Children performing the ancient tradition of killing time while parents run errands.
A widely respected martial arts Grandmaster will be offering his services in the area of hand-to-hand combat training this weekend at the local branch of the Karate 4 Kids studio.
Having devoted his life to studying under the strict guidance of a well-regarded and rich lineage of predecessors in his native Hong Kong, the expert instructor can now be found teaching children aged six to ten on Saturday mornings from 8-10 am in Northampton, Long Island.
Having studied the martial art of Kung Fu from the time he was a young child, humbly embracing teachings dating as far back as the Qing Dynasty, Li Wei Lau, 52, will bring with him a wealth of knowledge, sharing important elements from his intense studies to New England third graders. When asked how excited he was to begin his new position at the school, which comes highly recommended by Yelp reviewer Tony C., Lau calmly replied, “It’s fine.”
Although Lau’s martial arts background involved a delicate and trusted balance of diet, exercise, and meditation, as well as calling upon the principles of humility and gratitude, students at the Karate 4 Kids studio will experience a more gentle tutelage. “We do a lot of jumping jacks, I guess,” explains Lau. “The kids spend a good amount of time repeatedly kicking the same area of air while I count to 20, as well.”
While many students enrolled in Lau’s class are not terribly eager to participate in a physical sport requiring constant self-discipline and rigorously structured lessons, the release of a new Karate Kid movie every 30 years continues to encourage over-scheduled children to enter dojos across the country. The promise of kicking someone in the nuts, or loudly exclaiming “Hiya!” while chopping other students on the top of the head has proven to excite generation after generation.
As with any leadership role, the job doesn’t come without its set of difficulties and frustrations. “Well, I guess aside from the fact that not a single person has noticed that I’m trained in the art of Kung Fu and not Karate, the toughest part of the job will be trying to get 17 kids at a birthday party to actually learn something,” says Lau. “Also, the invoicing. I’m not much for paperwork.”
Parents interested in enrolling their children in Lau’s beginner Karate classes can contact the school via their website. All experience levels are welcome, and snacks and juice boxes will be provided.
