I’ve been training martial arts for 25 years. Seventeen of those years have belonged to kung fu.

It started, like many things, with a quiet obsession. Back in the Czech Republic, I discovered kung fu — stiff wooden floors, Eastern mystery, and all. I trained hard. I competed. I won national and international medals in traditional wushu (kung fu), even stood on podiums at the World Championships.

But still... something was missing.

From Center of Europe to Hong Kong (and Then to the Ring)

At some point, I realized that if I wanted depth, I had to go to the source. So I packed my bag for one year in Hong Kong.

That year became eight.

I studied under masters who didn’t have websites or Instagram pages but whose hands told a lifetime of stories. I learned forms, weapons, lineages, history. I learned how to spot kung fu in construction ads and old park benches. I was in deep.

Then, eventually, I moved to Thailand to fight. It’s now my third year here, and kung fu is still part of my daily life — even when I’m getting punched in the face.

The Real Struggle: Repetition ≠ Progress

One thing that never sat right with me — even when I was winning medals — was the training methodology.

So often, it was just “do it again.” More repetitions. More drills. Maybe you’ll get it right eventually. It felt like we were hoping the magic would happen by accident (or by volume!).

So I began experimenting.

Kung Fu, But Mindful and Smart

I broke down the forms. Studied them piece by piece.

I made tons of tones, several notebookes filled with scribbling in three languages and lots of pictures, too.

I started using tools from modern sports: resistance bands, video analysis, slow-motion breakdowns. I brought in strength and conditioning for explosiveness. I tracked progress. I questioned everything.

One afternoon in Hong Kong, I was working on footwork drills. Alone. Sweaty. Focused. A young guy from the school came up to me and asked, “Aren’t you going to train kung fu today?”

I smiled and nodded, but inside, I was crushed.

That was kung fu. The real kind. The part that happens before the performance — the hours of invisible work that make the visible thing possible.

But he couldn’t see it. Because we’re so often taught to believe kung fu = forms.

If You’re Feeling the Same…

If you’ve ever felt that your training is stuck in endless repetition…

If you’re not sure how to get better except “do it more”...

If your body is tired but your brain is bored...

Kung fu doesn’t have to be mindless. It can be smart. Sharp. Alive.

Message me if you want tips. I’ll happily share how I started building my kung fu with real progress in mind — and how you can too.