April 2026 Newsletter
- Apr 3
- 4 min read
Hello students,
Thank you for your patience on this month's newsletter.
Please welcome Chloe to our morning Taiji classes!
Also, please give a proper farewell to Rachel as she attends a Daoship residency in North Carolina. Rachel attended our morning Taiji classes for years, and she actually studied in Wudangshan as well. Thank you for your dedication to traditional Chinese martial arts, TCM and to our school. Good luck on your journey.
For birthdays this month, we're wishing Happy Birthday to Zach!
We also have a ton of students testing out for pivotal sashes this month - be sure to give them your energy and motivate them to give their best during their training.
Here's what we have going on this month. As usual, check the calendar for days-off:
Morning Taiji: Taiji Jian
Evening Taiji: Taiji 28/Wuxing Qigong
Beginner Gongfu: Disciple Li Jie's pick
Kid's Gongfu: Basics & Testing skills
Advanced Gongfu: Yang Jia Qiang (Continued)
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP
Starting May 1st, there will be a small increase in membership dues for all students. We don’t take raising prices lightly, but with the continued rise in overall costs, this adjustment has become necessary to keep the school running strong. We've always operated under keeping classes small for sake of quality, and we will continue training as such. We truly appreciate your understanding and continued support. Please come see Shifu if you have any questions.
Taiji Classes: $115
Beginner Classes: $130
Kids Classes: $130
Advanced Classes: $145
UPCOMING SWORD TRAINING FOR KIDS
Parents - starting next month the kids class will finally be learning a new weapon - Chinese straight sword! All students need to be measured to know the length in sword they need to order so it will be ready before next month. Also, that will be prime time to order any new uniforms if your child's uniform is now too small.
RESPECT IS THE TRUE DISCIPLINE
Respect is one of the core principles of martial arts, but it is not something that just begins and ends when we step on the training floor. It is something that should carry into every part of our lives.
It's something I try to look for in candidates; I've turned down candidates that show a lack of respect when showing up for their interview. However, the other night during a candidate interview, it was asked what does traditional martial arts teach over other sports? It's a great question because often times the deeper meaning in martial arts is often forgotten when the original intent of learning martial arts is learning how to fight.
Lately, it feels like respect has started to fade in our culture. People are quicker to interrupt, slower to listen, and more focused on being right than understanding one another. Patience is rare, sadly. Humility is often seen as weakness. Simple acts of courtesy are becoming less common and any attention, specifically bad, is looked at as better than no attention.
As martial artists, we are held to a different standard. We do not train just to learn how to fight. If that were the only goal, there are many other paths someone could take. Someone could walk into a boxing gym or train purely for competition and be a brawler. But we're better than that. Traditional gongfu is not just about fighting. It's mastering yourself. It is about developing the individual as a whole, as civilized and cultural warriors.
Every time we bow, it is not just a gesture. It is a reminder. A reminder to set aside ego. It's you putting away your daily norm to honor a tradition and taking a brief moment in showing respect to one another. A reminder to show gratitude. A reminder to respect the art, the school, our instructors, lineage and each other.
Respect shows up in the small things. It is how you listen when someone is speaking to you. It's asking "please" when giving a request. It is how you treat your training partners, especially when you are more experienced than them. It is how you carry yourself when no one is watching. It's also how you show up when things are difficult.
Respect is having the discipline to control your emotions instead of letting them control you. It is choosing patience when you are frustrated. It is staying humble when you succeed and staying committed when you struggle. These are the qualities that define a true martial artist, not those fancy kicks or kip-ups you just learned, as cool as they are.
Being skilled is important, but skill without respect is incomplete. A person can be physically strong and technically sharp, but without respect, they lack the foundation of discipline that martial arts is built upon. At its core, true gongfu is about becoming a better human being. It is about growth, not just in strength or ability, but in character.
As students of this art, we should strive to lead by example. In our homes, in our workplaces, in our communities. It's why I drill it into the kids' class over and over to never put up with bullying or be a part of it, ever. The way we speak, the way we act, and the way we treat others should reflect the training we commit ourselves to. In a world where respect can feel like it is disappearing, we have the opportunity to bring it back. Not through words alone, but through consistent action.
As usual students - train hard, stay humble and continue to show respect.
-Shifu
HOUSEKEEPING & POLICY ITEMS
Students with small lockers - feel free to use the changing room to hang your uniform to prevent them from mold, as well as keep them tidy and wrinkle-free (they wrinkle easily)
Parents - please share these newsletters with your kids. It's a great way to connect with their training and ensure they're learning the same things the adult classes are learning.
SCHOOL SCHEDULE
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