Run the Gauntlett


Amidst tough competition, Siu Lum Academy students win 21 trophies, including Nine 1st Places

"It was anything but pretty," Senior Instructor Will Laurin said, "I felt like we walked into a hornet's nest." Following up on their 17 First Place finishes at the Southern Shaolin Academy Championships in September, Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy appeared at the Siu Lum East Coast Championships on November 9th, sponsored by 10th Degree Grandmaster, Steve L. Sun. The contest featured a number of talented martial arts schools, and was held at the Robert Gauntlet Center, in Newtown Square, PA.

"I was very impressed with the talent I saw out there," Laurin said, "but I was somewhat disappointed by some of the judging." As in past tournaments, Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy wasted no time making their presence known, winning 21 trophies, including 9 First Place victories. In the eight year history of the Academy, its students have won 174 First Place trophies and 3 Grandchampion trophies.

During the course of the tournament, Senior Instructor Laurin felt some of the officiating was less than fair and voiced his opinion to the dismay of the judges he accused. "As the Instructor of my students I have to wear many hats, so to speak. One of these hats is to serve as a protector of my students, and do my best to insure events are judged fairly."

A veteran of several tournaments over his 15 year career in the martial arts, both as a competitor and a judge, Laurin's accusations were met by apathy, passive resistance, and minor hostility.

The boiling point came in the Beginner Boy's 8-9 year olds Forms division, where Laurin was one of the five judges in the ring. "I had 4 very talented students competing in that division and the judges seemed to be purposely scoring them low, while at the same time, scoring other children from their own schools very high. It was extremely frustrating and frankly, blatantly obnoxious." After voicing his outrage, Laurin settled for the final outcome, and while his students didn't manage to win First Place in the division, they did capture the Second and Third place finishes. "I want to make this very clear. In spite of what I felt, real or imagined, I have to accept decisions made by the judges. I've known some of these judges for many years and respect them as martial artists."

Laurin clasped his hands together and briefly looked to the sky. "In tournament, you live and die by the decisions of the judges and once you begin to lose respect for that institution, you might as well stop competing."

As the tournament unfolded and Laurin began to show his feelings in what he described in an "Unsportsman-like manner," it caught the attention of 6th Degree, Master Paul Sun. "Master Paul was quick to jump on me and he was very direct, and he told me I better cool it. I knew I had lost my composure and I needed to hear that from him. Master Paul Sun has helped me over the years of my training. There were times during my early training when I was frustrated and wanted to give it up but Master Paul was there to help screw my head on straight."

Master Paul Sun is the Chief Instructor of the Northern Praying Mantis system at Siu Lum Studio, in Havertown, PA. "After talking it over with Master Paul, and hearing the riot act from him, it occurred to me that I needed to get back into the system; back to where I once belonged, if you will." Laurin decided at that time to ask Master Paul if he would accept him as a student of Seven Star, Northern Praying Mantis, and was accepted. "I believe everything happens for a reason," Laurin said, "and this was one of these things. Now that I'm training with Master Paul, I feel I can work my way back into the fold and heal some old wounds." In the meantime, the students of Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy continued to display their array of talents, as Mike Forrest took First Place in Men's 18-34 Intermediate Free sparring. Reiss Rosenthal upset teammate Jackson Walker in the fight for First Place in Beginner Boys 8-9 year olds Free Sparring.

Brown Belt, Kevin Lutkins, took home two-First Place trophies in the Senior Weapons and Fighting Divisions, while Black Belt, Angela Thompson, notched two-First Place victories in Free Sparring and Tai Chi Push Hands Combat. Frank D'Antonio continued his unbeaten streak by taking First Place in Boys 10-12 year olds Forms. Not to be denied, Larry Chandler took First Place in Beginner Tai Chi Push Hands Combat while Joe Gordon took First in the Advanced division.

While sticking to his guns about what he perceived about the judging, Laurin was apologetic about his behavior. "I apologize to any judge I may have offended and realize their positions. They aren't being paid to officiate and are giving their time and effort on a voluntary basis." Laurin himself admitted to the difficulties when judging tournaments. "Being a judge myself I know how it feels to be accused of poor judging and I also know how it feels to be praised for how I judge. I just want them to know I'm sorry for how I lost my cool and I hope they will forgive me. Right now I'd like to put it behind me and move on, and I hope there will be better understanding between all parties involved the next time we get together."

Deck The Hall


Instructor Angela Thompson is first to be inducted into Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy Hall Of Fame

On May 17, 2003, Instructor Angela Thompson was inducted into the Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy Hall Of Fame. Thompson, age 17, began her training in Shaolin Kung Fu at the tender age of 4 and also began winning First Place trophies at Open Martial Arts tournaments at the same age. Being first is nothing new to Thompson, who for 4 years trained at Siu Lum Studio in Havertown, PA and racked up several First Place victories and Grand Champion trophies in Empty Hand Forms, Weapon Forms, and Free Sparring.

At the age of 8, while a blue belt, Thompson left Siu Lum Studio to train with Senior Instructor Will Laurin in 1995. She proved to be an asset from the very beginning for Laurin by helping him teach classes and providing support in many other areas. As she advanced in rank she began teaching at summer day camps as well as assisting Senior Instructor Laurin with the training of students.

Over the last 13 years, Thompson has built a reputation for her toughness and tenacity, and one of the most dangerous fighters out there. She has also been training in Virginia as a professional wrestler and has focused her training solely on combat. “I prefer actual combat at this point rather than doing Forms,” Thompson said. “While I appreciate Forms I would much rather fight and continue to develop my technique when I go into the ring.”

At the Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy White Tiger Invitational, Thompson was inducted into the Hall Of Fame in ceremonial fashion by walking “Blood Alley” and receiving her plaque when she reached the end. “Blood Alley” is the nickname for a method of training, which involves students forming two lines facing each other as another student walks in-between the two lines, being attacked from all sides, demonstrating self-defense technique. The ceremonial walk taken by Thompson involved only one single, light punch to her arms as she past each student as a show of respect and congratulations for her outstanding achievement.

Angela was nominated to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame by Senior Instructor Will Laurin and Tai Chi Instructor Harriet Laurin. In order for students to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame they must be a Black Belt and have a list of achievements, such as class assistance, being named Student of the Month, Student of the Year, or winning the Spirit Award. The student must also have a number of victories in Open Martial Arts tournaments, which includes winning Grand Champion and First, Second, or Third place finishes. The student must then be nominated by at least two higher-ranking Black Belts after completing an apprenticeship of instructing classes. “After 13 years of training in Shaolin Kung Fu and accomplishing the things she’s accomplished,” Senior Instructor Laurin said, “I can’t think of a more deserving student to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame. I’m very happy for her and I wish her the best of luck in whatever path her training may take her.”

TIGER, TIGER, BURNING BRIGHT…

2003 White Tiger Invitational is training ground for bright new stars

By: Senior Instructor William Laurin

On May 17, 2003, twenty-one children of Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy competed against each other in the 3rd Annual White Tiger Invitational, held at the Academy, in South Philadelphia. The purpose of this intramural tournament has always been to introduce rookie competitors to what it feels like to display their talents in Empty hand Forms and Free Sparring before an audience of their friends and family, and to be judged on their performances. Students of the Academy who haven’t competed in Regional, National, or International tournaments are provided with this training ground in an effort to “get their feet wet,” and to gain some experience before making the transition to Open tournaments against the students of other schools.

The White Tiger Invitational can be a very deceptive tournament by way of the talent level because while it is held for the most part to help the rookie competitors gain some experience, it is also held to give veteran competitors a chance to warm up for upcoming Open tournaments. These veteran competitors are already Champions and while it may be a tournament of classmate against classmate, the veteran Champions are more than willing to teach the rookies how to accept defeat, gracefully.

As far as the Forms competition, the twenty-one competitors were placed in divisions I deemed suitable for their talent levels, thus having three divisions for Empty Hand Forms. The six most talented veteran Form stylists were placed in the top division, while another seven were placed in the middle level division, and the remaining eight rookie competitors were placed in the beginner level division. Keeping in mind that all of the competitors were white, yellow, and orange belts, this tournament was an excellent opportunity for these children to showcase their talent and progress over a relatively short period of time as far as training is concerned.

In the top level division, Rashaan Alexander, already a veteran competitor in Open tournaments and a Champion Form stylist, took First Place Honors, followed by Sam Pottash and Jackson Walker, who finished Second and Third, respectfully. The Middle Level Division introduced an up and coming shinning star in the form of Harrison Lampert, who edged out classmate, Alex Walker by 1/10th of a point. Richard Pham, another rookie, held his own by placing Third, doing a very good job with his “Golden Eagle” Form.

In the Beginner Level Division, a field of eight rookie competitors, Max Detweiler came away with the First Place trophy, posting a final score of 21.2 while Spencer Isen posted a score of 21.1 for Second, and Dylan Pearl, who posted a 20.8 for the Third Place spot.

When it came time for Free Sparring the twenty-one children were divided up into two Weight Class Divisions. Eleven children were placed in the Light Weight and the remaining ten were placed in the Heavy Weight Division. Unlike Open tournaments where the rules are fairly restrictive, this Free Sparring contest was decided by which fighter scored the most points in two minutes of fighting. In addition, contact to the head, leg sweeping, grabbing the leg of an opponent during a kick, and various ground techniques were permissible. Both veterans and rookies alike took their turns in the ring and battled it out for the top three Trophy places which would make them eligible to fight for the Grand Championship of Free Sparring.

In the Light Weight Division, Majiid Forrest and Dylan Pearl put up their best fights but were unable to hold off the swift and technically sound fighting of Sam Pottash. Pottash, who took First Place in this contest, provided one of the highlights of the tournament by executing a textbook “Cartwheel” kick, scoring on his opponent. Forrest and Pearl had to settle for Second and Third Place but for the rookie, Dylan Pearl, his two Third Place finishes in Forms and Free Sparring gave everybody a taste of things to come as he matures as a competitive Martial Artist. While the eight remaining Light Weight competitors did not place in this fighting contest, all of them showed talent, courage, and discipline as they make their way down the path of progress.

Over in the Heavy Weight Division, the fighter who was named the favorite to win this contest did exactly what he was expected to do. Jackson Walker, already a multiple Free Sparring Champion, dispensed with his opponents in typical fashion, defeating his final opponent, Rashaan Alexander 7-2. John Vu, another rookie, took Third Place and qualified to compete for the Free Sparring Grand Championship.

The three winners in the Light Weight Division and the three winners in the Heavy Weight Division squared off in the final Free Sparring competition. The winner of this contest would be crowned Grand Champion of Free Sparring and receive the big trophy. In the first fight, Jackson Walker defeated Rashaan Alexander 3-1, in an excellent display of defense and counter attacking. Dylan Pearl and John Vu, both number three seeds in this Grand Champion bout, fought to a draw of 2-2 before Pearl fouled out, allowing Vu to advance and face Maajid Forrest. Walker, the number one seed from the Heavy Weight Division, advanced to face Sam Pottash, the number one seed from the Light Weight Division, and defeated him 3-0. John Vu and Majiid Forrest battled in a very close match but Forrest fell to Vu by a final score of 3-2.

With everything on the line, Jackson Walker, the number one Heavy Weight seed faced the number three Heavy Weight seed, John Vu. Having taken third place in the Heavy Weight Division, Vu was not to be denied victory, and upset Jackson Walker 3-1, to be crowned Grand Champion in Free Sparring.

The White Tiger Invitational is a training ground and opportunity for the students of the Academy to hone their skills and to display their talents in a classmate against classmate duel. Having trained all of the competitors in this tournament it was tough for me to watch students lose but those who did lose did so with good sportsmanship and honor. For the winners, they also competed with respect for the classmates they defeated and helped to teach them some of the elements of what makes a Champion. For the rookie, John Vu, now a Free Sparring Grand Champion, I say with a smile, I guess the rest of us will never live that down …will we, John?

Two Grand

Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy has a Grand day at the Sankofa World Martial Arts Championship

By: Ann Whitside

On July 12, 2003, Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy sent eight competitors to the Sankofa World Martial Arts Championship held at Girard College. The tournament was sponsored by the Sankofa Cultural Youth Development Organization; Vita Saana African Martial Arts System. The founders of this organization, Kiongozi Mwalimu James “Ace” Daniels and Malkia Mwalimu Francine “Fatimah Mapenzija” Daniels were the directors of this tournament, which turned out to be a breath of fresh air into the highly competitive and often poorly judged tournaments in recent years. Kiongozi Mwalimu Ace and Malkia Mwalimu Fatimah are husband and wife and both are Black Level Instructors in Vita Saana African Martial Arts. “Kiongoiz Mwalimu” is Swahili for Leader Instructor and “Malkia Mwalimu” is Swahili for Queen Instructor. Ace and Fatimah share a combination of 40 years in the martial arts and belong to the Wazee Society or Elders Council which is chaired by Mzee Mwalimu Baba Ismail, providing linkage to the traditions of their African ancestry, focused on “Keeping the circle unbroken.”

With the saying, “Sankofa vita saana mchezo wa vita elimu,” or “Let’s go back and fetch the art of war with a tournament of martial science,” this proved to be a tournament well organized, well judged, and a light of hope that martial arts tournaments can be devoid of petty squabbling, and a politically biased hostile environment, so prevalent in an era where winning First place is all that matters to competitors and their teachers, alike.

This was a tournament that attracted an array of talented schools, from Bill Holman’s Southern Shaolin Academy to the Ferocious Dragons, Positive Force, and many other talented martial arts schools. For Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy it proved to be a tournament that will be remembered for a very long time.

In the nine-year history of Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy this was only the second tournament Senior Instructor Will Laurin did not attend. The first tournament he didn’t attend was back in June of 1995, when two of his students, Nhan Vo and Angela Thompson won Grand champion Trophies in the Beginner and Intermediate divisions. Laurin, the charismatic, controversial, and often-misunderstood leader of the Academy elected to send his eight competitors to the tournament without his presence for a very specific reason. “I wanted to find out what my people could do without me being present and I wanted to see how they performed while knowing I was not there to protect them from all the garbage that goes on behind the scenes.”

Over the last few years many Martial Arts tournaments have been tainted by unfair judging, outright cheating, and at some tournaments, physical violence between rival Black Belts. “From now on I’m going to chill out and to try not to put myself in the situations I’ve put myself in for many years,” Laurin said. “Judging is a very thankless job. Any Black Belt who has experience with judging can tell you that. We aren’t paid for judging and yet we put ourselves out there as referees, and in many cases we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t.” Laurin explained his own particular plight. “I have simply gotten sick and tired of judging at tournaments and having one person come up to me and tell me how well they felt I judged, only to have another person come up to me and curse me out about how poorly they felt I judged.”

Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy went to the tournament, instead, under the leadership of Tai Chi Instructor Harriet Laurin, who kept Senior Instructor Will abreast of what was happening at the tournament by cell phone. “I thought he was going to call me every half hour,” Instructor Harriet said. “I was relieved that he went about his day and let me be the one who called him with the results of how our students faired. And I know that was tough for him to do because he puts so much of himself into how our students perform.”

And just how did they perform? As in past tournaments, the students of Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy took control in the divisions in which they competed, winning 15 trophies in all, including 8 First Place victories, 4 Second Places, and 1 Third Place. But the icing on the cake came in the form of two Grand Champion trophies won by Brown Belt, Larry Chandler, in Empty Hand Forms and Weapons.

Chandler, who recently promoted to the rank of Brown Belt, made his debut in the Brown Belt division and won three trophies, prior to the Grand Champion victories. He placed First in Empty Hand Forms with the Hung Gar Form, “Gung Ji” and First place in Weapons with the “Shaolin Staff.” In Free Sparring, the Green, Blue, and Brown belts were combined into one division, setting up a show down between Chandler and his classmate, Mike Forrest, after they defeated competitors from other schools. Forrest, who took First Place in Intermediate Forms, defeated Chandler in the fight for First place, leaving Chandler with Second Place while Forrest notched a second First Place victory for himself.

“Papa” Blair Alexander, Sr. won two First Place trophies in Forms and Free Sparring in the Beginner Men’s Senior division while “Little” Majiid Forrest took home two First Place trophies in Beginner boy’s 8-9 years old Forms and Weapons. Rashaan Alexander, an orange belt, was bumped up to compete with Green and Blue belts, and won Second Place in Free Sparring and Third Place in Forms.

Making their debut performances in Open tournament competition, Vu Tran won Second Place in Forms and Free Sparring as John Vu won Second Place in Boy’s Yellow and Orange Belt, 10 years old Forms. Jeff Ransom, the winner of the 2002 Spirit Award from Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy, competed in Men’s 18-34 years old Forms and Free Sparring in spite of his disability, suffering from the crippling disease of Spinal Bifada. While Ransom did not place in either event his courage to compete against Martial Artists who do not suffer from a disability was once again an inspiration to all. “Jeff is just something else,” Senior Instructor Will Laurin said. “Day in and day out this man trains with the heart of a lion and I can’t but admire the man’s courage, self discipline, and determination.” When the smoke cleared and it was time to select who would participate in the battle for Grand Champion, Larry Chandler made a statement. That statement was to compete against all the First Place winners in Forms and Weapons and to come out on top, winning two Grand Champion trophies that brought a little “Déjà vu” to Senior Instructor Will Laurin. “At the tournament I didn’t attend in 1995 two of my students won Grand Champion and I wasn’t there to see it. I didn’t go to this tournament and again, my student wins not just one but two Grand Champions.”

Larry Chandler, the newly crowned Grand Champion, said he had only one regret. “I talked to Senior Instructor Will on the cell phone after I won the Grand Championships and I said to him the only thing I regretted was that he wasn’t here to see me win them.” Will Laurin, was of course, beside himself. “I am so proud of those eight guys and so happy they were able to go into that tough tournament and do so well without me being present, and prove that whatever “magic” there is no longer lives inside of me but now it lives inside of them.”

The often-unsung hero of Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy, Instructor Harriet Laurin, took the eight students into the “Tournament of Martial Science,” and established herself once and for all as much of a leader as her charismatic husband. “I am so proud of these guys and what they accomplished here today,” Instructor Harriet said with a big smile. “And I’m also happy that I was able to keep my husband at home and out of trouble like he gets himself into so often.”

Senior Instructor Will Laurin and Instructor Harriet Laurin have yet to make a statement as to the next time they will send students to tournament. “I’m going to look around and maybe see if I can find another tournament we haven’t competed in before.’’ Laurin says when he does pick the next tournament to compete in he is going to take a similar approach as he did with the Sankofa tournament. “I’m going to keep a low profile and I’m not going to judge unless the particular tournament Director is really in need of my help in that capacity,” Laurin said.

“This is the next phase in my development of being a martial artist. To slowly back away from being on the front lines and to allow my students to compete without the need to psychologically know I’m ever present. As I have said before and I’ll say it again; whatever “magic” there may be living inside of me no longer lives just inside of me but inside of my students. I’m satisfied to say they don’t need me to hold their hands anymore.”

Back In Black

Instructor Harriet Laurin is promoted in the Yang Style Tai Chi ranking system

It was a long time in coming but Instructor Harriet Laurin’s patience and dedication as well as her contributions to Yang Style Tai Chi has paid off. Having been an Associate Instructor under Grandmaster Steve L. Sun and a Tai Chi practitioner for the last 15 years, her promotion in rank highlights an outstanding career. Instructor Harriet Laurin began her training in January of 1989 at Siu Lum Studio under 10th Degree Black Belt, Dr. Steve L. Sun. Her initial reasons for taking Tai Chi were health related as she suffered from chronic knee pain due to an injury sustained while still in high school in 1977. Early on, she showed a keen aptitude for the slow and graceful movements of Yang Style Tai Chi and began assisting Grandmaster Sun with the training of new students as well as teaching five years for the Lee Ming Chinese Cultural Association, in Ambler.

In 1995 she partnered with Senior Instructor Will Laurin, whom she later married in 1996, to open Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy, and has produced a number of Forms and Push Hands Combat Champions. Her talent for Tai Chi and easy going teaching approach alongside her willingness to assist people with personal issues, has made her beloved by her students.

While Instructor Harriet has produced Tai Chi Champions she has also made a name for herself as a competitor and Champion in Tai Chi tournaments, winning awards on the regional, national, and international Tai Chi circuit. In 1994, Instructor Harriet won the Silver medal at the International Chinese Kuoshu Federation tournament in “Full Contact” Sword Sparring. Knowledgeable in an array of Tai Chi weapons, such as the straight sword, broadsword, fan, and spear, she has also demonstrated for audiences the Wind and Fire Wheels, a weapon little known outside of China.

At the age of 41, Instructor Harriet Laurin is proud of her promotion but admits there is a lot more she has to learn. “Tai Chi is a very large world with a wealth of knowledge to be explored,” Laurin said. “I can honestly say that I can study Tai Chi for the rest of my life and never come near to learning everything there is to know.” Instructor Harriet says she is at odds with how Tai Chi has been down played as merely a form of “meditation” and not a legitimate form of self-defense. As far as the contact aspect of Tai Chi, Instructor Harriet remarked on some instances where prospective students of the Academy were shocked to see how physically tough Tai Chi can be when the slow applications are used quickly. “Their mouths drop open,” she laughed, “Because from what they learned about Tai Chi, it is just supposed to be this watered down dance of meditation.”

She went on to say how these individuals weren’t even aware of how the movements in Tai Chi Form are applications of self-defense. “Tai Chi movements have names, such as “Brush knee,” “Crane spreads wings,” and “Needle to the bottom of the sea.” Each movement is a method of defense and counter attack.” With all that in mind, she hopes to continue to educate the population about the benefits of Yang Style Tai Chi. Congratulations to Instructor Harriet Laurin on a promotion well deserved.

SWEET SEVENTEEN

Mike Forrest Leads Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy to 17 First Place Trophies At The Southern Shaolin Championships

On September 28, 2002, Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy entered fourteen students to compete in the Southern Shaolin Academy Championships at the Charles Finely Recreation Center, on Mansfield Avenue, in Philadelphia. The tournament was sponsored by 5th Degree Black Belt, Master William Holman, and featured several talented schools from a variety of Martial Arts disciplines.

Having come off from winning 15 First Place trophies at the Siu Lum East Coast Championships in November of 2001, the students of the Academy went into the competition with confidence in their abilities and in their instructors, 3rd Degree Black Belt, William J. Laurin and First Degree Black Belt, Harriet Thompson-Laurin.

Their confidence paid off.

Lead by Mike Forrest's three First Place finishes in the men's Beginner Forms, Free Sparring, and Weapon Divisions, the Academy finished out the day by taking home seventeen First Place trophies. Forrest's "Triple Crown" set the pace for what became the most First Place finishes at a tournament in the 7-year history of Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy.

Finding no competition in the SuperJunior Black Belt division, Angela Thompson, age 16, took the opportunity to debut in the adult divisions. A veteran competitor, Thompson continued her string of victories, winning First Place in Women's Black Belt Free Sparring and Push Hands Combat. In Men's Senior Brown Belt Forms and Free Sparring, Kevin Lutkins added two more First Place trophies to his collection. Moving over to Men's 18-34 year olds Intermediate Division, Larry Chandler won First Place in Forms and another First Place in Men's Push Hands Combat. In one of the most satisfying performances of the day, "Papa" Blair Alexander Sr., First Place honors in Beginner Senior Men's Forms, proving hard work and practice really do pay off.

While 13 of the 14 competitors were from the discipline of Kung Fu, 1 gentleman was not. Joe Gordon represented the Academy and his teacher, Instructor Harriet Thompson-Laurin, in Tai Chi Chuan. Gordon, a University of PA graduate and Law School student, walked away with First Place in Opened Hand Advanced Forms and Advanced Push Hands Combat. Taking double First Place awards was a thrill, but positive praise from Grandmaster Sun for Gordon’s performance, definitely made a great day better.

And what of the children? The "Krazy Train," a nickname for the children's Forms and Free Sparring team, was running full speed ahead, led by 15-year old Qouc Ngo, who took First Place in boys 13-15 year olds Intermediate Forms. In Beginner boys 10-12 year olds, the undefeated Forms stylist, Frank D'Antonio, continued his winning ways, with his third First Place victory in three consecutive tournaments. Jackson Walker kept up his kicks and punches in boys 8-9 year olds Beginner Free Sparring with yet another gutsy First Place victory, while Raashan Alexander won First Place in the Forms division. The 6-7 years old Beginner Boys got their first look on the up and coming Majiid Forrest, taking First Place in Forms.

While the emphasis in tournaments is placed on the First Place winners, the Academy also won several Second and Third Place awards. The triumvirate of Jackson Walker, Raashan Alexander, and Kevin Corelli swept the 8-9 years old Beginner Boys Forms and Free Sparring divisions, with Corelli winning Third Place in both Forms and Fighting. Sixteen may be a number associated with sweetness… but seventeen can be even sweeter.

Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy will next appear at the East Coast Championships scheduled for November 9, 2000, at the Marple Township Community Center, in Newtown Square, PA.

Ransom Paid

Jeffrey Ransom Stands on His Own Two Feet

By Senior Instructor Will Laurin

There are always questions in the mind of a martial arts instructor about a prospective martial art student. Will this student be a here-today-gone-tomorrow student who joins because they think they can learn everything in a few days, but give up when they find it a life-long endeavor? Will they be an inquisitive student, taking what they learn and making it their own? Will they bail the first time they are asked to compete? Will they be able to really make a commitment to study and practice what they are taught? Is this the kind of person I want to teach, or will they use their new-found knowledge for illicit or unethical reasons? And of course… can this person handle the emotional and physical requirements on a daily basis of studying martial arts?

Although there isn’t a true “typical” student of martial arts, most are “average” individuals in regards to physical abilities – they are generally neither sport superstars – nor noticeably physically disadvantaged – and yet, most individuals of “average” physical ability and physique find the martial art regimen both challenging and difficult.

When an individual has to struggle just to walk, they usually don’t wake up one day and say “I want to study Kung Fu”.

So when Jeff Ransom, age 22, asked me to teach him, I must admit, I was initially flummoxed. You see, Jeff does struggle just to walk, each and every day, due to the effects of Spinal Bifida. For him, walking is a challenge, one he takes on every day. But was he up to an even bigger challenge, that of Kung Fu? I thought of how many students without physical disadvantages have given up through the years in martial arts, often because they underestimated the rigors and challenges within the program. Surely, I thought, this young man must not understand just how difficult the program is. Still, I listened to his request when he visited the Academy in June of 2001. I found that Jeff had always wanted to study martial arts; it wasn’t just a whim that had struck him this particular day. It was a carefully considered decision on his part. As frequently happens when a person has a physical disability, people tended to overlook the potential in Jeff. He’d already taken the bull by the horns in one area, by enrolling in the Philadelphia Job Corp to study Computer Programming. Now he was ready to take on an altogether different type of challenge. I have to admit, I’d never really considered teaching physically disadvantaged students – it just never had presented itself to me as a situation. Now I needed to consider that possibility.

I was initially reluctant to accept him as a student, knowing the rigors of the training and the complex techniques involved in Kung Fu. I was of the opinion that his disability would dramatically decrease his chances of success in the Kung Fu program. But after talking with Jeff for some time, I decided to give him the opportunity to train with me because in spite of his severe disability there was something about the look in his eyes, the determination in his voice, and the overall confidence he had in himself.

From his first lesson to the present day, Jeffrey Ransom has not allowed his disability to stand in his way. He works within his disability, striving to increase his abilities, bit by bit, and progress occurs. Enough progress that where other individuals, without disabilities, have walked before and quit, Jeff continues on, even into competition. In tournament, he has won trophies in Forms and Free Sparring divisions, with no special allowances made for the physical challenges he faces on a daily basis, inspiring those with no special physical challenges to do better than they themselves might do otherwise.

The old adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover” certainly applies to Jeffrey. I’m not ashamed to admit that I almost made a terrible mistake that day in June, thwarted only by Jeff’s strong presentation of himself, and a good feeling in my gut as to the nature of Jeff’s character.

Jeffrey is an inspiration to all of us who take for granted that we were born without a physical disability. He is also an inspiration to all of us who aspire to be the very best we can be, and to not be lazy or make excuses for ourselves. I am very proud to have Jeff Ransom as my student and I hope to do the very best by him as his teacher.

SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT

Walker's Red Roosters Claw Their Way To Second Title In Three Seasons

It was close. Very close. But in the end, the Red Roosters, lead by Jackson Walker, (17-03), prevailed, and won the Siu Lum Martial Arts Free Sparring Championship for the second time in three seasons.

Unlike their first Championship season, where the Roosters racked up 103 victories and torched the league, they only managed 59 victories, and left the door wide opened for the Golden Eagles and White Tigers. The Golden Eagles, lead by Kevin Corelli, (16-04), fell one victory short of tieing the Red Roosters, finishing at 58-42. To make this contest even hotter, the White Tigers, lead by Gabe Boni, (14-06), finished two victories back at 57-43, making this the hottest Sparring Championship season ever.

The Siu Lum Martial Arts Free Sparring Championship is an intramural contest in which twenty-five children are randomly selected and placed on five different teams. The Red Roosters, Golden Eagles, White Tigers, Fire Breathing Dragons, and Cobra Snakes. Each child must fight in twenty bouts and team members are not permitted to fight one another. Each team must fight 100 times and the team with the best win/loss record is crowned the Champion.

Jackson Walker, having his usual successful season, won 17 of 20 fights, and is team MVP and League MVP. Jacob Fleisher helped the Red Roosters stay on top by contributing 13 wins, while Spencer Isen tacked on another 12 victories.

The Red Roosters will be presented their Championship trophies at the Siu Lum Martial Arts Academy Awards Banquet, scheduled for January, 2003.

Tai Chi – Slow Practice, Slow Growth – and Sudden Respect

Ask an average person about martial arts, and they tend to respond in terms of either Karate, Kung Fu, or Tae Kwon Do. Almost never do they think of Tai Chi.

Take my mother for example. It only took fourteen years for my mother to get it right. When I first told her that I was starting in Tai Chi, her response was “Tye Who?”. Over the years, especially when I was just a student, she’d occasionally ask me if I was still taking “Tye Quack Do” (Tae Kwon Do) or Karate or “are you still doing that thing? When are you going to stop?” I’d –usually patiently – explain it was Tai Chi, not “Tai Do”, “Duck Quo” or any other interesting phrasing she’d invent. “Tai Chi, Mom, not Tye-a-Doe” I’d say.

She questioned if I was being “converted into some awful cult”. After all, I’d had a semester of Oriental Literature in college. Maybe I’d been somehow “infected”.

“No, Mom. I just want to improve physically. It’ll be good for my knees (wrecked in high school gymnastics). It’s like therapy for me.” She didn’t quite get it, nonetheless.

She questioned my sanity. After all, didn’t I know I was a GIRL, for God’s sake? (Yes, in my mid-twenties, I was still just a girl.) “NICE GIRLS don’t need to know how to fight”, she’d say. As often as I’d try to explain what it was to her, it was still some incomprehensible thing, and my mom wondered where she and my father had “gone wrong in raising” me.

Oh, how my ears were ringing from her vocal remonstration when, a few years later, I informed her that Angela would be taking Kung Fu! “She’s going to be a bully! She won’t have any friends! She’ll never have a boyfriend!” and on it went.

About two years ago, my mother began to admit that “It’s a crazy world, maybe it’s not such a bad idea for a girl to be able to defend herself”. About a year ago, my mother began saying “Kung Fu” with a bit more respect, as she began to notice that there were lots of martial art programs with girls in them. And just recently, she managed to admit she’s been hearing a lot about this “ancient Chinese exercise” called “Tai She” and asked me if I knew anything about it. I had to choke back laughter as I told her “Yes, Mom… that’s what I’ve been telling you all these years. That’s what I teach.” And, I added, “It’s Tai Chi, not Tai She”. “Oh. Yes, well, I saw a show about it on television. Did you know…” and she launched into the benefits of what I’ve been teaching.

Suddenly, after fourteen years, I haven’t done anything different – but I’ve earned my mother’s respect in my study of Tai Chi. I’m suddenly “legitimate”, thanks to a few print articles she’s seen and the television show.

Ah well. Patience is a virtue. One day, Tai Chi will become more mainstream, and my class size will increase dramatically. In the meantime, I hope my students learn well because someday, they may feel the call to teach.