Saturday, September 25th 2010
9AM - 3PM
It Takes A Village
Come be a part of this Community Event!
What you can enjoy with family and friends: a moon walk bounce house, a dunk tank, face painting, balloon animals, blood donation bus, massage chair, live music, food, local businesses with information, martial arts demonstrations, Chinese lion dance show, raffles, and more!!
Please help us to bring awareness and resources for the prevention of teen suicide to every family in our community.
Students Participate in Gala
Wah Lum Kung Fu of Concord students train for Wah Lum Kung Fu of USA's 40th Anniversary Show, Front row from left: Mark Turner, Katherine Flagg, and Evan Hughes. Back Row: Charles Coons, Loura Coons, and Raymond Bull.
Students from Wah Lum Kung Fu of Concord participated in the Wah Lum Kung Fu 40th anniversary Gala Show and Masters' Demonstration, which took place at the John Hancock Hall in Boston on May 1st. This gala performance was one of a number of events, which took place over the weekend to mark the 40th anniversary of the Wah Lum Kung Fu system's introduction to the United States by the current Grandmaster Pui Chan. The evening began with a "mass" traditional Chinese Lion Dance performance, with Lion Dance teams representing the numerous Wah Lum schools from around the country, followed by a 10-member Dragon team performance. The rest of the evening consisted of group and individual performances by students, instructors, and masters from around the world performing traditional kung fu empty hand and weapons forms, fighting sets, tai chi, and "iron palm" board and brick breaking, and the famous "nail bed."
Six students from the Wah Lum Concord school's Demo Team performed a group empty hand form which kicked off the evening's kung fu performances. Assistant instructor Evan Hughes and senior student Mark Turner along with other Demo Team members Katherine Flagg, Loura Coons, Raymond Bull, and Charles Coons rounded out the group. Sifu Andrea Sheffield also gave an individual performance along with other New England instructors later in the evening. Evan Hughes and Lee Garafola made up the Lion Team from the Concord School. Kung Fu and Tai Chi masters from New England to New Jersey, Maryland to England, Florida to China and more, performed in honor of Master Chan and the Wah Lum System. Grandmaster Chan himself , now more than 70 years old, gave a rare and unequaled performance, as a grand finale to the evening of world class martial arts, bringing the audience to its feet.
Wah Lum Tam Tui Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu is an authentic Chinese Martial Art which brought to the United States in the late 1960s by Grandmaster Chan Pui, sixth generation successor of the Shaolin Temple, China. Wah Lum Students learn traditional Kung Fu forms both with demonstration weapons, such as staffs and swords, as well as without weapons (empty hand forms). Studying the proper application of the techniques, students advance from learning movement skills to developing martial intent and practical self-defense skills. Traditional Chinese martial arts emphasize respect, of both self and others, and humility, and therefore do not incorporate a "colored belt system" where rank is displayed publicly. The Wah Lum system focuses on the personal development aspects of the art, not just the martial fighting techniques, to improve an individual's physical, mental, and emotional health.
Wah Lum Kung Fu ushers in the Year of the Tiger
By Patrick Ball/Staff Writer Concord Journal Posted Feb 18, 2010 @ 05:08 PM
Lion Dances and martial arts demonstrations marked Wah Lum Kung Fu of
Concord's Chinese New Year celebration Feb. 13. 2010
Highlights of the event
Lion Dances opened and closed the Chinese New Year celebration Feb. 13, at the school’s Knox Trail, Acton, location. Moving to a drum beat, Buddha led the Lion around the arena, ushering in the Year of the Tiger with a traditional performance that included eating a head of lettuce offered by a Wah Lum student.
Wah Lum students ages 6 to 13 punched, kicked and blocked through a coordinated exercise followed by individual performances that also featured weapons. Later, adult students ages 13 through 50 treated the audience to group and individual displays highlighted by Sifu Andrea Sheffield and assistant instructor Evan Hughes’ simulated sword and staff battle.
Between the kids and adult demonstrations, Sheffield led “everyone not wearing a Wah Lum uniform” through an exercise in the Chi Kung breathing technique, which she described as easy from an exertion level, but which tests one’s patience. “This was a chance to take a deep breath,” Sheffield said, encouraging the dozens of adults and children to “just breathe and ask your arms to follow your breath.”
Overheard at the event
“It’s great. Concord’s full of culture and Andrea brings her own little piece of China. It takes a lot of discipline, so knowing how hard [the kids] have worked, it’s really quite a feat for them, and for the adults, it’s the same. Everyone works hard, but it’s also a lot of fun.” — West Concord resident Regina Hugendubler, a spectator and friend of Sheffield’s
“I really liked seeing the lion, and my performance. And I also liked the grownups performance.” — Iain Bailey, 7, Wah Lum Concord student
“Anyone can do Kung Fu. It’s not just for the Jackie Chans and the Jet Lis of the world. It was developed by monks for the betterment of themselves … I’ve learned to appreciate the Eastern arts and this ancient culture. This is all about getting people to broaden their perspectives.” — Sifu Andrea Sheffield
Photos by Patrick Ball.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/concord/features/x692834922/Wah-Lum-Kung-Fu-ushers-in-the-Year-of-the-Tiger
Press Release
Concord Journal: Concord MA, Vol. 83 No. 37
Wah Lum Kung Fu Announces 20th Anniversary
Concord/Acton, MA - November 12, 2009 - Wah Lum Kung Fu of Concord, L.L.C. announces its 20th consecutive year of providing quality, professional instruction in traditional Chinese Martial Arts to both children and adults. Not only has the school had a continual, active presence in the Concord/Acton area, it has always been run by at least one local resident.
Originally opened under the name Eastern Arts in 1989 by Sifu Michael Johnson, Wah Lum Kung Fu was introduced to the community and quickly became well known as an exceptional school providing authentic training in kung fu, t’ai chi ch’uan, and ch’i kung. Wah Lum Kung Fu of Concord, L.L.C. is presently owned and operated by Andrea Sheffield, 8th generation Wah Lum Kung Fu practitioner and certified Sifu.
“Our students, both children and adults, enjoy the mental and physical improvements that result from traditional Wah Lum Kung Fu training” said Sifu Andrea Sheffield, “I am extremely honored to be able to pass on the traditions and knowledge of this very special system”.
Wah Lum Tam Tui Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu is an authentic Chinese Martial Art which was brought to the US in the late 1960’s by Grandmaster Chan Pui, 6th generation successor of the Wah Lum Temple and 33rd generation successor of the Shaolin Temple, China. Wah Lum students learn traditional Kung Fu forms both with demonstration weapons, such as staffs and swords, as well as without weapons (empty hand forms). Studying the proper application of the techniques, students advance from learning movement skills to developing martial intent and practical self-defense skills. Traditional Chinese martial arts emphasize respect, of both self and others, and humility, and therefore do not incorporate a “colored belt system” where rank is displayed publicly. The Wah Lum system focuses on the personal development aspects of the art, not just the martial or fighting techniques, to improve an individual’s physical, mental and emotional health.
Ch'i Kung and T'ai Chi, which are taught to interested adults at the school, are ancient health and healing arts that originated in China. Ch'i Kung (often written "Ch'i Gong" or "QiGong") incorporates controlled breathing with corresponding gentle movements to release and move "ch'i" or "energy" throughout the body. T'ai Chi Ch'uan, (T'ai Chi or Tai Chi for short) simply an advanced form of Ch'i Kung, incorporates all the same principles, putting more movements together to create a routine or "form." Western medicine and science are at last catching up to the fact that T’ai Chi and Ch’i Kung are highly effective in reducing stress, increasing energy and vitality, and helping to improve an individual’s overall health and well-being.
About Wah Lum Kung Fu of Concord LLC:
Wah Lum Kung Fu of Concord LLC offers traditional Kung Fu, T’ai Chi, and Ch’i Kung classes for all ages. All Wah Lum
Kung Fu of U.S.A. sanctioned schools are run by fully certified instructors overseen by Grandmaster Chan Pui. The school
provides quality, professional training in both empty hand and traditional weapons, as well as in practical self defense.
Chinese Lion Dance classes and Performance Team participation are also available. The school is located off of Route
62 on the Concord/Acton town line. For more information, please feel free to visit the website at www.wahlumconcord.com .
Contact Information:
Andrea Sheffield
Wah Lum Kung Fu of Concord, L.L.C.
Phone: (978) 371-0222
Email: info@wahlumconcord.com
Web: www.wahlumconcord.com
