January 8, 2017

Meet Kyle Billingsley of Burbank Pa Kua Martial Arts & Health in Burbank

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Billingsley.

Kyle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started studying Pa Kua when I moved to Los Angeles in 2005 and was immediately hooked. I started with Martial Arts, Tai Chi, Chinese Yoga, and Edge Weapons all at the same time. I was at the school 10-20 hours a week and fell in love with the family atmosphere, noncompetitive nature, and the idea that I was studying techniques and theories that were useful for everyday life and health.

I always loved school, but a school that teaches how to be happy, how to be yourself, and how to have the strength to do that, that was something that was amazing. I was starting a career in post audio at the time and ended up spending the next 10 years working as a foley mixer for film and television. When I had kids I started to realize 2 important things. The first was that they would do what I do, and so I had an obligation to behave in the way that I want them to behave. One of those obligations was to follow my heart and desire in life. The second thing was that I had less freedom and time so I needed to make sure I used each of my hours of the day in the best way for me and my family.

In 2015, I started teaching part-time instead of just twice a week at night, and in 2016 I quit my job in foley and opened my own school. Now I am working to build a regular group of adults, kids, and families as well as reaching out into the community.

Over the time, I have taught and studied, I’ve come to love helping and supporting others in their daily life and in transitions and changes.

Has it been a smooth road?
The hardest part of going out on your own is the fear and wondering if you are making the right choices. I spend 4 nights a week away from my wife and kids, but because I want to support them I wake up at 5am to make breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The days can be long at times, and I’m still a new business so getting new students is difficult because my reputation is just getting started. I look forward to the upcoming years when my kids are old enough to participate in my after school program and I can teach them and show them as well as spend more time with them.

If it wasn’t for my practice of martial arts and yoga, it would be much harder to face the difficult choices and I’d probably have a good deal more doubt.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Burbank Pa Kua Martial Arts & Health – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Burbank Pa Kua Martial Arts & Health is a noncompetitive and comprehensive martial art. What sets me apart from others is the integration of Pa Kua into martial arts, archery, tai chi, kickboxing, weapons, acrobatics, energy, nutrition, and so on. Each class is a piece of a much larger puzzle and someone can study one or all of the different disciplines. They each support and help a deeper understanding from another point of view. For example, Edge Weapons teaches us about being present and acting, but without Yoga to give us direction it’s hard to know what to act upon.

What I am most proud of is educating people. I remember when I first took nutrition with my teacher and learned about the use and properties of all the different organs. I remember thinking it was crazy that I didn’t even know how my body digested food. It was an example of how often I felt that way about how to take care of myself mentally and physically. I’m most proud when I see my 64-year-old tai chi student no longer taking blood pressure medication, having no knee pain, and deciding he could start martial arts with people half his age.

Learning how to be yourself without conflict, and to be happy is something profound and I’m proud to be part of that.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like least is the Los Angeles is the pollution. It could be so much more beautiful of a city if we could make the effort to turn over to clean fuels. There is too much lung disease and chronic sinuous problems out here.

What I like best is the diversity. People from all different types of lives, jobs, and backgrounds are interested and study martial arts, tai chi, and archery and it is wonderful to have them come in and have a place to mingle and meet others that are out of their normal social group.

Pricing: