The amazing healing power of Kung fu/Qigong training

….. A real life story about Rafidah (personal details amended to protect privacy)

Cry in the Dark – Part I

My name is Aishah and I fled a war torn country. My husband and I work 2 shifts ,7 days a week and public holidays we take odd jobs home to earn a little more.

In my old country … fighting all the time…bombs.. bullets .. no security no peace. One night many years ago when my little baby Rafidah (too young to go to school) looked out of our bedroom window into the street, she saw the militia execute someone. Bang .. a life is lost.

Rafidah cried out in fear so they started firing at our home..windows shattered..bullets riddled our house. I hugged Rafidah close to my heart and prayed everyone is safe. I never want to hear my baby cry in the dark ever again.

Soon we landed in new country. We were looking for freedom, peace and security. Never mind now we poor .. do work no locals want to do. Before in old country we had nice home, nice cars, servants and prosperous family business.

Now we rent a small place, people laugh at our broken English.. my husband and I sell all our jewelry and never buy nice clothes so my children can have food on the table.

One day when Rafidah came home from school she was in tears..never speak to me..this went on for weeks..we thought she was sick..Then one night I hear Rafidah CRY..like that night back in the old home. We later discovered that she had been subject to bullying and abuse at school.

The local girls gang up on her..steal her things, cut her hair, hurl abuse at her as she walks by them and on one occasion cut her hands with a penknife. On her textbooks they write hurtful things like." Go home go back to the middle east you FAT UGLY REFO.." (REFO means refugee).

I am a MOTHER ..every word of abuse is like stones hurled at my face..every cut on her is like a knife plunged into my heart. Why must my little girl suffer?

Cry in the Dark – Part II

My son is a student with Sifu Gary Koh and took Rafidah to kung fu class so she can protect herself. Over time I saw my daughter enjoy her kung fu..she blossomed .. learnt to respect and be patient and understanding of herself and others around her.

Her English improved, her grades at school improved...she was more outgoing and self confident...she even appeared on tv with her sifu ..we are so proud of our little Rafidah.

In her bedroom written over her bed and also in a note in her school bag I saw these words.." Kung fu will fill our minds with knowledge so there will be no place for darkness..our hearts with compassion so hatred and anger has no room..and all people are our brothers and sisters.."

The other day I watched Rafidah help teach kung fu at sifu's academy and she was teaching this new migrant child. She said..."kung fu will fill our minds with knowledge...."

I saw the little child listen attentively as her parents nodded approvingly… like me they saw in Rafidah .. someone not fat but fit ... not ugly but beautiful … not a refo … but a positive young person with a PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE.

I am a proud mother.

AISHAH