To an outside observer, a college concentration that combines ecology and anthropology may seem like a far cry from the study of traditional Chinese Kung Fu. As I continue to journey through educational and life experiences, however, I find a connective thread: I always come back to Yang’s Martial Arts.

I have been a Kung Fu student at Yang's for 15 years. Practicing Kung Fu has helped me develop the confidence and skills necessary to succeed both individually and in team environments, which aids me in my demanding collegiate studies. I am physically stronger from the movements and techniques of martial arts, and I am mentally stronger from the concentration, discipline and patience I have gained from studying this art.

Martial arts does not make you invincible. In fact, the most significant lesson I've learned while studying at Yang’s is the concept of limits. I have learned that my body can be pushed further than I think, but should not be pushed to the point of breaking. I have learned that my mind can overcome many obstacles through willpower, but not all obstacles without help. I acknowledge that there are times to fight, and times to respect differences. These lessons have served me well in college and in life, and they all have been developed through Kung Fu.

The lessons are not solely the product of martial arts, but of Yang’s as an encouraging environment and family unit. The intersection of the martial art, the environment, the classmates and the staff at Yang's provides me with a blend of positive elements which allow me to study and grow as a student of martial arts and a student of life. The studio creates the right environment for group and individual practice. My classmates provide motivation and support, and the instructors are not only educators and role models, but they are students themselves, inspiring me to never cease learning.

Yang’s has been the right environment for me and for many other students over the years because of these elements. During school breaks I come back to Yang's to assist teaching kids classes. I am able to provide younger students with the encouragement and support I always received as a student, making it rewarding for the kids as well as for myself. Giving back to the Yang's community, which has given so much to me, motivates me to return to my individual learning and to participate in teaching. College time is difficult for Yang's students because we never want to leave. But we come back. Time and again, we come back.