SPECIAL EVENTS/ CLOSINGS
May 31 2025- M.U.S.T. Application Workshop, May 31, 9am-6pm, Jing Ying Academy, Annapolis MD
ICMAC International Championships June 27-29th, at the Caribe Royale Resort, Orlando Florida
CLOSED JULY 4-6 for Independence Day Holiday- NO CLASSES
USKSF National Qualifier Championships to World Championships, July 26-27 Marriott Bethesda MD
Punch Hands Workshop, taught by Master Christophe Clark, Thursday July 31 at Hyattsville MD location
M.U.S.T WORKSHOP SERIES CONTINUES
On May 31, 2025 the MUST workshop group (Martial Unity Special Trainings’ group), presented their latest installment of internal martial art insights to the public. This editions’ focus was on kung fu principles as they apply to self defense applications. Sifu Billy Greer presented a well done presentation of Qin Na applications from Tien Shan Pai and Chen style Tai Chi Chuan. Sigong Norman Smith taught the efficient and direct striking methods and applications of Wing Chun kung fu. Sifu Paul Ramos had students work various take down and throwing applications from Bagua Zhang. All 3 instructors are advanced senior level teachers who have a wealth of knowledge and detail pertaining to their chosen subjects. The trio were willing to share some of the essence of these arts. The seminars took place at the Jing Ying School of Martial Arts in Annapolis MD. Participants expressed positive reactions to the info that was expressed and stated that they look forward to our next offering.
ICMAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
On the weekend of June 26-29, the International Martial Arts Championships (ICMAC}, held their Nation level event in Orlando Florida. Gand Master Liu and Sifu Paul attended as judges and demonstrators in The Master’s demo portion. Joseph Dudley and Kristen Fang went as competitors. Joseph earned the Silver medal in Advanced Other weapons and Bronze in Advanced Liu He Ba Fa
Kristen took Gold in Advanced Yang Tai Chi and also in Chen Man Ching 37 Tai Chi. She also took Bronze in TC Sword. A couple of weeks ago she competed at the Golden State Championships in California and earned Gold medals in all 3 of these events.
This annual event takes place in Orlando Florida at the Caribe Royale Resort. This is a large competition with many competitors and National and International level judges. The skill level is high at this event and we enjoyed participating in this years’ competition and Masters’ demo. It was also great to visit with 19th generation Wudang Longmen teacher Chris Hart. A good time was had at a beautiful location.
USKSF National Qualifier Championships
This annual, locally held event will take place on July 26-27 at the Marriott Bethesda MD Hotel. This year the top 2 finishers in the advanced divisions will qualify to compete at the USKSF World tournament to be held in Rio De Janiero, Brazil in October of this year.
This Bethesda tournament will, of course, also showcase all levels of many external and internal events. We here at WST have participated here since the late 1980’s with many championships won by our students over the years. We’ve had world champions and 60+ National Championship Gold medalists during those years up to the present. We will be sending our 6-10 person team and will most likely add to our tradition of displaying our arts and bringing back a plethora of medals. The tournament is a fun way to see a wide selection of martial arts as well as to meet and continue friendships throughout the weekend.
PUNCH HANDS WORKSHOP
On Thursday July 31, 2025 ( 6:30-9:30 PM), Master Christophe Clark, multiple time full contact fighting National Champion and former full contact World Champion will be conducting his introductory internal Punch Hands workshop at our Hyattsville location (3811 Nicholson St). This method serves as an intermediate practice which sits between moving push hands and Tai Chi fighting. This 3 hour intensive will combine Tai Chi principles with medium contact strikes and techniques leading to a more realistic way of looking at Tai Chi as a fighting/ self defense art. With his 40+ years of Tai Chi experience and even more fighting experience his insights can be invaluable to those seeking usable strategies which lead to combat Tai Chi. He asks all participants to bring chest protection gear since contact will be made. The training will be conducted in a controlled and safe manner. Those interested may order chest protectors in advance from our school to be ready the day of the event. The workshop space, which is limited to 16 participants can be reserved starting June 1, 2025 by contacting us via phone at 301-651-3617 or via email at longmen987@gmail.com. Chest protectors, if needed, can be ordered at this time but not later than June 15, 2025. The workshop itself will cost $75 per person and chest protectors may be purchased for $50 each. This introductory intensive will lead to a longer, more complete followup event should there be sufficient interested individuals. Spaces will go quickly so sign up asap. There is also more information available on the website which may answer many additional questions (DCMDTaichi.com/ News). The deadline to confirm your space at this event is July 14. There are only a few spots left at this time. You may confirm your spot by calling 301 651-3617 or via email to longmen987@gmail.com.
ADULT/TEENS SHAOLIN KUNG FU
Wu Shen Tao has restarted our Adult/Teens Shaolin Kung Fu program. The class includes traditional northern-style Chinese martial arts forms and techniques passed down through the Wudang lineage, as well as Tien Shan Pai and other Shaolin styles. The class will be held Thursday evenings at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mt. Rainier. The class will be taught by Lao Shr Jeff Bandy who has taught our Shaolin program for more than a decade. More information will be released soon. If you have questions, please reach us via email, wstkungfu@outlook.com
Thursdays, 4:45-5:45pm -Kids Kung Fu (new) - Liz Lerman Dance Exchange **Beginning 8-May** Note that Saturdays Kids class continues starting at 11:45am
Thursdays, 6:30-7:45pm -Adult/Teens Kung Fu (new) - Joe's Movement Emporium Beginning 5-June**
HYATTSVILLE LOCATION
Our Adult classes have moved from Takoma Park to Hyattsville, MD. Our Community Tai Chi Push Hands gathering takes place there from 7:30-9:30 pm each Thursday evening. This free community gathering focuses on developing the skills of using the least amount of force to accomplish the maximum effect. This is known as the classic “Use softness to overcome hardness”.
On Saturdays from 10 am-11am we continue with our Tai Chi Form and basics class followed by Tai Chi Pushing Hands instruction at 11am.
Beginning at 12 noon, we begin the Xing-I Chuan / Bagua Zhang training, as well as our advanced practitioner / private training block which runs until 2 PM.
The address for the location is:
3811 Nicholson Street Hyattsville MD, 20782
QUOTES OF THE MONTH
Presidential Humor
My esteem in this country has gone up substantially. It is very nice now when people wave at me, they use all their fingers.
Jimmy Carter
Being President is like running a cemetery; you’ve got a lot of people under you and nobody’s listening.
Bill Clinton
Honestly, if I were two-faced, would I be showing you this one?
Abraham Lincoln
