Report on Anniversary and Thanks
We would like to thank those of you who braved the rain and, despite it also being Palm Sunday, showed up in the hundreds to show your support for our school. We started off with a "dim jing" ceremony presided over by Mr. York Chen, the President of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, who "woke" one of our new lions up to the spirit world. Then we proceeded to give a demonstration of our empty-hand, weapon and sparring forms from our Seven Star Mantis and Tai Chi Mantis lineages. In addition, our Sifu demonstrated trapping, locking and takedown techniques.
We would like to express our thanks to the many masters who participated in our celebrations. In particular, we would like to thank Sifu Norman Chin of the Southern Mantis style, Sifu C.K. Chu of the Tai Chi style, Sifu Wan Chi Ming of the Hung Gar style, Sifu Yip Wing Hong of the Dragon style, Shihan Robert Ornes (8th degree black belt) of the Shotokan Kodokan Dojo and Master Geraldine Michalik of the Richard Chun Tae Kwon Do school. We would especially like to thank Sifu Henry Chung who journeyed all the way from Michigan to see our school and meet us for the first time, not to mention lend us his support to our 22nd anniversary celebrations. We look forward to seeing all of you again next year for our 23rd.
A "Laughing Buddha" or "Dai Tao Fut" is usually found cavorting in front of and leading the lion(s) in a Southern Lion Dance troupe.
I speak for myself and not for my Si Fu nor kwoon, so any errors I make are mine alone.