March & April 2023 Newsletter

World Tai Chi Day, April 29th
Tai Chi Students will meet at Rising Dragon from 9 to 9:30 a.m. for practice class before going to World Tai Chi Day (location TBD) to perform with some other like minded tai chi schools!

White Lotus Tournament
Saturday May 13 at Be Martial Arts (11122B N. Cedarburg Rd, Mequon from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m).

It’s finally here – our local state tournament among the White Lotus Association schools. This is an open tournament and other schools are welcome too! This year our White Lotus Association school, Be Martial Arts will be hosting us (it is about a 20 min drive from our school).

Forms: External Internal Weapons (Kung Fu, Kenpo, Tae Kwon Do) (Tai Chi) (External/Internal)
Sparring: Point Fighting Push Hands Chinese Wrestling

Non-Member Costs: 1 event: $40 + $15 each additional event. Specials: 3 events 60 or 6 events $80
White Lotus Member Costs: 1 event: $30 + $10- each additional event. Specials: 3 events $45 or 6 events $60

$10 discount if registered by April 8, 2022 $5 discount if registered by April 30, 2022
Applications available at WLA schools

Monthly Meditation (Beatitude Series Continuing)
“The fifth of eight Beatitudes from Jesus (from his famous Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapter 5: 1-11) says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.” This is straight from the idea of Karma – what you give will come back on you.” Others say it, “Pay It Forward.”

In our school our mission statement is “to make Warriors with Compassion.” The idea of compassion, mercy and forgiving are not often reflected in the world whose goal is rather to conquer and take that which is not theirs – such nations invading others for their land, people or resources, but also with individuals who wish to control and steal that which they have not earned. These same people often justify their conquering and taking of others possessions or even lives with lies that they deserve it, or it’s the fault of those who are too weak, or its ok if I get away with it.

But mercy is not just the absence of doing wrong, it is much, much more! It is actually giving someone something they did not earn and/or even failed you at. If your good friend steals money from your wallet he deserves justice for his crime, but instead of having him pay you back and go to jail, you instead tell him to keep the money and treat him as the friend he once was. Mercy is not weakness.

It takes far more of your spirit and soul to let go of harm and forgive rather than harm back. This will take wisdom. If people do not have a change of heart and mind for what they did wrong (repentance) then being the Warrior is all they will receive even if you want to show mercy. But for those who are truly willing to change direction in life, your mercy will help change them. And then for our many failures, even those we are not aware of, mercy shall be shown to us.

– Sigungs Steve and Melodie
Pai Xeung Lum/ Feng Huang

April Testing
Friday April 28 at 5 p.m. Awards Ceremony 6:00 p.m. Higher rank testing will start earlier usually around 3 p.m. but check with your teacher or your test invitation.

Upcoming Events

• Testing Block 2 Friday April 28 at 5 p.m. Awards at 6
• World Tai Chi Day Saturday April 29, 10am-12pm (location TBD)
• White Lotus Tournament Saturday May 13, 2023 at Be Martial Arts School 11122B N. Cedarburg Rd, Mequon

Block 2 Focus

• Week 1 (April 3-8): Forms and Info
• Week 2 (April 10-15): Fist Sets and Weapons
• Week 3 (April 17-22): Sparring
• Week 4 (April 24-29): Review and Testing

Reduce Class Dues
Save up to $300 a year by making 3, 6 or 12 payments instead of monthly. And thank you for the support of our school and family!