March & April 2024 Newsletter
White Lotus Spring Tournament
Saturday March 16 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 Creative Forms/Weapons
(Kung Fu, Kenpo, Tae Kwon Do) (Tai Chi) (External/Internal)
Sparring: Point Fighting Push Hands Chinese Wrestling Weapon Sparring
Non-Member Costs: 1 event: $60 + $15 each additional event.
White Lotus Member Costs: 1 event: $45 + $10- each additional event.
Applications available at WLA schools
There are no classes being held at Rising Dragon on this Saturday March 16—Come to BE Martial Arts!
New T-Shirts
We have a new color of shirts – steely blue-purple – available in both the Tribal Dragon over the Shoulder and in the Classic Rising Dragon Logo design as long as supplies last. Get this new and cool colored shirt for only $25 at the pro-shop.
No Classes Easter Weekend
There will be no classes held at Rising Dragon for Easter Weekend: No classes on Saturday March 30. Happy Resurrection Day!
Demonstration
Saturday April 20 at Sisters of St. Francis on 27th and Greenfield Ave. from 10 until 11 (in place of our normal class). Come share your art and joy of kung fu and tai chi with the sisters and residents. No regular classes this day!! Come to 1545 W. Layton – use the door on the Lapham street side of the complex. Meet at school at 9 for practice and we can drive the ½ mile from here to there together.
Testing
Friday April 26 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
- White Lotus Tournament Saturday March 16, 2024 9am At Be Martial Arts School 11122B N. Cedarburg Rd, Mequon
- Demonstration Saturday April 20 at 10 a.m at Sisters of St. Francis at 1545 W. Layton
- Testing Block 2 Friday April 26 at 5 p.m. Awards 6
Block 2 Focus
- Week 1 (Feb 26-Mar 2): Basics
- Week 2 (March 4-9): Forms
- Week 3 (March 11-16): Sparring
- Week 4 (March 18-24): Fist Sets
- Week 5 (Mar 25–31): Weapons
- Week 6 (April 1-6): Forms and Info
- Week 7 (April 8-13): Fist Sets and Weapons
- Week 8 (April 15-20): Sparring
- Week 9 (April 22-27): Review and Testing
The Dragon’s Breath (Beatitude Series Continuing)
“The eighth (and last) of eight Beatitudes from Jesus (from his famous Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapter 5: 1-11) says, “Blessed are those persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Happy are those who suffer?? Yes, not because of the persecution, but because they keep their faith in their convictions and keep their honor by doing what’s right even when others are not – even when others are hurting them, they still choose to love back.
They are blessed because they courageously don’t surrender their beliefs, convictions and practices in the face of others making fun of them, oppressing them, prohibiting them from freedoms, and even potentially injuring them physically or taking their lives. Why is this blessed? Because such know that God sees them. And He will reward them in the next life. The blessing is not for his world for otherwise it would say “theirs is the kingdom of earth,” but it says “kingdom of heaven.”
This takes faith and courage, honor and love. These are our very strongest codes in the White Lotus Association at our school and comprise the ideal of what it means to be a “Warrior with Compassion.” Next time you stand for what is good and right and loving and others insult you and persecute you for living so – keep in mind you are in good company (“for so they persecuted the prophets before you” Jesus said in his next sentence) and you are seen and blessed by God.
Sigungs Steve and Melodie
Pai Xeung Lum/ Feng Huang
