July 2026 Newsletter

Hello students,

We survived June and are now officially ready for summer. Thank you to everyone that came out and supported our fun night at Impact Ninja Gym! It was great to hear from coach say she could immediately tell our students were athletes. Practically all of you went hard until the very end. Some of you were so exhausted you ended up lying on the floor and couldn't even grip with your hands anymore. I'll share some more photos on our Instagram/Facebook and here's also the Google Photo's link. Feel free to add to the album if you'd like.

Happy Birthday to Jared this month and Happy FOUR year Anniversary to Jackson!

Here's our calendar for this month:

• Morning Taiji: No class on Wednesday, July 1st

• Evening Taiji: No class on Wednesday, July 1st

• Beginner Gongfu: No class on Monday, July 20th

• Kid's Gongfu: No class on Thursday, July 2nd

• Advanced Gongfu: No class on Thursday, July 2nd

GOLDEN STATE/WORLD WUSHU TOURNAMENT 2026

This year's Golden State tournament (now called World Wushu Open) will be held on September 5-6. Many students will be traveling to compete in person, while Shifu will be reaching out to all students/parents who aren't traveling to compete online as registration deadline is July 19th, and video submissions (which Shifu will record for you) are due by September 1st. Taiji students - you're totally allowed to compete as well! First-time competitors are highly encouraged to compete. To compete in 1 category is around $73, with $20 extra for every additional form. See the website for all information.

VICTORY WITH HUMILITY

One of the greatest lessons martial arts teaches us is that humility and confidence can exist together. We should never be afraid to celebrate our victories, but we should also never allow those victories to become our destination.

Receiving the Best of State award once again is an incredible honor for our school. It is recognition of the countless hours spent training, teaching, performing, competing, and representing our lineage with pride. This award doesn't belong to me alone. It belongs to every student who has stepped onto the training floor, every parent who has supported their child, every disciple who has stayed late to practice, and every member of our martial arts family who continues to help build something truly special.

That's why our evening at Impact Ninja Gym was so important.

It wasn't just a fun night out - it was a celebration of what we've built together. Watching everyone laugh, challenge themselves on new obstacles, encourage one another, cheer each other on, even lose a phone in a deep foam-pit (while throwing every foam block out of it...) and simply enjoy being together reminded me that gongfu is about much more than punches, kicks, and forms. It's about building character, friendships, resilience, and a community that pushes each other to become better. I know I can be pretty hard on you all and demand perfection because that's my job. However, times like these bring me back to why I truly enjoy this and our community we've built.

But now, we return to the path.

The Chinese character for gong (功) represents work earned through effort. There is no finish line in gongfu. Every achievement simply reveals the next mountain to climb. Another tournament is approaching and our medals from last year will not help us in our next match. Our Best of State award will not throw a better kick or make us faster. Only our training will.

So celebrate this victory. Be proud of what we've accomplished together. Then bow, return to the training floor, and begin again with the heart of a beginner. The strongest martial artists are not the ones who believe they have arrived - they are the ones who understand there is always more to learn.

Congratulations on another Best of State award, everyone. Enjoy the victory because you all earned it.

Now let's continue writing the legacy of Shao Long Academy and crush this next tournament.

-Shifu

HOUSEKEEPING & POLICY ITEMS

• Stay hydrated! It's going to get hot at the studio, as usual

• 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.

• Friendly reminder - no discussion of politics at the school, please.

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SCHOOL SCHEDULE