Application of Kung Fu in Peru

By Chris Greci
Chris Greci is a Level 3 (Orange) student at Wu Dao

On my recent trip to Peru, I had my first experience with applying Kung Fu training in a real life situation. No physical contact resulted. However, I found that Kung Fu training gave me the confidence to act, and therefore helping to avoid a potentially problematic outcome.

After a day tour in Cusco, Peru, I decided to eat dinner with a friend I met, and little did I know at the time, maybe practice some Kung Fu, too. We were eating at a fast food place called "Brembos." The seating was tight at a small table for two with some seats facing back to back with adjacent tables. About half way through the "hamburguesa con queso," there came a shriek. After the second of confusion, I realized there was a hand in my friend's purse from a man sitting at an adjacent table.

A few seconds went by as I analyzed my environment and options. (Necessary as the local police are not known to protect tourists; only the tourist police have this interest.) The man was in his mid twenties, a few inches shorter and heavier than me, and looked like a Peruvian. I got up, walked around the table, looked directly at him and in a firm Spanish tongue, said, "What are you doing?" I then instructed my friend to search her purse to make sure that she had all her belongings.

Meanwhile, I held my ground and blocked any escape he may have had in this narrow hall-like room as I waited. While she was checking her purse, he became impatient and got up. I backed away a half step, rooted my stance, and confirmed with my body language that I still was not going to let him leave. He remained standing, but regressed into a frightened state, like a cornered, helpless animal. A few moments later, she confirmed that she had everything and I let him pass without any physical confrontation, remembering how Shi-fu always said that a martial artist tries to win a fight mentally first, before having to use force. This was a wise and preferred approach given the uncertainty of public and police response should a confrontation ensue. Later, I realized that the physical confidence gained from Kung Fu training provided the support for the mental aspect of the confrontation; the physical and mental aspects are symbiotic pairs.

In the end, a potentially awful situation was avoided; a girl was grateful for having her belongings saved by an acquaintance. I sat back down and we finished our meal. It was interesting to note the reaction of the locals in the restaurant. The incident was interesting enough for them to raise their heads. One asked if everything was okay. But that was all. In America, an on-looker would have called the police. Here, it was just the typical ambiance of a typical fast food restaurant. In a small city of a third world country, you are on your own and you must maintain full awareness of your surroundings.