Wude and the Break-a-thon

Pronounced Wu duh (think Thumper talking to Bambi; Bir-DUH!)

Wude is a concept that is paramount in any traditional Kung Fu school.  Translating as martial morality, Wude embodies what we try to teach our students and practice in our everyday lives. Empathy, self discipline, respect and confidence need to be developed alongside the physical skills.

We have an amazing opportunity fast approaching. Our annual Break-a-thon is on October 21st through 23rd, and we don’t have many other events that can provide the same opportunities as this one.

There are clear, physical benefits of the board breaks. Obviously, the skill developed in the preparation and execution of board breaks speaks for itself. Tight fists, straight vectors, solid techniques. It is impossible to leave after a night of board breaks without an increase of skill and understanding. There is no better way of gauging the effectiveness of a technique or the strengths and flaws of your execution than by putting yourself to work against a board. We understand this can also be a daunting endeavour; your instructors will always be there to provide guidance and insight. We are invested in your success.

This is also a huge opportunity to build confidence in both children and adults alike. Nothing feels quite like breaking a board with your fist. The feeling of accomplishment never fades. Even when a student has a failed attempt, it becomes that much more of an accomplishment and success when they finally do break that board in half. During our break-a-thon every student will break ten boards. We never let a student leave the kwoon feeling defeated; we’ll take the time to ensure every student, three years old or eighty-three years old, successfully completes ten board breaks. 

Last, how our break-a-thon ties into the concept of Wude, or martial morality. 

We encourage our students engage in the spirit of the Break-a-thon by engaging the people around them and talking about our charities. Spreading awareness of these issues goes further than a dollar donated. Empathy is the key to correcting the wrongs we see in the world. Awareness is the first step towards empathy.

Nothing is for free; our actions as well as our inactions affect our world and those who share it with us. Alternately, the efforts and energy we put into our Kung Fu, especially the mental and social aspects, will return tenfold to us. 

Any student who engages in the Break-a-thon at this level also earns the green stripe, the Wude stripe.

For more information on the event and for the downloadable pledge sheet, please visit the Our Calendar page of our website.