Monthly Newsletter – January
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year! As always, there’s a lot happening at CMAA! Please review the following information on:
School Closings Kungfu Sash Test CMAA Holiday School Party Recap Holiday Kids Kungfu Movie and Pizza Night Recap New Year Goal Setting Students of the Month Profile – Emma "Big Sis" Chouinard CMAA In High Demand for Martial Arts Performances! 1 Year FREE at CMAA – Referral Program! As usual please stay tuned for more exciting action at CMAA!
Best,
Shifu School Closings All classes will be held as regularly scheduled.
Additionlly, 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!
CMAA In High Demand for Martial Arts Performances! CMAA has been invited to showcase our talents at a few events this year, including an Open House on Sunday, January 18th, 1:30-3pm and several Chinese New Year celebrations in Clifton Park on Saturday 2/14 and at SUNY Albany on 2/21 (3-5). We may even organize a group for a performance at the East Greenbush YMCA. See below for more details! Open House: Sunday, January 18 1:30pm-3pm. We will be having an Open House demo at CMAA! I want you to bring you silk and come demo the latest form you've been working on! Remember this is a holiday weekend so there is no Chinese school. Since its an Open House and there's no real time limit everyone is invited to perform at this event (ie. no sash requirements). The event starts at 1:30 so plan to arrive by 1 so we can warm up and prepare! This would be a great first time performance experience as it will be in the comfort of our own home- CMAA, with Shifu acting as the host and without time limitations.
Saturday February 14th at the Clifton Park Library and our most important demo - Saturday Feb. 21 at SUNY Albany for the Chinese New Year! For these two demo's there is a Light Brown Sash and above requirement as we will only be demo'ing advanced forms. Note there are two Orange Sash qualifiers who know their first advanced form well enough to demo. The stage is much smaller at SUNY than the egg and performances are to be kept under 5 minutes. Those are the main reasons why we have to be so selective now. Everyone is welcome to support your team and come enjoy the show!
CMAA Holiday Dinner Party Recap
What a special evening. This year the weather held out for usIt was a wonderful evening of eating, drinking and being merry. Although not everyone could make it, it was wonderful to get our long time students together with the new generation just beginning at CMAA. In the spirit of the holiday season, it was very special to spend our time together with our other family – the CMAA family. I look forward to celebrating with you all again next year.
Kungfu Movie and Pizza Night Recap What a blast! From an indoor soccer championship to sharks and minnows, lots of fun was had by all. A healthy dose of pizza, and cookies were consumed during the showing of Jackie Chan's “Around the World In 80 Days” and the “Kungfu Panda Holiday Special”! Stay tuned for upcoming news on another night of fun!
Kungu Sash Test Let’s start 2015 by working hard and making progress in your Kungfu practice! We will be holding our quarterly Sash Test on Sunday, January 11th at 10:30am. If you are not sash testing you are still encouraged to come participate and support your teammates (no charge of course).
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
New Year Goal Setting
Typically, with the New Year comes a New Year’s Resolution. What’s yours? Remember, “The tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching our goals. The tragedy of life is not having goals to reach for”. In the spirit of self-improvement and goal setting, let’s revisit the September monthly challenge, identify our goals, and start making a plan for 2015! Read more here:
http://www.martialartsalbany.
Students of the Month Profile – Emma "Big Sis" Chouinard She works hard, and has great leadership skills, but most importantly, she is just super nice. Her willingness to help others is a very special and wonderful quality. For this, Emma Chouinard has been selected as Student of the Month! Beyond her enthusiasm to lead her line in basic kungfu exercises is her desire to assist the newest and youngest students. When new students timidly sit on the sideline in their first practice, without asking, I will notice Emma going right over to them to introduce herself. The new student is instantly relieved to have a new friend. Within minutes they’re working together as if they’ve known each other long before. In addition, her kindness is contagious and now we have two more girls, Elaine Savaria and Jennifer Desantis, who have become wonderful helpers as well. All three girls take on the qualities of the ideal ShiJie (sure-gee-ah)- elder kungfu sister. Let’s get to know Emma a little better...
Shifu: Why did you start Kungfu? Emma: I was looking for a new activity. I had not found one that I wanted to continue with. Kung fu suits me.
Shifu: What is your favorite thing about Kungfu? Emma: Broadsword and working with new students.
Shifu: What are your goals in Kungfu for this coming year? Emma: I would like to improve my flexibility and splits. Plus learn how to do an aerial.
Shifu: Do you have any advice for anyone looking to get better at Kungfu? Emma: Pay attention and focus on what you are doing.
Shifu: You are always ready to work with new the newest and the youngest students.Why do you help other people? Emma: Helping others makes me feel good and we all need help at some point. Also when I help someone else I have to work harder to make sure I am doing it right so i don't teach them wrong.
Shifu: What is your favorite food? Emma: I love taco's.
Shifu: When you’re not training at CMAA what do you like to do in your free time? Emma: Studying and training take up most of my time but when I can I like to hang out with my friends.
Shifu: Anything else about yourself you’d like to share with everyone? Emma: I am in fifth grade at St. Pius X School. I also take art lessons and sing in choir. Taking kung fu had helped me in many areas of my life. I have developed more confidence in myself. I have also gotten sooner and faster since I started training here. I would like to thank Master Shifu for helping me with these improvements.
We'll there you have it guys! Help other people, it'll make you feel good! It's a reminder we could all use. Keep up the hard work Emma, you're doing great!
Save Money with the CMAA Referral Program! CMAA Referral Program- Easy as 1, 2,3,4,5.
1. Earn $50 when your first referral joins. 2. Earn $100 when your second referral joins. 3. Earn $250 when your third referral joins. 4. Earn $500 when your fourth referral joins. 5. Earn ONE YEAR FREE when your fifth referral joins.
This will be even easier now with our new CMAA flyers. You can pick them up for free at the school. Just write your name on the back of the bottom info tabs and when people come in with your flyer tab they will be considered your referral!
*Please note that offer applies to annual memberships and new referrals only (as of 1/1/15).
Summary
As usual please stay tuned for more exciting action at CMAA!
Best,
Shifu