Jade
‘My sister, my mother and I, that is Us Against The World’. Jade (19) saw Kung Fu Panda as a preschooler and was hooked. She is a fantastic sprinter, but it is also possible to go too fast and push yourself too hard. A burnout taught her a lot about herself. Now she is the manager of a kung fu school.
From the interview:
'I was four when I saw Kung Fu Panda in the cinema. I said, "Mum, I want to do that too!" Outside they were handing out flyers because the kung fu school had teamed up with the cinema. At the trial lesson I saw a lot of girls. After that first lesson, I was in love. I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
The fun thing about the film is that even a clumsy animal like a panda can grow into a warrior. I thought that was so cool. I still watch it sometimes. Part four just came out. It's a great movie for kids.
Kung fu becomes part of your life. It's not just self-defence or a sport. It's a philosophy that says you never stop learning, that you work on your skills, pay attention in school, take responsibility at home by cleaning your room. The whole picture. We get all kinds of people coming together — rich, poor, all ethnicities — and they form one big whole. That's the kung fu family.
You sign up for a year straight away. For four- and five-year-olds, it's more about becoming aware of yourself and learning that your actions affect others. I got my junior black belt when I was eight. When I was thirteen, I earned my adult black belt. I've been assisting since I was eleven and started teaching on my own at thirteen.
I also teach adults. At first, the men had to get used to me. You could see them thinking, "What's this little munchkin doing here?" But now they take me seriously.'
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