Congratulations to all of our staff and students that will be competing this weekend at the us koushu international championships in Baltimore, Maryland. they haven’t completed yet so why, you ask, would we be congratulating them already? The reason is because simply the act of preparing themselves to travel across the country to compete at the most prestigious chinese martial arts tournament in the us means that they have already won. Richard Lee’s West Coast team is attempting to win the Wang Cheuh-jen trophy for an unprecedented 11th year in a row. This would not be possible without the contribution from each and every one of you that are going to compete. When you put on your uniforms and prepare yourself on saturday, remember that you are part of a long tradition of excellence in the bok fu do system. You are not only representing yourself, but more importantly grandmaster Lee, master Buckley, all of your teachers and the system of bok fu do. You have worked hard, you are prepared and you deserve to win! enjoy your tournament experience and leave it all on the mat!

“It all comes back to the process.  the process is what makes you, many times after it breaks you.  You have learned through the process the price of victory. Whether you (get) your hand raised in the end or not, nothing will ever change that.  The champion was born long before the tournament was won or lost. And while a trophy may fall apart, a medal may be forgotten, a certificate may fade, a victory achieved from within endures forever.  It goes with you wherever you go because it now lives inside of you.”

“The guy in the glass”

when you get what you want,

and the world makes you king for a day

then go to the mirror and look at yourself

and see what that guy has to say.

For it isn’t you father, or mother, or wife

who judgment upon you must pass:

The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life

is the guy staring back from the glass.

He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest

for he’s with you clear to the end

and you’ve passed your most difficult, dangerous test

if the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and “chisel” a plum

and think you’re a wonderful guy

but the man in the glass says you’re only a bum

if you can’t look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years

and get pats on the back as you pass

but your final reward will be heartaches and tears

if you’ve cheated the guy in the glass.

Author: Unknown