I am Gabriel. I have been practicing Kung Fu with Shaolin Kung Fu Zen for almost 9 years. Kung Fu keeps me young and alert. It forces me to challenge myself and  step out of my comfort zone. Most importantly, it connects me with my daughter who also loves KunFu. I do my best to barely keep up with her kung fu skills and agility. Learning the forms could be very time consuming, but with Shifu’s exceptional support, Kung Fu is always a pleasure. Hard work gives me a great sense

My name is Lucas Youn, and I am a 15-year-old freshman attending Saint Francis High School. I have been involved in Kung Fu since a very young age, and it has become an integral part of my life. I believe Kung Fu has instilled in me the qualities of diligence and leadership. I apply the skills I have acquired through Kung Fu, such as determination, to various aspects of my daily life, including sports and academics.

My name is Erik B. Surarez I been training Shaolin Kung Fu for 15 years.  For me Shaolin Kung Fu has been not just a Martial Art. But a way of life, I live Shaolin every day. It has help me with my health, my career, mind, body and spirit.   This is a path and a way of life I choose to live every day. Now at  my 45, Shaolin Kung Fu makes me feel if I'm in my 20s.   I always say train hard and mabu lower. I love Kung Fu and I love mabu.

Kung Fu has been a major part of my life since I joined back some 7 years ago. Its helped me become more confident in my own self and has helped me meet similar like minded people to me. Its just weird to think I started when I was only in 3rd grade, and now I’m a freshman in high school.

I am Eddie Fu.  Ever since 2nd grade, Kung Fu has taught me that it takes discipline and hard work to reach your goals. Every day I constantly remind myself that Kung Fu is a testament to my ability to push through the discomfort, push past the pain, and maintain an inner peace within the mind. Using the morals that Kung Fu has taught me, I hope to apply them to navigate the nuanced situations that life throws at me.

When I grow up I hope to someday be good at kungfu.  I am so grateful for my kungfu family.  My son Ethan that inspires me, my brother Andrew that helps me learn, and daughter Addy that borrows my swords to learn kungfu in a college club.  I am particularly grateful for the larger kungfu family; the students that I train with that help me learn and grow. I appreciate shifu’s patient support to push me to work to my ability. This makes the journey amazing and rewarding.

Kungfu has always been a significant part of my life, but it became much more difficult when I moved far away from the studio. From Kungfu I learned that success does not come easily; it only comes with grit, determination, and hard work. For me, the most difficult part of Kungfu is being okay with making mistakes and finding the lesson behind them. Kungfu has helped me stay in a good physical condition and, although challenging, has always been something to look forward to..

I am Colin Ye. This past year of Kungfu has been way more fast paced than before black belt. I have also joined team class along with the black belt classes. I feel like this extra work has been way more tolling, but it has also motivated me to keep on going. This mindset of perseverance has motivated me to keep on going and not quit, even when I dug myself into a bad situation. I appreciate many of the things that Kungfu has taught me, and I hope that whoever’s reading this

My name is Rishi Sinha, and I have  been training Kung Fu at the Shaolin Kung Fu Zen Academy for several years. Over the years. I have grown to learn that Kung Fu  isn’t about the strength and skills of fighting. Instead, it is a journey toward self discipline, patience, and mental growth. It taught me how to remain calm in a stressful situation, think things through before responding, and go beyond my limits day after day. Each class is a new challenge that makes me grow, no

Hi my name is Braydon Yu, I am 13 years old  and I joined this community I was 5. I have been training Kung Fu for 8 years and it really shaped me into who I am. I’m not that much of a sporty guy so Kung Fu is my main source of exercise. I’m going to high school next year so this year is filled with a lot of work with applications. Kung Fu has been an amazing experience and I am glad I kept on going.

My name is Aparajita Sinha and I am testing for Black Belt. I started Kung-Fu when I was around five and am now testing at 12 years of age. Throughout my years of training, I have met some awesome people and have learned how to do things I never even thought of trying! In total, I have been practicing Kung-Fu for seven years, and I am delighted to be finally testing for this level.

Joining the martial art in 7th grade, I was astonished by Kungfu’s tenacity and rigor. Unlike Taekwondo, which I did for 6 years prior, switching to Kungfu not only gave me a different perspective on martial arts, but allowed me to explore culture and gain discipline and confidence. I aspire to integrate the skills and mindsets I’ve developed throughout my journey in Kungfu and empower others with it.

On Sunday, November 23, 2025, we proudly hosted our final Black Belt Advancement of the year — an incredible milestone marked by skill, discipline, and heart. This round of testing welcomed 12 candidates in total, consisting of: 4 Red/Black Belts, 4 Black Belts, 4 First-Degree Black Belts. Our testers ranged impressively in age — from 12 years old to 63 — showing that Kungfu is a lifelong journey open to all. Some students needed time to settle into the testing rhythm, while

On Sunday June 1st, 2025, we held the 16th generation Black Belt advancement test. This group was a moderately small group with all talented members. Some aspects of this test that made it stand out was Neil who was bound for MIT as soon as he passed his black belt test and Frank, one of our oldest students in SKZ. Although these two individuals have factors about themselves that make them unique, that doesn’t detract from the other testers who all performed remarkably. Durin

The most visual parts of Kungfu are the forms and physical movements, and it is easy to only focus on those parts. But Kungfu extends...

Today I will be speaking about my personal application of Kung Fu in my everyday life and how I will continue to apply this knowledge to...

Eight years ago, almost to the day I sat on my couch and decided that I needed to do something about my general health. I like hiking,...

I chose this topic because Kung-Fu taught me important skills I have applied in my life. Some examples are perseverance, persistence, and...

I like to practice all my forms during the weekend, so I can improve my memory of my forms. I chose to design and explain my training...

This topic is about the certain motivations that have motivated me to do Kung Fu, how has it changed, and what are my future dreams and...