Looking to the future . . .

Each year that we have our annual Promotion Dinner, I’m reminded of how important it is for the students to understand that the school isn’t simply a business I own, but in many ways, it is theirs as well. While they might not own it in a legal sense, they are absolutely (individually and collectively) the sole reason the school remains viable and significant for us and the community.

I know how important it is to have solid instruction: I know how important it is for me to manage the school properly so it is successful as a business. But, I clearly and completely understand that without the students supporting the school financially, as well as in heart and in spirit, there would be no school. There would be no Kung Fu temple.

Plain and simple: without each and every student, the school wouldn’t exist. I understand and respect that fact completely. I appreciate how important every single student is and appreciate their trust, their support and their dedication to our Kung Fu ideals. I’m honored to have the following of students that I have: I’m honored by how many lives our school has touched in such profound ways.

I’ve learned from my students over the years: I’ve learned from my mistakes. But most of all, I’ve learned that by “counting to ten” with the students every day of my life, Kung Fu saves lives – saves the quality of lives and brings an energy to the community of strength, confidence, love and forgiveness to each and every one of us. Our Kung Fu school gives us hope — for teachers and students alike.

We can easily learn to hit someone: but I think loving them is more important. We can easily get a gun and kill someone for their errors, but I think it’s most important to forgive and help them heal. It is easy to judge but hard to live within that very judgment ourselves.

Kung Fu is far reaching. It reaches right into our very essence: it digs deep within us and challenges the “very who we are”. It raises self-awareness: it refines our perceptions and sincerity.

Each day we train we bring out more of our souls and spirits: we bring out our better selves, gladly leaving the lesser selves behind.

Kung Fu is the stone that sharpens and beautifies us all.

This is a new year in the making. Lets go into it with positive minds, strength in our hearts and continue to grow as students and individuals.