Perse student shows kung fu class after earning black belt
Neelkantha (Upper Sixth) is putting his black belt in kung fu to good use by coaching a class of young people with additional needs.
Having taken his first steps in the Chinese martial art aged four, he achieved the status with Cambridge Kung Fu during the summer.
Following on from this, Neelkantha has now started helping coach the club’s Snow Leopards group – a class designed for neurodivergent and physically-challenged young people.
Neelkantha said: “I wanted to give something back after achieving my grade 12, which is the top youth kung fu grade.
“I asked my instructor Sifu Ross (Sargent) if I could apply to become a kids’ instructor and he thought it would be good for me to help the Snow Leopards class because I had the knowledge and skills for kung fu and also the patience and empathy.
“As soon as he gave me this opportunity, I instantly accepted and I started to teach a couple of weeks ago. It’s going well and I’m building a rapport with the students and the other teachers.
“We reflect after each of the classes talking about what went well or how it could have been different, so it always ends on a positive and constructive note.”
Neelkantha explained how the wing chun chuan (eternal spring system) form of kung fu had helped him in everyday life.
He said: “While I’ve been practising this martial art and learning the technique, and being aware of the space around me, I’ve felt not only a physical, but also mental and emotional stability as well.
“Slowly I realised how greatly it’s helped me because some of the fighting principles can be learned as life lessons.
“The idea that when the way is clear, go forward – if there are no problems in life, keep on going – or if the way isn’t clear, you stick and feel the situation when there’s a problem in life.
“Another fighting principle is if your opponent is stronger than you, then you change yourself around your opponent, but if you’re stronger than your opponent, you change your opponent.
“In terms of life lessons, it’s judging the problem and seeing what you can do to make it better.”