14
LUMEN | INTERVIEW
While traversing new landscapes may be a therapeutic pursuit for Frida , Science teacher Mr Chong Jun Hien finds joy and calm through another form of physical activity . Better known as Mr J to his students , Jun Hien has been a decadelong practitioner of the Hakka Martial Arts , which originates from the Liancheng County , a part of Fujian province in China . When people ask him why this activity matters to him , he reminds them that “ this is a traditional form of knowledge , which might too easily be lost in the sands of time . Losing the Hakka martial arts would mean that culturally significant practices and its ethos would not be passed down to the next generation .”
On a more personal note , he enjoys the activity and finds that Hakka Martial Arts also makes him more mindful of his body . He elaborates , “ Master Tan , my Hakka Martial Arts teacher , helps me understand the importance of the key movements of the martial art by relating them to scientific principles .” The “ one-inch punch ”, he explains , “ is a series of gyrations of the joints in the body which accumulates into a force , and this is similar to the forces we explore in Physics .” Recognising these parallels between his chosen profession and martial art is what drives Jun Hien to a deeper understanding of pedagogy in the former . He fervently believes that his martial arts teacher ’ s effective use of teaching methodologies helps him reflect on how best to encourage his own students to continue to be curious and engaged learners .
Parallels with his professional life notwithstanding , Jun Hien is acutely aware of the need to decompress from his busy working life and he finds his preferred pastime almost like a kind of sanctuary that has changed his life significantly . While he has become more aware of “ the importance of moving from the core of my body , I am more broadly reminded of how , in many different contexts in life , a domineering attitude is not the best one to adopt when aiming to bring about change in either oneself or others .” All those who are familiar with Jun Hien will know that his caring manner attests to the relevance of this belief . More than a decade of commitment to learning the methods of Hakka Martial Arts has clearly shaped him into the calm yet focused educator he is today .
As the saying goes , “ all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy ”. Our teachers have in their own time , pursued alternative interests beyond their professional jobs and discovered for themselves a whole host of benefits in the process . It may be worthwhile for us to take time and reflect on what we can consider doing in terms of cultivating a pastime and to focus on our wellbeing . Perhaps the most important thing to remember about a pastime is the final syllable of the word , cultivating any interest or hobby requires time , both within a weekly schedule , and that which is afforded to us through perseverance and patience . As Frida reminds us in a poem she wrote especially for this article :
traipsing in mud pe ( a ) trifying bogs dwindling supplies cradling life in a bud going off course geometrics of tan lines
heigh-hos and ruined sole woes And so it goes - have yourself a slow , long walk .
Puaka Hill , Pulau Ubin , Singapore