kids’ thoughts on the classes, and how you can enrol your child in our own kids’ kung fu classes.
What we taught in our kids kung fu and lion dance workshop
Because of the short timeframe given for a summer camp workshop (especially in this case where we had two groups of kids), we condensed our kung fu workshop to ensure everyone got a chance to learn. The session was split into two main sections: kung fu and lion dance.
To start, one of our instructors, Shawn Zhang, demonstrated Peng Kwoon (平拳), a Choy Lee Fut form to show the kids what they could accomplish if they set goals and worked hard. Many of them looked on in awe as he demonstrated over a decade of experience in a minute and a half.
After a quick warmup and some stretching, we taught some basics of kung fu:
how to bow,
how to make a fist,
the basic backfist strike, front kick, and hand strike,
combining them for some basic combinations, and
the most common stances that promote stability, balance, and energy transfer.
This was a condensed and sped-up version of our normal kids’ class curriculum, but it gave the kids a taste of the quality classes we offer at Chau Luen Athletics.
With both Shawn and Gueshly teaching (with some help from Jonathan and Chantelle), the kids had an enjoyable time and many of them were grateful for the helpful advice. It was also refreshing to hear them ask so many questions and really engage with this traditional martial art form.
Kids lion dance workshop – the highlight of the day
Many of the kids had never seen a lion dance before or didn’t really understand what it was about. Some didn’t even know the difference between dragon dance and lion dance.
But when we brought out the colourful lion dance costumes, they were mesmerized.
We taught them the basic moves of lion dancing, the history of this tradition, and even demonstrated a lion dance for all of them to see. Chantelle’s performance was especially exciting for the young girls, too.
As it stands, not every kung fu club allows women to lion dance, and Chantelle’s performance in front of the kids was inspiring as it showed off that women could perform lion dance just as well as men could.
Every kid was invited to try out the same moves as we performed, as well as play with the lions and pet the soft fur.
Kids of all ages loved this part the most, and we hope it left a lasting impression on them.
Our commitment to community and children
It’s important to us that the event took place in Chinatown, as we work hard to revitalize the neighbourhood in any way we can.
This is what sets us apart from most lion dance schools—we put a major emphasis on community service with our lion dances and kung fu.
This was one of the best opportunities we had to both showcase Chinese culture and get kids involved in kung fu, so we happily accepted the invitation from Project Shine. Any one of these kids could be the ones that carry the torch to continue the growth of lion dance and Choy Lee Fut kung fu.
Your child will love our kids’ class
Are you interested in having your kids learn kung fu with us? We have a specialized kung fu curriculum that’s catered specifically to children and we are accepting new students now.
The classes will teach the basics of kung fu and lion dance in a safe, encouraging, and fun way. Our instructors have worked hard to develop it to suit the needs of kids ages 5 to 12, and always ensure that each child is getting enough individualized one-on-one attention to best develop their skills and ensure they are having a good time.
If you want your child to build confidence, meet friends, and get some exercise, follow the link below and get in touch with us. We can’t wait for their first class!
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