Reality #1: With the increase of technology and quick access to information, our society has lost an element of patience that allows for development through persistent practice and all the insight that comes with it. As a high school math teacher, the mindset that technology creates makes the concept of regular and diligent practice seems too “Old School”. Students feel that after getting a couple problems correct, they have mastered the principle.


Reality #2: Most people, especially the youth, give more credit to those with physical prowess than those with mental prowess. Martial arts, Kung Fu especially, has mystical and super human stereo types most popularly represented by Bruce Lee’s fame that continue to this day:

Speed, Power, Agility and Fighting Prowess

Reality #3: True understanding and mastery of both academic and martial art skill require daily focused repetition and practice. Regardless of a student’s innate ability or athleticism, true skill can only be achieved by starting with a solid foundation. Once the relative foundation skills are achieved, skills based on that foundation can be understood and mastered. Those foundations skills will need to be revisited as skills developed in order to reinforce and ensure that the foundation can maintain the ever increasing skill levels.


Reality #4: As a high school math teacher, instilling the concept of daily practice and drilling of the Algebra foundation skills is a never ending battle; never mind the fact that the vast majority of the top students will agree that regular practice is what keeps them on top. Algebra is the foundation for all higher levels of mathematics. In other words, the more solid your Algebra skills the easier it is to understand and master upper levels of math. I regularly have students come back to me once they have gotten to Geometry, Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus and say, “We are doing the same thing that you taught us in Algebra.”


The Eventful Moment: One of my students at my first DC Charter school shared with me that they had an interest in martial arts. After a couple conversations, I informed the student that I too shared the same interest. Eventually my students talked me into doing a demonstration of the style of Chinese Boxing that I practice, Jow Ga Kung Fu (Jow Family Kung Fu). My students were more than impressed with my demonstration and began to regularly ask me questions about how I developed my skill sets. This made me think, “How can I turn this drive to learn my Chinese Boxing into a drive to learn math?”


The Light Bulb: I explained to them the term “Kung Fu” didn’t only relate to martial arts. Any skill developed over a long period of practice and training is considered “Kung Fu”. Regardless of how much natural talent someone has in their chosen field of study or activity, proper training and diligent practice are required for true mastery. After years of training and practice a cook has Kung Fu in cooking; a basketball player has Kung Fu in basketball; a Poet has Kung Fu in poetry; a football player has Kung Fu in football, and a successful math student has Kung Fu in math.

Connect the physical of Chinese Boxing Kung Fu with the mental of Algebra Kung Fu

The Results: By participating in learning the Jow Ga Chinese Boxing Kung Fu students soon learn the following:

- The physical prowess of Chinese Boxing starts with mundane drilling and practice of the foundation skills, just like math.

- Someone can “look” like they have the foundation skills down, but when tested could be a far cry from the reality of having developed the skill(s); just like math.

- Even after the basic skills have been learned and understood, one must continue to revisit and practice them in order to continue refining and improving the basics; just like math.

- If the basic foundation skills are not revisited, practiced, drilled and made even better; then the more advanced skills are weakened, just like math.

The Conclusion: In a very short period of time the following happens with students participating in the Martial Science Club:

1) Students who are slacking in math, but are physically able to develop well in the Chinese Boxing foundation skills, begin to focus more in class, come to tutoring to practice/drill, and begin to practice math at home before practicing the Chinese Boxing.

2) Students who are already doing well in math class begin to feel more confident when they begin to improve their foundation skills for Chinese Boxing.

3) Student that are not necessarily achieving physically in Chinese Boxing or in math are able to make improvements in both areas at different times. These improvements eventually translate into overall improvement in both Chinese Boxing and math.

At the conclusion of each year, participants are able to reflect on accomplishments in areas that they previously felt were difficult or unobtainable. This builds confidence with the knowledge that achievement comes from regular practice and drilling of foundation skills.

As of 2016, the Jow Ga Martial Science Club has been conducted at three different DC Charter Schools. Several members continue their Chinese Boxing instructions to this day. Participants have achievements in math and academics include:

- Incoming 9th graders skipping Algebra 1 going Geometry after passing the Algebra 1 test with an 85% or better while in the 8th grade

- Incoming 9th graders skipping Algebra 1 and going to Geometry and Algebra 2 after passing the Algebra 1 test with an 85% or better while in the 8th grade and receiving teacher’s approval.

- Receiving a variety of academic scholarships to colleges and universities.

Videos

Cesar Chavez Public Charter School January 2013

Idea Public Charter School March 2016