Athletes often struggle to find common ground with new, unfamiliar teammates. For martial artist Masha Kyselova, her classmates are among her oldest friends.
Kyselova began attending her kung fu dojo, Twin Dragon Kung Fu Academy, at the age of six.
“I think my parents signed me up for it through a summer camp, and now I plan on doing it all throughout high school,” Kyselova said.
For her, the commitment has paid off. As a soon-to-be black belt, Kyselova says her years of training have had a big impact on her life.
“I’ve been doing it for so long, it’s been a huge part of my life, and it’s helped a lot with my self-confidence,” Kyselova said.
Considering the infamously solitary nature of martial arts, it may come as a surprise that the tightly knit community at Twin Dragon has grown so close to each other.
Fellow student Kaden Praditkul attributes this to the supportive and caring environment that encourages people to improve themselves and one another as martial artists.
“The majority of results, such as sparring and demonstrating forms, are achieved solo. The community aspect comes more into play in the training and preparation stages,” Praditkul said.
This familiarity among classmates and instructors is manifested through shared inside jokes and traditions like board breaking during the winter holidays.
For Kyselova, a favorite memory is coming in for class during the winter months.
“I really love coming in during the wintertime, especially late at night when it’s already dark outside, because everyone comes in very tired and everyone comes in just to unwind. So you’re coming in to people just wanting to be in a safe place and enjoy the people that are around them,” Kyselova said.
According to Kyselova, this dedication to her sport is crucial for developing the precision and discipline required in martial arts. This is especially true in the higher ranks.
“It took 10 years to get here, but for the past couple of months I’ve been coming in multiple times a week for hours each day,” Kyselova said.
According to head instructor Tommy Chu, martial arts requires explosiveness through multiple planes of motion, as well as muscle memory that can only be gained through repetitive practice.
“You’re going to get humbled a lot in martial arts, especially if you pick up the more combative side with sparring,” Chu said. “You’ve got to get comfortable with getting your ego checked constantly and not let it go to your head.”
Praditkul agrees, emphasizing Kyselova’s rigorous preparation for her black belt test, one of the highest ranks in the dojo.
“Masha is a talented martial artist, and recently I have seen her become very determined and always consistently coming in,” Praditkul said.
With so much to keep in mind, Kyselova persists through this final stretch in her journey to a black belt.
Going forward, Kyselova plans to prepare rigorously for her black belt test scheduled for late January. For her, it’s exciting to see a decade of hard work amount to such an important milestone.
