Dear Sifu:

After two years here at the school, I still thoroughly enjoy my studies and feel that Tai Chi, Qigong, and Kung Fu have really increased my quality of life. My reflexes, balance, fitness level, and stress management have all improved greatly. I am more energetic and have a better sense of overall balance in my life. Before beginning Kung Fu study about a year ago, I studied Tai Chi for a year. I enjoyed Tai Chi, but was really intrigued by the Kung Fu classes I had observed. Since, at the time, the Kung Fu classes were better suited to my schedule, I decided to give it a shot. No one was more surprised by this decision than me! But I tried it, and kind of languished for a while, until I realized that slowly but surely, my confidence level not only in the class, but also in my life, were increasing. I started to push myself a little harder and really started to see results. Having prior Tai Chi training continues to help my understanding of the forms and movements. Sometimes, if I am really stuck, Sifu or Sisuk will tell me, "One time, in Tai Chi," (kidding!) Seriously, often I find myself using the ten principles as outlined on the back wall of our school, and not even realize I was doing so!

I would recommend Qigong for each and every person studying anything at this school. That class is awesome. The concepts I have learned in it have been invaluable, and it is what I consider "the perfect workout" because of the variables, which can be applied to fit a beginner or a more advanced student. It can be done by an individual today, and twenty years from now, and still the benefits would be just as great, if not greater! I used to get one major cold or flu every season without fail, but since I began studying Qigong, this has not happened. If I do start to feel a bug coming on, I just do some Qigong and it helps. Maybe this is a coincidence, but I don't think so! My son, Gabriel, has been studying here for about two and a half years. Perhaps I am biased, (since, after all, he is my kiddo) but I am so proud of his progress. There have been times where he has lacked motivation, but when this has happened, Sifu Gohring and Sisuk Sanchez have ALWAYS taken the time to talk to me about this, and devise a plan to keep Gabriel on track. Physically, the benefits for Gabriel are obvious. He is remarkably flexible and coordinated, and has excellent balance and poise. Developmentally, the program has been wonderful for him, too. He is learning virtues (the Five Hearts), which so many children today are doing without. He is learning respect for himself and others, as well as discipline. The very most impressed I have been so far though, I will have to say, was a conversation I overheard one day between two staff members. They were discussing INDIVIDUALS in a certain class, and things they as instructors could do to help the individual students. It is because of this personalized attention that Gabe and I continue to study here. It is invaluable ... and because of that we think this school is invaluable, too.

Sincerely,
Marlo M.