Jan & Feb 2024 Newsletter
Keep Classes Healthy
As we enter Winter season there may be more flus and colds. If your child is showing symptoms of chronic cough, fever, runny noses, etc. then please keep your child home from classes so as not to infect other children. If uncertain of conditions then have the potentially sick child wear a mask. Thank you for your support of our school–we love teaching your children respect, self-defense, better health and safety. These measures will help us all!
Lost and Found
The year is at end and anything in lost and found must be claimed by January 10 or it will be forever lost!
New Year Special
Add any new students from your family, relatives or friends during January for only $179 and receive 3 months and a new uniform (normal cost for all of this is $362 so this special is basically its 50% off!)
Photo Challenge!
2024 Photo challenge: In your student manuals, on the backside of each cardstock page are 6 photo requests (like a scavenger hunt – you have to use your phone or camara to snap and get these pictures). Anyone who completes all 15 of 18 photos during 2024 will receive a $15 Gift Certificate for the proshop! Anyone completing all 18 photos will receive a $25 gift certificate! Snap to it and get snapping!
Teachers’ Seminar
Thursday January 18: 5-5:45 pm a special class for all adults:
Form: Pure White Dragon
Then from 6-8 pm the third part of our Teaching Manual: The Business Wheel–Impacting & Maintaining Excellence! All Blue Belt Adults and Black Belt Juniors are welcome and, of course, all sifus and sihings. There will be food and drink provided. Please read pages 78-108 in the newer teacher manuals. The older ones should be pages 73-103. Let Sigung know if you plan to attend!
Watch ‘Tai Chi Moments’
Follow our Rising Dragon Facebook page to get a 5 minute tai chi lesson every week from Sigung Steve Jungmann or Sifu Tim Kern. There are already about 25 lessons if you back track on the news and a new one each week around Thursday. These are for all members of your family, not just students. They are simple and direct lessons that will help you improve your energy, burn calories faster, reduce lower back pain, reduce stress, improve your balance, improve your breathing and provide you with ancient healing skills for many ailments. Tai Chi is so documented to be effective in all these areas.
Testing
Friday February 23th – Block 1 Testing (3 p.m. advanced / 5 p.m. beginners). Awards Ceremony at 6:00 p.m. Be sure all books turned in at least 3 days before test along with payment. Full uniform with patches worn!
The Dragon Breath (Beatitude Series Continuing)
“The seventh of eight Beatitudes “Blesseds” from Jesus (from his famous Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapter 5: 1-11) says, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called Sons of God.” God is ever trying to reconcile us to Him – making peace by His grace. It stands to reason that those who go about with the same mission: helping restore relationships and making peace will be identified as His children. This is in great harmony with our school and the ideal of Pai Lum. Our first code we learn begins with “Seek peace always.” And our White Lotus code on our Martial Arts says, “I will be a warrior with compassion, seeking peace, and helping all in need.”
Our first instinct, however, is to fight back with those that provoke us, to insult those who insult us, to want to hurt those that hurt us. By faith not feeling we may overcome those temptations and give a soft answer to help turn away wrath, to say a kind word rather than a critical one, and to forgive those who hurt us. It’s certainly not easy. It’s not what we may feel or want at the moment. But it is heavenly. And it is “blessed” to be a peacemaker. We’ll be in concert with Him who forgives and makes peace with us.
Upcoming Events
- New Year Break – No classes Monday January 1. Happy New Year’s!
- Winter Teaching Seminar: Thursday January 18 from 5-8 p.m.
- Testing Block 1 – Friday February 23 at 5 p.m. Awards 6:00
Block 1 Focus
- Week 1 (January 1-6): Basics
- Week 2 (January 8-12): Forms
- Week 3 (January 15-20): Fist Sets
- Week 4 (January 22-27): Sparring
- Week 1 (Jan 29 – Feb 3): Weapons & Info
- Week 2 (February 5-10): Forms and Fist Sets
- Week 3 (February 12-17): Sparring & Info
- Week 4 (February 19-24): Review and Testing
