TRY SOMETHING NEW: Kung fu requires balance, a few more lessons! By Stephanie De Pasquale | Friday, January 16, 2009 10:36 PM CST
I’m 5 feet 2 inches tall, and, depending upon the ratio of trips to the candy bowl here at the Quad-City Times versus visits to the YMCA, I alternate between a size 2 and a 4. My stature isn’t exactly what you would call intimidating.
Yet, for the year I’ve been working as an entertainment reporter, I’ve spent my evenings and weekends going by myself to local nightspots. I’ve never had a problem, but I’ve always meant to take a self-defense class so I’d be able to take care of myself if I had to.
Then I had my introduction to kung fu. When I arrived at Morrow’s Academy of Martial Arts one day last week, I was wearing my standard workout gear, a T-shirt, a pair of stretchy pants, special socks for running and my running shoes.
None of that was good enough.
I was handed a white sash and a gi, or special pair of pants for practicing martial arts. The gi, baggy and made of a heavier fabric, is quite comfortable and very easy to move around in. It could easily double as lounge pants on a lazy Saturday. The shoes and special socks even had to go.
My roommate, who also works at the Times, and I have been joking that this Try Something New series is just an excuse to get photos and video of reporters looking ridiculous. So I was very self-conscious and tried, unsuccessfully, to keep from falling on my rear.
Kung fu takes a surprising amount of balance, particularly when practicing the moves in slow motion to make sure your form is right. I did lots of tipping and catching my balance as the class learned how to kick in front of and behind us. Which means that, to be truly effective, I’m going to have to first learn how to keep my balance on bare feet and then add a pair of 4-inch heels, which is what I likely would be wearing if I ever had to use my skills while covering the area entertainment scene.
We also learned several ways to block punches and disable an opponent after blocking the punch by either pushing them away or knocking them over by swooping a leg through their knee. I tried to show off my new skills on my fiance, but I failed miserably. He stood firm on his two feet, declaring that I needed some more training before I’d actually be able to defend myself.
And, ladies, you will appreciate this. Like any bride-to-be, I’ve been busting my rear, well at least my abdominals, in the gym for months. After one hour of kung fu, my stomach was just as sore as it is after doing 80 sit-ups on an incline bench while holding a 10-pound weight. Even the hard-to-tone sides of my abs were sore. John Morrow, who runs the martial arts school and has been practicing kung fu for 40 years this month, said it’s because kicking and punching both work the abdominals.
I later called Morrow to set up some additional lessons. While I attended a class for this article, he normally starts beginners off with six private lessons to learn the basics one-on-one at their own pace.
At the end of the six lessons, Morrow said, students can defend themselves and have the option to continue with group classes like the one I attended. He offers youth and adult classes with day, evening and weekend options for adults.
If you go
What: Morrow’s Academy of Martial Arts
When: Class times vary by age and ability
Where: 1321½ 5th Ave., Moline
How much: $89.50 for six, 30-minute private lessons
Information: Call (309) 764-1929
Stephanie De Pasquale can be contacted at (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.
