There’s a saying that goes ‘aging is the gradual acceleration of comfort-seeking’ and 92-year old Englishman Lew Burja, who swears by both kung fu and tai chi, surely seems to embody this life motto to a tee.
A grandfather with three grandchildren, Burja’s journey toward embracing tai chi and kung fu began in his 50s, motivated by health concerns such as repeat chest infections and a troublesome back.
Despite having engaged in various sports throughout his life, including rugby, weightlifting, track, Judo and English football, tai chi was a new frontier for him.
“At my age, I have friends dying all around me and [tai chi] has kept me going. It’s really important to keep moving—which is lucky because I can’t stand still,” said Burja.
The initiation into the world of tai chi occurred when he witnessed a captivating demonstration at a fair. Intrigued by the slow, intentional movements characteristic of this internal Chinese martial art, Burja decided to delve into its practice. His commitment extended to weekly two-hour sessions, which also incorporated a half-hour of kung fu.
Tai chi, renowned for its health benefits, involves deliberate, unhurried movements that contribute to physical well-being. In contrast, kung fu, in a broader context, refers to any skill achieved through dedicated hard work, not necessarily limited to martial arts.
Burja said, “I was fit and healthy. But these chest infections just kept coming back just a few months after I stopped antibiotic. For some reason, I was really attracted to the slow movement and deep breathing of the tai chi.”
“There’s a specific sequence of movements you can do to manage certain health conditions. That’s how I stopped getting chest infections. I’d often had colds before starting tai chi and they stopped too,” he added.
Burja, who happens to live in Leeds, can still manage to walk up to seven miles a day while even running isn’t a problem, despite his advanced age. At the same time, he’s in training to become a thriller writer to keep his mind sharp.
“Plenty of exercise is what keeps you going, and it also gives you a really positive outlook on life. And it’s kept me fully compos mentis. I’m training to be a thriller writer,” said Burja on this point.
“I don’t fight in kung fu anymore but I can still do the hits and kicks.”
In an era where the narrative of aging often revolves around limitations, Lew Burja stands as a living testament to the idea that one can continue to explore new passions and challenge oneself at any age.
See more about Burja’s inspirational life in the video below.
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