You surely would have heard about Kung Fu Panda or Jackie Chan. They are both synonymous with the martial art-Kung Fu. And for those genuinely interested to learn martial arts, a Kung Fu trainer in Thimphu is providing that opportunity and that too for free. Wangyal Rigzin, a passionate Kung Fu trainer with more than 20 years of training is providing free Kung Fu lessons at his studio in Thimphu with the aim to promote the sport in the country.
The 38-year-old instructor who is a diehard Kung Fu fan had undergone several private lessons for more than two decades before being certified as an instructor in 2016. He first started learning Kung Fu when he was 17.
After years of training, he was finally certified by a Kung Fu grandmaster based in Hong Kong. After that, he started his Kung Fu studio in Thimphu, giving free lessons. He then started charging fees before doing away with the charges again.
“There was always social pressure. People would say if I don’t charge (the fees), people will not appreciate it and so forth. I sort of fell into that and tried to make it commercial. But then later on I realized that the same people don’t show up, there are people who can afford the fees but then there are some who cannot. So I was more convinced to train without charging after many years of trial and error.”
Currently, there are around 5 trainees with him. One of his trainees who is a gym instructor says that he had always been keen on learning more about Kung Fu.
“Before I struggled with time management, but now the Kung Fu training has helped me with it. Secondly, the training has made me mentally strong,” said Pema Tshering Tamang, a Kung Fu Trainee.
Another trainee said that learning Kung Fu taught her basic self-defence skills, which she feel is important to have as a woman. She also said it added to her emotional well-being.
A few students who learned Kung Fu also added that they gained a better appetite after getting training. Some students also said that their knee and joint pain had also subsided.
Wangyal urges all Kung Fu enthusiasts to come forward and take advantage of the free lessons.
“The main thing is to get the knowledge. I am just a book that went out there and got the knowledge and put it in my head. Anyone can pick that knowledge out of me and achieve the same things that I have achieved. All they have to do is take it and practise it,” said Wangyal Rigzin.
Wangyal has trained over 100 students. He plans to build a community of Kung Fu students in the country. And he is determined to keep practising the sport in the years to come.
Tashi Yangden
Edited by Kipchu
