2011 Martial Artistry Shaolin Kung Fu & Chinese Wushu Scrapbook
December 2011
December 2011 Kung Fu & Wushu Sash Promotions
Sash presentations were a bit unorthodox this month, as the Christmas holiday fell during our usual presentation day. Despite all the holiday chaos, we still had a healthy crop of promotions. Congratulations go out to:
Kaede: Little Dragons White-Orange
Tim Voskresensky: Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Lux Vossen: Xiao Tan Tui Yi (Little Spring Leg One) - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Jen Vossen: Xiao Tan Tui Yi (Little Spring Leg One) - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Sophie: Xiao Tan Tui Er (Little Spring Leg Two) - promotion to Yellow-Black Sash
Lee-Ann Haluska: Tan Tui Yi (Spring Leg One) - promotion to Orange Sash
Nathan Haluska: Tan Tui Yi (Spring Leg One) - promotion to Orange Sash
Pierre Brussard: Tan Tui Yi (Spring Leg One) - promotion to Orange Sash
Jesse Stephens: Tan Tui San (Spring Leg Three) - promotion to Orange-Black Sash
Fr. Barney Deane: Warfan - promotion to Green-Black Sash
Lydia Eggert: Warfan - promotion to Green-Black Sash
Zhu he nimen!
NOVEMBER 2011
November Kung Fu & Wushu Sash Promotions
The holiday weekend made for a light Presentation group this month, but what we lacked in quantity we made up for in quality!
Ed McGinnis - Warfan - promotion to Green-Black Sash
Emily - Kung Lik Kuen (Power Fist Form) - promotion to Green Sash
April Duncan - Tan Tui San (Spring Leg Three) - promotion to Orange-Black Sash
Rachel Milton - Tan Tui Yi (Spring Leg One) - promotion to Orange-White Sash
Ellie Wilson - Tan Tui Yi (Spring Leg One) - promotion to Orange Sash
Jason Oglesbay - Xiao Tan Tui Yi (Little Spring Leg One) - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Sylvia - Xiao Tan Tui Yi (Little Spring Leg One) - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Mia Burdeau - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Zhu he nimen!
(Congratulations!)
November 12-17 2011 School Photos
Martial Artistry held its annual school photo shoot. As always, Sifu brought samples from her extensive collection of kung fu weaponry, and everyone had a great deal of fun hamming it up for the cameras. Much silliness ensued -- and yet somehow we still managed to take hundreds of really awesome photos.
October 2011
OCTOBER SASH PROMOTIONS
October 29, 2011
Outstanding presentations this month; congratulations on your promotions!
Diana Ma - Pudao - promotion to Brown-Red Sash
Ben Berling - Nanquan (Southern Fist) - promotion to Red-Purple Sash
John Shelnutt - Nanquan (Southern Fist) - promotion to Red-White Sash
Yaoting Shelnutt - Chang Quan (Long Fist) - promotion to Purple-Black Sash
Tyler - Xiao Kai Men (Little Open Gate) - promotion to Green-White Sash
Jesse Stephens - Tan Tui Er (Spring Leg Two) - promotion to Orange-White Sash
Eliza Tvedt - Tan Tui Yi (Spring Leg One) - promotion to Orange Sash
Lee Ann Haluska - Xiao Tan Tui Er (Little Spring Leg Two) - promotion to Yellow-Black Sash
Nathan Haluska - Xiao Tan Tui Er (Little Spring Leg Two) - promotion to Yellow-Black Sash
Sophie - Xiao Tan Tui Yi (Little Spring Leg One) - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Lux Vossen - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Bobby Smith - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Orange Sash
Tas Palcza - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Yellow Sash
Zhu he nimen!
(Congratulations!)
Lydia Eggert makes om-nom-noms for Instructor's Class, and that rotten, miserable, no-good Sparky eats most of them.
Saturday October 15, 2011
These are the om-nom-noms. Made-from-scratch cinnamon buns by Lydia Eggert. They were a treat for the instructors to enjoy after instructors class.
Delicious.
They were... my PRECIOUS...
Then, a horrible thing happened!
Noooooooooooooooo!
The precious!
Such an undignified end! Such horrible fate for the om-nom-noms!
New Roof
Friday October 14, 2011
The first check is written and operation "Get lost, drips" is set in motion. Too bad it doesn't go as awesomely as planned... In fact, it becomes a nightmare...
Steel Phoenix Performance for Arts in the Parks at Ventana Ranch Park
Sunday October 9, 2011
Oops! Guess who forgot to take video... It was kind of a hectic performance, what with Emily getting us lost, and the wet, slippery glass and the band that insisted in tuning their instruments during our performance... Anywho, that's my story and I'm sticking with it!
3rd Annual Albuquerque International Day at Talin Market
October 1, 2011
Martial Artistry performed kung fu, wushu and flag dancing with the amazing Van Hanh Lion Dancers during the 3rd Annual Albuquerque International Day at Talin Market. Thanks to Qiu Yan, Yaoting "Julian" Shelnutt, Brian Baker, Ryan McGowan and James "Sparky" Esparza for pulling off this performance with so little notice. We were so glad to be invited and so very honored to perform with the Van Hanh Lion Dancers -- thanks so much to Minh for inviting us!
September 2011
Sash Promotions for Martial Artistry Shaolin Kung Fu & Chinese Wushu, Albuquerque, New Mexico
September 24, 2011
Despite a very large presentation group, sash promotions went quickly and smoothly -- a testament to the hard work of our students, who acquited themselves most admirably!
Brian Baker - Nan Dao (Southern Saber) - promotion to Brown-White Sash
Samson - Xiao Hu Yan (Little Tiger Swallow) - promotion to Blue Sash
Joseph Butner - Xiao Kai Men (Little Open Gate) - promotion to Green-White Sash
Natasha McGinnis - Xiao Kai Men (Little Open Gate) - promotion to Green-White Sash
Becky Berlin - Tan Tui San (Spring Leg Three) - promotion to Orange-Black Sash
Jesse Stephens - Tan Tui Yi (Spring Leg One) - promotion to Orange Sash
Caulder - Xiao Tan Tui Er (Little Spring Leg Two) - promotion to Yellow-Black Sash
Yuanjie Li - Xiao Tan Tui Er (Little Spring Leg Two) - promotion to Yellow-Black Sash
Lee Ann Haluska - Xiao Tan Tui Yi (Little Spring Leg One) - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Nathan Haluska - Xiao Tan Tui Yi (Little Spring Leg One) - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Jen Vossen - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Jerry Li - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Jason Oglesbay - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Jackson - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Purple Sash
Caden - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Green Sash
Mateo - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Orange Sash
Lennon Vossen - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Yellow Sash
Zhu he nimen!
(Congratulations!)
August 2011
Sash Promotions for Martial Artistry Shaolin Kung Fu & Chinese Wushu in Albuquerque, New Mexico
August 27, 2011
Those receiving martial arts promotions this month were:
James Esparza - Nan Dao (Southern Sabre) - promotion to Brown-Red Sash
Qiu Yan - Nanquan (Southern Boxing) - promotion to Red-Purple Sash
Alex Gardner - Xiao Kai Men (Little Open Gate) - promotion to Green-White Sash
Shiloh Maes - Tan Tui Er (Spring Leg Two) - promotion to Orange-White Sash
Pierre Broussard - Xiao Tan Tui Er (Little Spring Leg 2) - promotion to Yellow-Black Sash
Eliza Tvedt - Xiao Tan Tui Er (Little Spring Leg 2) - promotion to Yellow-Black Sash
Ian - Xiao Tan Tui Yi (Little Spring Leg One) - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Yuanjie Li - Xiao Tan Tui Yi (Little Spring Leg One) - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Lee Ann Haluska - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Nathan Haluska - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Scarlet Tvedt - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Green Sash
Aaliyah Ybarra - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Yellow Sash
Those receiving cracked ribs from Ms. Qiu this month:
Sifu
Zhu he nimen!
JULY 2011
July Sash Promotions for Kung Fu & Wushu
Saturday July 30, 2011
Jonathan Milton - Chang Quan (Long Fist) - promotion to Purple-Black Sash
Student - Tan Tui San (Spring Leg Three) - promotion to Orange-Black Sash
Ellie Wilson - Xiao Tan Tui Er (Little Spring Leg Two) - promotion to Yellow-Black Sash
Caulder - Xiao Tan Tui Yi (Little Spring Leg One) - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Sophie - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Eddie - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Student - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Student - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
M. Saville - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Green Sash
Kaede - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Yellow Sash
Student - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Yellow Sash
Mateo - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Yellow Sash
Bobby Smith - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Yellow Sash
Zhu he nimen!
Martial Artistry Shaolin Kung Fu & Chinese Wushu in Albuquerque hosts New Mexico Asian Family Center Fundraiser
July 16, 2011
Martial Artistry welcomed the New Mexico Asian Family Center's very first fundraiser to our wushuguan at 2500 Jefferson, NE in Albuquerque. The event ran from 11am until 2:30pm.
After a speech from Sherry Spitzer, the NMAFC Executive Director, Sifu Dug's Lotus Dragon Kung Fu School opened the event with lion dancing, Northern & Southern Shaolin kung fu, Yang Taijiquan and Xing Yi wushu routines. Below is a video of their lion dance.
[Direct link to Lotus Dragon Kung Fu School Lion Dance video]
The day's entertainment was continuous, inspiring and educational! Among the many wonderful performers were:
- Natsuko Edelman Japanese Folk Dancing
- Tessie's puppets
- Martial Artistry's Team Steel Phoenix Chinese wushu, traditional Shaolin kung fu, lion dancing, dragon dancing and flag dancing
[direct link to Martial Artistry's Team Steel Phoenix NMAFC Benefit video]
- Wilma Lopez Filipino cultural dance
- Jenny DeBouszak Gamelan Dance
- Sanae Wright Okinawan traditional dance
[direct link to "Okinawan Traditional Dance" video]
- Michiko Pierce/Sanae Wright Shigin Japanese poetry
- Cindi Heffner Hula
- Richard Ledesma Gong Fu
- Van Hanh Temple Lion Dance
[direct link to Van Hanh Lion Dance video]
Loads of cultural foods and crafts were available, and Joseph Butner brought samples of his masterful origami work.
All proceeds went directly to benefit the agency and its clients.
NEW COOLER!
June 30, 2011
Classes should be cooler with the installation of a new cooler over Fifth Week. YAY!
JUNE SASH PROMOTIONS
June 25, 2011
Presentations always mean some seriously good wushu on display, especially when our higher sashes demonstrate their latest kung fu forms. Those receiving promotions this month were:
Ryan McGowan - Nan Dao (Southern Sabre) - promotion to Brown-White Sash
Chad Petty - Xiao Huo Long (Small Fire Dragon) - promotion to Blue-Black Sash
Todd Coffey - Xiao Huo Long (Small Fire Dragon) - promotion to Blue-White Sash
Lydia Eggert - Xiao Kai Men (Little Open Gate) - promotion to Green-White Sash
April Dawn Duncan - Tan Tui Er (Spring Leg Two) - promotion to Orange-White Sash
Brooke B. - Tan Tui Er (Spring Leg Two) - promotion to Orange-White Sash
Heather D'Angelo - Xiao Tan Tui Er (Little Spring Leg Two) - promotion to Yellow-Black Sash
Jesse Stephens - Xiao Tan Tui Er (Little Spring Leg Two) - promotion to Yellow-Black Sash
Ellie Wilson - Xiao Tan Tui Yi (Little Spring Leg One) - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Pierre Broussard - Xiao Tan Tui Yi (Little Spring Leg One) - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Neveah Saenz - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Mia Kaufman - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Student - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Green Sash
Student - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Green Sash
Scarlet - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Orange Sash
Zhu he nimen!
Zaijian Miquela!
June 23, 2011
A fond farewell to a wonderful student and her family. We know that wherever she trains, she will be a delight.
Martial Arts Sash Promotions for May 2011
May 28, 2011
Much joy and happiness was to be had at May Sash Promotions -- and not just on the part of those who earned higher ranks! Lydia Eggert sweetened the outlook of the instructors with York's Peppermint Patties for all and rumor has it that Randy Lantz invoked the Ghirardelli Gods to intercede on his behalf. But the wisest know that for an martial arts instructor, the sweetest thing of all is to see their students exhibit excellence. There was excellence in abundance, and smiles on both sides of the testing tables.
Promotions for the Month of May:
Sherry Riddle - Hu Quan (Tiger Boxing) - promotion to Purple-Red Sash
Dorothy Stender - Hu Quan (Tiger Boxing) - promotion to Purple Sash
Melissa Blakely - Chang Quan (Long Fist) - promotion to Blue- Black Sash
Randy Lantz - Xiao Huo Long (Small Fire Dragon) - promotion to Blue-White Sash
Daniel Robson - Xiao Huo Long (Small Fire Dragon) - promotion to Blue-White Sash
Robert Rael - Tan Tui Er (Spring Leg Two) - promotion to Orange-White Sash
Jesse Stephens - Xiao Tan Tui Yi (Little Spring Leg One) - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Eliza - Xiao Tan Tui Yi (Little Spring Leg One) - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Caulder - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Student - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Red Sash and promotion to Group Wushu classes
Jackson - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Blue Sash
Caden - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Orange Sash
Zhu he nimen!
May May-hem!
This has been an exciting month for Martial Artistry! With our Little Dragons waitlist burgeoning to a two year estimated wait time for our youngest students, we bit the bullet and added two more Little Dragons classes. And filled them. In a month. Holy cow! That's a lot of little ones that want to learn kung fu! But then, there's not another class like it in Albuquerque.
You can see why so many want to enroll when you look at this confident, poised and powerful munchkin on the right. Jackson has been studying in our Little Dragons wushu program for a while now. The result of our one on one training and high instructor to student ratio (typically 1 instructor for every 2-3 students) really shows!
Martial Artistry Shaolin Kung Fu & Chinese wushu added a new Advanced 
Aerials class as well this month, taught by none other than James "Sparky" Esparza. This class, which teaches all the airborne kicks and stunts for which wushu is famous, takes place on Wednesdays and/or Saturdays. See the "Schedule" tab on our homepage for details.
May also saw the return of one of our popular Little Dragon instructors -- alas, just for the summer, while she is home from University. Welcome back, Amanda Burroughs!
April Martial Arts Sash Promotions (Now with Less Scary!)
April 30, 2011
April Sash Presentations were utterly awesome! You'd never guess it from the photo above, but that little cutie-patootie was "so scared" to present for her new sash that the waterworks ran overtime. But, by the time she was halfway through her presentation she was struggling to withhold a grin. By then end, she was positively beaming! Why? 'Cause that's how we roll here at Martial Artistry! She was perfectly amazing, too, and we have the video to prove it!
In fact, since September of 2010, a free video has been given to all participants of our monthly Sash Presentation Day. Just one more thing that makes Martial Artistry stand out from the crowd.
Promotions for the month of April were:
Diana Ma - Fanziquan (Tumbling Boxing) - promotion to Brown-White Sash
Student - Four Cloud Double Head Spear (Si Yun Shuangtou Qiang) - promotion to Purple-Red Sash
Ed McGinnis - Northern Mantis - Xiao Kai Men (Little Open Gate) - promotion to Green-White Sash
Christine Ayoub - Tan Tui Yi (Spring Leg One) - promotion to Orange Sash
Shiloh Maes - Tan Tui Yi (Spring Leg One) - promotion to Orange Sash
April Dawn Duncan - Tan Tui Yi (Spring Leg One) - promotion to Orange Sash
Student - Tan Tui Yi (Spring Leg One) - promotion to Orange Sash
Student - Tan Tui Yi (Spring Leg One) - promotion to Orange Sash
Heather D'Angelo - Xiao Tan Tui Yi (Little Spring Leg One) - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Eric Anthony Isler - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Pierre Broussard - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Ellie Wilson - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Ian - Xiao Quan (Little Fist) - promotion to Yellow Sash
Scarlett Tvedt - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Yellow Sash
Zhu he nimen!
March 2011 Martial Arts Sash Presentations
March 26, 2011
March Sash Presentations. Full of WIN!
Father Barney Deane - Northern Mantis (Xiao Kai Men) - promotion to Green-White Sash
Natasha McGuiness - Kung Lik Kuen - promotion to Green Sash
Tyler - Kung Lik Kuen - promotion to Green Sash
Student - Tan Tui San - promotion to Orange-Black Sash
Becky Berlin - Tan Tui Er - promotion to Orange-White Sash
Heather D'Angelo - Xiao Quan - promotion to Yellow Sash
Jesse Stephens - Xiao Quan - promotion to Yellow Sash
M. Saville - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Orange Sash
Keiler Evans - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Orange Sash
Student - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Orange Sash
Student - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Orange Sash
Student - Little Dragon - promotion to White-Yellow Sash
Zhu he nimen!
February Martial Arts Sash Promotions
February 26, 2011
Please be sure to thank Microsoft (with brass knuckles, billy clubs and nunchucks) for the loss of the February Sash Presentation group photo -- as well as a whole slew of really awesome stuff I really wanted to keep.
You see, on its infinite wisdom, Microsoft has decided that every time I insert my 32gig memory card into the USB dongle, it must insist that the card be reformated. You know, because surely, I don't really want those photos and videos I just took. Wouldn't I really rather have a nice, clean, EMPTY, reformated memory stick? And surely, I'm too stupid to delete the files I no longer want on my own. No! Let's just reformat the whole drive!
No, no... Microsoft INSISTS! Microsoft will just keep posting that option, and posting that option, and posting that option, hiding it behind, between and underneath other windows until, BINGO!, someone accidentally hits one of the two selections that will send all those treasured photos and videos into oblivion. BOO-YAH! Victory!!! Microsoft knows that you didn't really want that video of your wedding anyway! Microsoft knows EVERYTHING!
Do you get the impression that, were I to meet him in a dark alley, bad things might happen to the Microsoft programmer that thought forcing a reformat of my memory stick each time I use it was a good idea?
DARN FREAKIN' STRAIGHT!!!
Ahem... (wipes foam from lips) Where were we? Oh yes... (beguiling, almost-sane smile) February Sash Presentations.
James "Sparky" Esparza - Fanzi Quan (Tumbling Boxing) - promotion to Brown-White Sash
Lydia Eggert - Kung Lik Kuen (Power Fist Form) - promotion to Green Sash
Cindy Villescas - Tan Tui Yi (Spring Leg One) - promotion to Orange Sash
Jackson - promotion to White-Green Sash
Alana Bauer - promotion to White-Yellow Sash
And some other students who for some reason wish to remain nameless (was it the foam on my lips?)
Zhu he nimen!
Tenth Annual Chinese New Year Celebration
Saturday February 12, 2011
Martial Artistry welcomed the Year of the Rabbit with its 10th Annual Chinese New Year Celebration and Potluck at 12:00 Noon on Saturday February 12, 2011 at Martial Artistry Shaolin Kung Fu & Chinese Wushu in Albuquerque, NM.
Festivities began with a performance by Martial Artistry''s Team Steel Phoenix. Students, vistors, their families and friends enjoyed a half-hour demonstration of Chinese martial arts, lion, flag and dragon dancing -- concluding with the traditional feeding of the Guardian Lions for good luck throughout the year.
We always enjoy a great potluck meal after the show, and this year was no exception. It's obvious that many of our instructors are black belts in the kitchen! Dorothy Stender's amazing egg rolls are a tradition - and so popular she's yet to have any leftovers to bring home. Brian Baker's Kung Pao Tofu was hot, hot, hot. And its fortunate that Chad Petty brought enough tofu fried rice to feed 30, because I don't think a scrap left the building.
Last but not least, James Esparza treated us all to a viewing of his cult classic, THE CHAI TEA MASTER. No Martial Artistry student should ever miss this flick, starring dozens of students past and present. With such characters as Flapping Toenails, Master P, Rabies Boy, The Evil One, "Air" Chung, Master Mechanic, The Feng Shui Master and tiny little Jay Miller as the eternally adorable Abbot of Shaolin, this chop-socky flick has been an endless font of school lore and in-jokes.
Direct youtube link to The Chai Tea Master trailer
Sadly, we don't seem to have any video or photos for this event, most likely thanks to Window's insistence that I reformat my 32G card every time I plug it in, and their penchanct for hiding said window beneath stuff so reformat gets selected accidentally. If any of you Martial Artistry people happens to have any, please share!
Martial Arts Sash Presentations for January 2011
January 29, 2011
If the first promotions of 2011 are any indication, this will be an awesome year for kung fu at Martial Artistry. What a day of powerful presentations!
Qiu Yan - Northern Praying Mantis (Xiao Tang Lang) - promotion to Red-White Sash
Todd Coffey - Shantung Shaolin (Xiao Hu Yan) - promotion to Blue Sash
Alex Gardner - Kung Lik Kuen (Power Fist Form) - promotion to Green Sash
Joseph Butner - Kung Lik Kuen - (Power Fist Form) promotion to Green Sash
Emily - Tan Tui San - promotion to Orange-Black Sash
Robert Rael - Tan Tui Yi - promotion to Orange Sash
Brooke B - Tan Tui Yi - promotion to Orange Sash
Benjamin Rubin - Tan Tui Yi - promotion to Orange Sash
Student - Xiao Quan & Xiao Tan Tui Yi - promotion to Yellow-White Sash
Miquela - Xiao Quan - promotion to Yellow Sash
Eliza - Xiao Quan - promotion to Yellow Sash
Zhu he nimen!