The Academy set itself a goal to secure some new dragons for its dragon dance troupe earlier this year, and in the spirit of working with the local community, had a great opportunity to “kill two birds with one stone.”

The Good News Lutheran Church in Tarneit was opening their new school facility and asked us to perform for their Family Fun Day celebrations held recently to help kick off the grand opening. It was a perfect chance for us to ‘wake up’ one of our new dragons.

To do so requires a special ceremony, so that the dragon will be infused with the spirit and energy of creature it embodies so that it can bring good luck and good fortune to all while chasing away any evil spirits and will bring auspiciousness to any special occasion. The ceremony requires the dragon’s eyes to be dotted, to ‘open’ them, so that the dragon will ‘awaken’ within the apparatus and be transferred to the dance performers to bring out all the benefits that its spirit will impart to any special occasion.

The Church’s minister and school principal were both given the responsibilities to perform the eye-dotting ceremony to wake our new dragon, and we brought it to life to bring good luck and good fortune to their new establishment.

Despite early dark clouds and some rain, our dragon brought sunshine and blue skies to the afternoon to make it a memorable day for all. Click here to see more.

Sifu Kelly Knight and his band of Wing Chun students at the Martial Arts & Fitness Center in Malvern, Pennsylvania welcomed me back to work with them again, as their thirst to learn some good Wing Chun continues. Although a small group, they are a dedicated and enthusiastic bunch, eager to improve their kung fu skills.

The American summer was hotter than it should be so early in the season, but all were ready to get stuck into the training drills necessary to get their skills in good order.

Our brothers and sisters here at the MAFCenter were left with plenty of new material to go with lots of previous drills tied up in a comprehensive package to keep them busy until I can get back to work with them again. They’re already planning the next itinerary and hopefully I can get back soon to keep that enthusiasm burning and that dedication pumping. Thanks to all for their participation and thanks to Sifu Knight and his wife, Nancy, for their continued support for our mission!

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I didn’t write these; they were spoken by two great and acknowledged martial artists from two different and distinct disciplines. Wish I did write them, but I’m glad that I’ve been given the opportunity to read them and to learn from their wisdom. Thanks to a dear friend for sending this post along to me; glad you’ve got my back, brother!

Hope you find this worthwhile too.

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