LOA GAR

We have this form that we have to learn if we want to grade for our black belt. It is called Loa Gar. It is different than the other forms that I have learned so fa, in many ways. The moves and the stances are different and they do take some getting used to, I'm not there yet. It is also different in the sense that you may not learn it from a black belt (that's how we usually learn new forms). The challenge is that you have to learn it from another student. For me, the challenge came when most of the people that I would have been comfortable asking for help, got promoted to black belt, making them off limits. At first I was kinda scared and worried that I would not learn it in time to become at least proficient before the test. Then I began to worry about who I could learn it from, at first I had no idea where to start. Then I took a look around and started asking people what they knew and if they could teach me. My first Loa Gar teacher was my friend who was visiting from China. It was an interesting experience to put aside the ego (mine) and let someone teach me, especially a friend. It was totally awesome, she laid the ground work, explained the form and instilled in me the patience to settle down and let myself learn. I found myself wishing that she could teach me the whole form, that was not to be the case. She had to go back to China and continue her training (Saturday training is still not the same without her). So there I was, part of the form to practice and absolutely no comfort zone. I started asking other students who I had seen perform the form and/or practicing it. Some of them looked as uncomfortable as I felt at the prospect of helping a higher belt. It took some discussion but we managed to get passed it. I have worked with a few different people and it has been an amazing experience. I have gotten to know some of the other students(as martial artists) and how they train and I have stepped out of my comfort zone. I am much more comfortable going up to a fellow student and saying, 'Hey, you know that part in Loa Gar.... can you show me?' I am almost at the stage where I know all the moves ( I keep forgetting that last few moves) and I am sure to any of the black belts watching that it looks like a jig saw puzzle that doesn't quite fit, but I am now confident that I will not only learn the rest of the form, I will master it.
I hope that my actions have encouraged others to go outside their comfort zone and ask for help with the things that they are struggling with. We often talk about being one big family, in families we help and support each other, no matter what level you are at. I am very glad that I stepped outside my zone.

Robyn Kichko
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain, AB, Canada