NOTICE OF THE RISKS IN TRAINING VING TSUN KUNG FU / VOLUNTARY ASSUMPTION OF THOSE RISKS BY A STUDENT AT THE DETROIT, BERKLEY, AND DOWNRIVER SCHOOLS
INTRODUCTION
Ving Tsun Kung Fu is a martial art and contact sport. Martial art training involves physical blows, strikes, kicks, and other bodily contacts and, as a result, can be a hazardous activity from which an injury is a possibility.
In order to appreciate the risk of potential injury, please read this document carefully. Please take as much time as you require to read and to consider the contents. The Detroit Kung Fu Academy has never had a student seriously injured and does not anticipate such an injury will occur. There are however, inherent risks associated with martial arts training that the School wants you to recognize and appreciate. After you finish reading the document, please sign below to acknowledge that you recognize the risk of training Ving Tsun Kung Fu and that you agree to participate in the training in the face of such risks.
PHYSICAL CONTACT
Ving Tsun Kung Fu is a martial art and contact sport. Physical blows, strikes, kicks, and other bodily contacts are inherent in the study and training of Ving Tsun Kung Fu. As a Ving Tsun student, your lessons will include the following drills: pak sao (block), pak dar (block and counter punch), lop sao (forearm punch and block), don chi sao (one-arm block and punch), toi ma (pushing stance), chi sao (continuous blocking and punching), flex kicking, and sao bow (punching sand bag). Each of these drills involves physical contact. The physical contacts include strikes to the forearms, chest, chin, face, hands, legs, and shins; and, occasionally, strikes may be directed at any and all other parts of the body. Although physical strikes and other bodily contacts present certain dangers which may result in injury, Ving Tsun Kung Fu employs such strikes and bodily contacts as part of its training regime in order to teach and train a student in the martial arts. Accordingly, the strikes and other bodily contacts, while powerful, are not a deliberate attempt to injure a student.
RISK OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
The risk of illness from communicable diseases such as COVID-19, MRSA, influenza, etc. from the activities involved are significant, including the potential for permanent paralysis and death, and while particular rules, equipment, and personal discipline and social distancing may reduce these risks, the risk of illness does exist.
TRAINING FACILITY
Ving Tsun Kung Fu is taught in and about the Kung Fu Schools located at 3364 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48216 (“Detroit School”), 3209 12 Mile Road, Berkley, MI 48072 (“Berkley School”), and 22805 Goddard Road, Taylor, MI 48180 (“Downriver School”). (Students may avail themselves to training at one or more of the Moy Tung Ving Tsun Kung Fu schools located throughout the United States; the notification provided in this document applies equally to those facilities.) The entire Detroit School is used to conduct a student’s training.
The Detroit School has hardwood floors and dry-wall covered walls in the School’s training area. The Berkley School has vinyl plank floors and dry-wall covered walls in the School’s training area. The Downriver School has wood floors, gymnasium style with composite board walls in the School’s training area. These surfaces will not be covered with mats or padding of any kind at any time during a student’s training; additionally, students will wear no padding, gear, guards, or protection of any kind at any time during their training.
Part of the traditional Ving Tsun Kung Fu training and the instruction in the Detroit School includes physical strikes and other bodily contact (described in “Physical Contact”), which may result in a physical injury; or, which may result in a student falling into, landing on, or being pushed into the floor, walls, other students, and/or other objects or surfaces in or near the School which may result in physical injury.
TRAINING
Traditionally, a Ving Tsun Kung Fu student will train in the context of a series of exercises (2-person drills) with their Sitaigung (greatgrandteacher), Sigung (grandteacher), Sifu (teacher), Senior Sihings (senior instructors), Sihings, (senior students), and Sidai (junior students), as well as visiting students from other Moy Tung Ving Tsun Kung Fu schools. The 2-person drills are physical workouts conducted at close range. Each 2-person drill involves physical contact. During any given class, students of all skill levels will train with each other. Although a student’s training is overseen by the Sifu of the Detroit School, the Sifu will not monitor each individual student’s training at all times during any class.
BILLING
Tuition is month to month, usually it comes out on the first of the month, but you can specify the date you would like your tuition taken out. You are responsible for getting a hold of your instructor to cancel your membership prior to the next charge.
CONCLUSION
This document is an attempt by the Moy Tung Ving Tsun Kung Fu School of Detroit to present to a potential student (1) the existence of potential dangers and risks of training Ving Tsun Kung Fu, and (2) the possibility of an injury or illness resulting from such dangers. By participating in Ving Tsun Kung Fu training, you deliberately expose yourself to the potential dangers arising from training a martial art and contact sport; moreover, you realize and appreciate the possibility of injury or illness as a result of such danger.
I HAVE READ AND HAVE UNDERSTOOD THIS DOCUMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY.
I VOLUNTARILY AND DELIBERATELY UNDERTAKE TO TRAIN VING TSUN KUNG FU KNOWING THAT BY DOING SO I EXPOSE MYSELF TO THE EXISTENCE OF POTENTIAL DANGER AND THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY, ILLNESS, OR DEATH AS A RESULT OF SUCH DANGER. BY PARTICIPATING IN VING TSUN KUNG FU TRAINING, I HEREBY HOLD HARMLESS THE MOY TUNG VING TSUN KUNG FU SCHOOL OF DETROIT, BERKLEY AND DOWNRIVER FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY WHATSOEVER ARISING FROM PARTICIPATING IN SUCH TRAINING.
Full Name of Child (If Applicable)
Full Name of Parent or Guardian (If Applicable)