The Power of the Gap
Magician Asi Wind once shared how much it bothers him to see an audience on their phones right up until the moment his show begins.
He wants to reset their minds, to give them a clean palate before the performance starts.
Without that pause, people jump straight from screen stimulation into the show without a gap in between.
Neuroscientists explain why this matters. Our brains need those gaps.
Sleep, walks, rest—any moment when we are not being stimulated—are when the brain actually processes and stores what we’ve learned.
Just like exercise, the growth doesn’t happen during the workout but afterwards, during recovery.
Science calls this the gap effect. When we stop practicing for a moment, the brain continues rehearsing in the background, replaying what we just learned at incredible speed and even in reverse.
These quiet spaces allow information to be encoded more deeply than nonstop practice ever could.
This is true in music, math, magic, Kung Fu, and Tai Chi. Constant repetition matters, but spacing it with intentional pauses may be even more powerful.
In our training, those brief moments of stillness between sets, between forms, or during meditation are not wasted time. They are when the body and mind begin to weave together the lesson.
Mastery doesn’t just come from the work. It also comes from the gaps.
See you in training,
Sifu Oscar
P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are ways we can help you get started.
1. Schedule a time to observe a class.
Interested in Kung Fu or Tai Chi? First step is to watch a class and see if we would be a good fit! Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for an appointment.
2. Become part of my exclusive Coaching Group with CYH Remote Coaching. Get personalized coaching delivered right to your phone and catered to your specific goals.
Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for info.