Stepping Into Power
On my first Kung Fu class earlier this month, Master John taught me the first sparring technique. “Your punch should aim there, right below the nose of your opponent”, he said, motioning at an invisible shape before us. A shiver ran down my spine. My eyes watered and my whole body contracted as I pictured myself breaking the imaginary opponent’s nose with my bare hands.
Beside Master John’s tranquil presence, I positioned my feet and raised my arms to my chest. I clenched my fists so tightly that I felt the shiny green nail polish I’d applied before class sliding off. Focused, I took a deep breath and struck. To my surprise, a sigh of satisfaction escaped me. There was a tiny, almost imperceptible shift in my body, but I felt the release.
Thereafter, practicing stances and executing punches and kicks became easier. This week, I was invited to spar with brown and black belts. Facing an actual person intimidated me; I feared hurting them. Then I realized — I was afraid of my own power.
As we circled each other, a fierce yet controlled life force awakened within me. Guided by this new aliveness, I began punching, kicking and blocking, syncing with my partner’s energy. Moving in our circle, I entered a state of flow. It was like a dance. When Master John called for us to stop, I wanted to continue.
Old fears and beliefs stored in my body were released. As I free myself from them, I’m able to move forward differently, beyond what my conditioning and past experiences have taught me. The changes I invite my body to make are rewiring my brain, creating new pathways to approach situations.
This practice of bodily “unfreezing”, of stepping past my comfort zone slowly and in tune with my nervous system’s capacity, is liberating parts of myself that yearn to speak out, be louder and take more space — part that I couldn’t access through cognitive intelligence alone.
This embodied transformation extends beyond the dojo. As I unlock new potential in my physical practice, I find myself approaching other aspects of my life with renewed vigor and confidence. The lessons learned through Kung Fu—facing fears, embracing power, and moving with intention—are now guiding me as I steer my business in a bold new direction. Writing this article, initiated by the wisdom of my heart and body rather than just my mind, marks the first step on this exciting journey.