I had been mapping Tai Chi schools in my area for years, as I was yearning to return to studying martial arts but was unwilling to do jumping jacks at a chain karate school. I felt ‘too old for that’ any more.
The Google search came up with a Tai Chi class at The Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy in Mt. Laurel, NJ, right on my path between home and work.
I had stopped there while picking up Korean food next door, at the same shopping center in November, 2017. Greeted at the door by a composed, relaxed gentleman in black sweatpants and a hoodie, he invited me to come to the only Tai Chi class they held, at 10 AM on Saturdays, saying “just come try it and see whether you like our instructors.”
I took the class, and I was hooked. With great enthusiasm, I signed up for a monthly ‘just Tai Chi’ membership (no walk-ins other than the first class, which is free, with no commitment if you are not sure it is your thing.)
Sifu Bruce, who was teaching Tai Chi at that time, recommended that I stay and watch the kid’s class of Wing Chun that followed. I stayed and was invited by Sifu Aaron, who was teaching that class, to practice with a 12-year old Asian girl who did not have a partner, as there were an odd number of kids attending. I loved it!
The school was getting packed with adults for the noon class, so I stayed to watch this too. There were people of all ages and sizes, and a few women, wearing pants of their choice, a variety of school Tshirts and sneakers, some boots. The people were friendly and relaxed, chatting and joking even during warm-ups. My heart sang ‘hallelujah,’ and I headed to Laura (Sifu’s wife, who runs the school) to sign up for full membership. Two years later I signed up for intensive training that includes weekly private lessons with Sifu.
This school became my rock, in life, and, especially, through the pandemic! Check out Sifu Keith’s new online academy.
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