May 2025 Newsletter
- Shifu Lei Shao Long
- Apr 30
- 4 min read
Hello students & parents,
Happy Birthday to Amy, Logan, Li Gong and Brad this month! Whew
Here are the focuses this month:
Morning Taiji: Taiji 13 (No Class on Monday May 26th) - only 7 classes this month
Evening Taiji: Taiji 28 (No Class on Monday May 26th) - only 7 classes this month
Beginner Gongfu: Basics & review (No Class on Monday May 26th) - only 7 classes this month
Kid's Gongfu: Sanda sparring (No Class Thursday May 1st) - still 8 classes this month
Advanced Gongfu: Tournament prep (No Class Thursday May 1st) - still 8 classes this month
We have big updates, so please read thoroughly!
SHAO LONG ACADEMY THEATER MOVIE NIGHT!
Save the date! In honor of the school winning Best of State for our 3rd year in a row, get everyone together and to get everyone pumped for summertime, we've rented out a theater to watch the next Karate Kid: Legends movie! We know... it has "Karate Kid" in the name, BUT it also Chinese gongfu and Jackie Chan, combining both styles. If you're a fan of the Cobra Kai series on Netflix, it's in the same universe and happens 3 years after the final season, so check it out on NetFlix if you're looking for something fun and martial arts related.
Tickets are already paid for by the school, so no need to worry about tickets. Here are the details:
Tuesday night - June 3rd
Cinemark Sandy Union Heights, 7670 S. Union Park Ave, Midvale, UT 84047
Theater room 8
Doors open at 6:30pm, movie starts exactly at 7pm (we get to skip trailers)
The movie itself is 1hr 58min long, so we'll be done by 9pm
All adult and taiji gongfu students get 1 ticket
Each kid's gongfu student gets to bring 1 parent. Families with 2 kids in the class can bring 2 parents.
Seats will be first-come, first-served. I may have to rearrange seats before the movie to make sure kids get to sit next to their parents.
Snacks & drinks are separate and up to you/families to purchase
In the next while I'll be checking in with everyone individually to see who can and can't come. Depending on availability, we might have extra tickets to pass out to additional family members or +1s, but please don't ask or don't depend on that happening as we are still limited to the number of seats in our room. We'll ensure the room is filled.
KIDS SANDA SPARRING
Now that it's officially warmer, all students get to come either in their red sanda uniforms or in gongfu pants and tanktop/tshirt, no red blouse or gongfu pants for now.
For students that do have their sparring gear, but not the red sanda uniforms, please come in your school tanktop/tshirt but wear shorts. This is only temporary for now to get some sparring time; in the future, I won't allow it. Parents - be sure that they've molded their mouthguard.
For students that don't have sparring gear, we'll wait for you to spar until your gear comes in.
For students that didn't test out in April - our apologies. We've been focusing on Sanda and weren't able to get around to it. We'll ensure this month you will.
If you'll be recording yourself for the virtual gongfu tournament, please come in full traditional uniform until we have filmed your form.
FROM PARK TO THE PODIUM: A LEGACY IN MOTION
Years ago, we were just a small group gathering under open skies—practicing Taiji in the park with nothing more than heart, intention, and a shared love for Chinese martial arts. Back then, I could never have imagined that those quiet sessions would evolve into the thriving academy we have today.
From humble beginnings, we've grown into an award-winning martial arts school, known not just for our skills, but for our culture, our spirit, and our unwavering dedication to authenticity. Today, we offer a full spectrum of traditional Chinese martial arts—Adults' and Kids'Northern Shaolin, Wudang, Sanda, and Taijiquan—and we proudly carry on the legacy of the masters who shaped us.
We now stand with three disciples (one of which recently passed for their Brown sash), each entrusted with passing on our lineage, preserving the values, knowledge, and discipline that define our tradition. Our school is no longer just a gathering—it's a living legacy.
It was an incredible experience for me to share what we've built with my gongfu brethren from Master Lu's. I've known them all since I was a teenager back when we trained together, competed and represented Master Lu; may he rest in peace. Now we get to represent our own school that we've built from the ground up.
As we prepare to represent our community on the world stage at the Golden State International Tournament on May 24-25th this month, I want you all to know this:
I'm proud. Deeply proud.Proud of your grit.Proud of your spirit.Proud of how far you've come, and even more excited for where you're headed.
We've trained you well. Now walk onto that competition floor with humility in your heart and fire in your form. Stay grounded and represent not just your skill—but your school, your lineage, and your family.
“师父领进门，修行在个人。”A master can open the door, but it is up to the student to walk through it.
Thank you to my disciples, students and everyone else who never give up. Special thanks to my wife, my kids, my family for putting up with my wild ambitions. We couldn't have done this without you all.
Let’s go kick ass—with grace, power, and honor.
-Shifu Lei and Shimu Shin
HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS
Bruce is still on the loose. If you see him, please let us know. Who's that? IYKYK
Remember you can always check the school schedule on the app, which is much faster than checking social media or these newsletters. To save from excessive printing, schedules are no longer printed on report cards.
SCHOOL SCHEDULE
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