Monthly Newsletter – December
Dear Friends,
From seminars, to competitions, demo’s and other activities, you won’t want to miss out on the action!
School Closings CMAA Holiday Dinner Party Sash Test Master Ching Yin-Lee (2 x USA National Team Member) Seminars Junior Instructor Leadership and Teaching Program Student of the Month – Kyler "The Tiger" Pang Black Belts Don’t Quit Stretch and Study Self-Defense Seminar Recap
School Closings CMAA will be closed December 23rd-26th, and again for New Year's Day Friday January 1st.
Additionally, with the winter weather looming, please stay tuned to inclement weather closings. I will post school closings on the websites homepage. However, it might not display on certain mobile devices which automatically default to the mobile site. Please call (518) 755-7512 if you are not sure!
Holiday Dinner Party Don’t miss out on the FUN and join us at the BEST Chinese restaurant in the Capital District for our annual holiday dinner party!
With all the holidays and family get-togethers this time of year, we would like to organize a time for the CMAA family to be together outside the school. Please join us for a holiday dinner celebration!
Date: Sunday, Dec. 20th! Time: 3pm-6pm Location: Ala Shanghai, 468 Troy Schenectady Rd, Latham, NY 12110 Please reserve your spot ASAP as space is limited! The cost is $15/kids (12 and under) and $20/Adults. Please pay in advance by check or cash at the school as we have reserved the restaurant for our group. Deadline: Please register ASAP as the party size is limited and we expect to reach capacity!
Kungfu Sash Test Please note that we will be holding our quarterly Sash Test on Sunday, January 17th, at 10:30 am.
You know exactly what we will be testing but if you have any questions, check the Sash Requirements page on the website and feel free to clarify things with me during class. http://www.martialartsalbany.com/kungfu-sash-requirements/
If you are unsure whether or not you (or your child) are ready to test, please speak with me before or during class, via email at AlbanyCMAA@gmail.com or by phone (518) 755-7512. Remember, you will not “get” your sash at CMAA – you will EARN it! There is a big difference. It’s important you (your child) learns the value of their sash- the value of hard work! Let’s stay focused and step up our training so we’re fully prepared for the test!
White/Yellow/Green/Blue: $25, Red/Purple/Orange: $50, Light Brown/Dark Brown/Gold: $75
Master Ching Yin Lee Seminars CMAA is proud to announce that GOSU Wushu head instructor Ching Yin Lee will be traveling to CMAA to offer several seminars. With over 20 years of training, Ching Yin Lee is a 2 x USA National Wushu Team Member (2003-2005, 2005-2007), Pan-American Games Competitor, amateur kickboxer, and internal stylist. Ching Yin Lee will be offering 4 unique seminars for all levels and interests!
Master Lee in Action!
Saturday, January 23rd
Tai Chi Fundamentals: 9:30-11:00 am, Cost: $30. With over 20 years of internal martial arts training including standing Qigong, Taiji, and Xingyi, Master Lee will be bringing a wide range of skills and knowledge to our Taiji and Qigong practitioners. This seminar will focus on developing Taiji fundamentals of relaxation and body alignment through various standing and repetitive exercises.
Kungfu Foundation building and Individual Stylization : 11:15-12:30, Cost $25. Changquan (Northern Style Longfist) basics with individual style (flavor) and jump kicks. This seminar is perfect for beginners, intermediate and advanced students looking to not only solidify their basics, but also learn how to stylize their movements to make their movements unique to their body types, skill sets and personality. In addition, we will focus on skills and drills for jump kicks development!
Advanced Kungfu training, and competing: 12:30-2, Cost $30. Advanced individual Wushu forms coaching and the competitors approach to training. This seminar will be geared toward advanced student’s ranked orange sash and higher. Master Lee will correct student’s forms individually. In addition, Master Lee will address the competitor’s mindset and approach to training and competing.
Sunday January 24th, 10:30am- 12pm. Nanquan (Southern Tiger Crane Style) basics and combinations! Cost $35. This seminar is perfect for intermediate students looking to explore southern as an option for when they earn their orange sashes, advanced students looking to sharpen their southern style fundamentals, and gold sashes who are looking for individual forms combinations and choreography!
Junior Instructor Leadership and Teaching Program The Chinese Martial Arts Academy is proud to present the Junior Instructor Leadership and Teaching Program. Developing group management and interpersonal communication skills are the cornerstone of the programs agenda. In addition, the study of learning theory and education play a pivotal role as the students become teachers and take theory to practice.
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” - Theodore Roosevelt.
To find out more about this program please come speak with Shifu about how to qualify for this select program!
Student of the Month – Kyler Pang Before CMAA ever opened, and before we had any kids learning Kungfu, I started a class at the Chinese Community Center. One of my students had just turned 5 years old. I instantly recognized this young student’s special potential. He was light, flexible, coordinated and quick- the unique pairing ideal for practicing Longfist Kungfu. He hasn’t always been the most focused in class, but I always encouraged him (and his parents) to stay involved in Kungfu, because I felt it was just a matter of time before he realized just how good he could be. In fact, for years it has actually been his older sister Cindy who has shown (and still shines) in the martial arts spotlight! However, fast forward 4 years later and that student, Kyler Pang, is now hitting his stride. He has been consistently working hard, working new advanced kungfu routines, and relentlessly attacking his aerials and butterfly twists! Those years of foundation building are just now really paying off. Let’s take the time to learn more about one of our youngest advanced students!
Shifu: What’s your favorite part of training? Kyler: My favorite part of training is the basics -- butterfly kicks, tornado kicks, and cartwheel 's aerials.
Shifu: I’ve always told you how good you could be if you pushed yourself. You’ve really turned it up in training the last few months. What’s been motivating you to work so hard? Kyler: Because I set up a few goals I want to conquer and I want to win a few tournaments.
Shifu: Did you ever think I am particularly strict with you? Why do you think that is? Kyler: Yes I did think you are strict and I think that is because you want me to get better.
Shifu: From the quality of your movements, to staff and jump kicks, you’ve made a lot of progress recently. What are your goals for Kungfu for the year of 2016? Kyler: 1) Land at least one aerial twist; 2) get higher jumps; 3) and get more flexible.
Shifu: If you could give any advice to someone who’s interested in martial arts, what would it be? Kyler: My advice would be what you've said " A black belt was the white belt who never quit". Shifu: What’s it like having martial artist and super student Cindy as a big sister? Kyler: It is pretty nice even though Cindy is sometimes annoying for budging in to every conversation.
Shifu: What are some of your favorite activities outside of Kungfu? Kyler: Some activities I like are: sports, and reading humor or comic books. Shifu: You’ve traveled to a lot of cool places. What were your favorite places and why!? Kyler: My favorite place is China because it is my parents home country.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kyler. You've worked hard, and now the years are starting to add up. You are without a doubt on your way to understanding Kungfu the way most only dream about. Keep up the hard work. CMAA, Shifu and your kungfu brothers and sisters will be here to help you achieve your martial arts goals!
Never Quit
All the reasons you should keep going! (… even when you want to quit, sometimes).
1. Learn what it really means to be a martial arts master. You won’t ever know if you quit now.
2. All your friends at practice miss you when you’re not there.
3. Sometimes you’re teammates are having a tough time in training and they could really use your motivation and support! Every practice you miss might have been one that a teammate needed you.
Find out all the other reasons here! http://www.martialartsalbany.com/never-quit/
Stretch and Study Did you ever wish you could just sit back, relax and learn Kungfu from the comfort of your couch? Well, now you can! “But how much does it cost?” NOTHING! That’s right, you can learn more about Kungfu, for FREE from the comfort of your own home:) With all the Holidays coming up (and probably a few snow days) you might be finding yourself spending a little more time at home. Check out this link to find some awesome documentaries on the tradition, techniques and history of Chinese martial arts!
http://www.martialartsalbany.com/807/
Self-Defense Seminar Recap
Lot’s of Fun and Fighting! Covering basic self-defense techniques from hand, elbow and knee strikes, to wrist grabs, chokes and guard escapes we packed lots of practical movements in to a single seminar. In addition to basic movements that are practical and easy to learn and execute, I hope our women realize just how powerful they are and carry themselves with great confidence.
As a follow up to a the very practical “hands on” seminar, I did write a follow up post about the single element I feel is most important to preempt and prevent women from finding themselves in compromising or dangerous situations! Read more here: http://www.martialartsalbany.com/womens-self-defense-and-awareness/
Summary
As usual please stay tuned for more exciting action at CMAA!
Best,
Shifu