A Beautiful Gift

by Sifu Nick Francis

哇，谢谢了！这个礼物太美了!

Wā, xièxièle! Zhège lǐwù tài měi le!

Wow, thank you! This gift is so beautiful!

I'm sitting here doing what I often do when I think about Wing Chun and the Lancaster Wing Chun Association.

I am thinking of each of you!

Mingled among a plethora of thoughts, meditations, plans, distractions, insights and ideas, I think about how I can serve those who call the Lancaster Wing Chun Association home. Name by name, face by face, I put in the effort to see that no one is overlooked.

To be honest, even though I love this, I do also find it wearisome at times. It's truly a wonderful joy to train with each and every one of you week after week. It is a wonderful thing to grow with you, learn from you, and most importantly just walk this journey with you through all the ups and downs.

The wearisome part actually has nothing to do with you. Frankly, I confess, I am just hard on myself. I wish I could give more. For some reason, I inextricably link your success and well-being to mine. I do this so naturally that with every success each one of you has, I authentically celebrate and then eagerly want to rush on to the next.

Sometimes it is in watching someone perfect part of a form. Other times it is hearing about a new personal discovery. My overall favorite however is watching as people laugh and walk away at the end of the night just a little bit taller, stronger and more confident into a challenging world beyond the walls.

This is why I find taking time away to be challenging. It is not that I overvalue myself, thinking that somehow my presence is essential to the vibrance of the growth and success.

I don't want to miss anything amazing!!!

As contradictory as it may sound, this is actually why I take time away. I believe taking this time away is important, taking a step back to move forward holding two essential goals as the guide.

If:

"The Lancaster Wing Chun Association exists

to create a place where

people can learn traditional Ip Man Wing Chun

 in a safe supportive environment." 

Then the purpose is:

1) To make the Lancaster Wing Chun Association a place where people can learn Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu.

- and -

2) To make the Lancaster Wing Chun Association a place where we can all to rise together.

______________________

Allow me to explain...

When I was coming to the conclusion of creating the Lancaster Wing Chun Association, I first asked my Sifu if I was ready to teach. I'll never forget his response as he repeated the same words used by Grandmaster Ip Chun (Si-gong) when speaking to him.

"Oh", he said, "I am not asking you to teach. I am asking you to create a place where people can learn."

This was so encouraging to me and very helpful. His response suspended all my reservations, expectations, and anxiety. Instead of teaching, Sifu just wanted me to create a place where I could share with others what he has shared with me. Ultimately passing along the same Ip family Wing Chun that was passed to him.

This is exactly what I see myself doing.

I believe it is essential that we take this perspective. In doing so, we are all learning and growing together.

This is why I give myself permission to step away for a short time to prioritize my own well-being and the well-being of my family. Giving myself permission however is only the first part of the essential agreement. The other half requires your partnership.

Although I am certainly excited to return and get back to training with all of you, I want to pause and celebrate what I have heard about you. I am overjoyed to hear that each of you continue to rise while I am gone. While away I have heard of your training and hard work. I have heard how you train and share with one another your learning. You ask for help and seek out ideas, perspectives and support with one another.

This is exactly what a Wing Chun is all about. It is not only about the individual but is also about the whole. The strength, support and resilience of the whole will always outweigh the work of just one.

This pursuit of excellence is what sets us apart.

It is our mindset!

It is our character!

You have heard me say that we are not a fighting school. But maybe this isn't technically correct. We all have battles to fight. Although they rarely require the use of our fists, they are nonetheless very real, challenging and often painful.

We all have things we are working on.

Wing Chun is where we all work on them together.

In this way, training Wing Chun is broader in scope than most realize.

In acknowledging this, in the most direct terms,

I want to say thank you.

• Thank you for the investment you make into one another.

• Thank you for the investment you make into me and my family.

• Thank you for the investment you make in yourself.

  
  

Maybe above all the words we would use to describe the Lancaster Wing Chun Association, the greatest would be the gift of never being alone in the journey.

Thanks for this wonderful gift. There is no greater gift that I can think of.

I truly appreciate each of you and the future you are creating.

See you all real soon!