Perspective on Ving Tsun - Dusty Hooke

The following testimonial about Ving Tsun (wing chun) Kung Fu was written by Dusty Hooke, an instructor in the Women's Program at the Richmond Moy Yat Kung Fu Academy. From time to time, we will be publishing other testimonials by Richmond kung fu students - contact us if you'd like to write one. You may also wish to leave a review on Yelp, Google or Facebook.

I started taking Ving Tsun (pronounced wing chun) Kung Fu at the Richmond Moy Yat Kung Fu Academy with my husband and daughter in October of 2010. I thought it would be a fun way for my husband and I, who were both overweight and out of shape, to get back in condition. I have to say that it was that for sure. We both lost a significant amount of weight and felt much stronger and had much more stamina throughout our first year.

However, it has also been so much more. As my training has progressed, I have felt a deep change in myself. I feel stronger in all aspects of my life, in my work, in my relationships, and in the way that I relate to the world. It isn't just about the self defense aspect, although that is very important, but it is also in the way training Ving Tsun makes you feel more confident in everything, in just your ability to handle the things in life that come at you.

Ving Tsun Kung Fu is unique in that it was created by a woman, a Shaolin nun, and does not rely on strength or brute force to defeat an attacker. It is this style of training that has created confidence in me that I have never felt before. Now that my teacher has created the women's program, I feel that I, and other women, have a unique opportunity to train a highly effective martial art, in an environment where we can feel comfortable, safe and at ease. No egos, just focused training.

I feel very hopeful that I will never have to use my training in order to fend off an attacker, but I am so thankful that it is there if I need it. I am very grateful to have found Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu.