China 2010After many months of preparation and saving money, Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute students flew to Hong Kong and mainland China to participate in a Jow Ga family reunion, international martial arts competitions, and lion dance.

Several plane changes and many hours on a jet conveyed students and parents to Hong Kong. After a short overnight rest at a hotel they then took a bus to China's mainland immigration point to an area around Nan Hai. Dozens of Jow Ga schools attended a Happy Jow Ga Family Night Reunion as well as students from Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and of course, Hung Tao Choy Mei from the United States.

Hung Tao Choy Mei students wowed the mainland audience with a traditional lion dance routine. Despite rain and blowing wind from the tendrils of a major typhoon in Hong Kong, our Chinese hosts outdid themselves in hosting hundreds of students, teachers and friends of Jow Ga from all over the world.

When it rained on the performance floor, our hosts brought out a huge rug to keep everyone from slipping. When we ate all their food, they showed up with more.

In Hong Kong, Hung Tao Choy Mei students competed in an international Kung Fu tournament. And when not sleeping, they were always on the go, walking the streets of Hong Kong and visiting Jow Ga schools in the different neighborhoods of Hong Kong.

Many thanks to our Hong Kong friends, and to friends and parents of Hung Tao Choy Mei students for helping make this trip to Hong Kong and China a success.

Judith JamisonJudith Jamison received the Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute's Paul Robeson award on May 2, 2009 at the historic Lincoln Theatre. Before receiving the award, Ms. Jamison regaled the audience with stories about her illustrious dancing career and her unflagging support of modern dance. Asian Heritage Foundation, the Washington Dance Center, Silk Road Dance, Furia Flamenca Flamenco Dance, and the HTCMLI's own lucky lions provided an international backdrop on an unforgettable evening of performance and conversation.

The Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit leadership development organization focusing on the youth of Washington, DC. By participating in the Leadership Institute's programs and attending the Institute's classes, students develop life-enhancing skills along with positive values, a sense of purpose and direction, and a commitment to progressive community development. Confidence and skills developed through our programs, equip students to set goals and enable them to reach those goals, while overcoming life's inevitable challenges. The Institute's training program develops physical strength, a strong will, a quickened mind, and an ethical and moral base from which to evaluate one's own actions and those of others. Students learn self-reliance, personal responsibility, to strive for excellence, and to become successful adults and leaders in their chosen fields. Training at the HTCMLI is preparation for living a meaningful life.

Jeff E. Welch
in Hong KongAs I sit here and try to think about how to describe my trip to Hong Kong, China and Malaysia, I think about how it all came about. It was a little over two years ago when I walked into the Hung Tao Choy Mei Academy. Sifu was eating a bowl of vegetable soup. He looked up and asked incredulously, "How did you get in here?" We talked for about 30 minutes, and I made up my mind that this was the school for me.

Lion Dancers Await ShowtimeKung Fu means "great skill achieved through hard work." You can achieve Kung Fu in anything if you diligently practice for years. Our martial arts philosophy emphasizes this effort and determination more than natural talent. Student progress is based on individual improvement, not just the achievement of a particular abstract high standard. Instructors teach control as a basic core value of the art. We show students how to become self-aware of their mind and body, and to own the responsibility for correcting their thoughts and actions. Regular feedback is given on achievements and areas for improvement, to ensure each student is actively participating in their growth process, and to reinforce that they should be proud of their specific accomplishments.

U Street EntranceThe Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute engages in fundraising activities to finance its programs. We seek corporate contributions and sponsorship. We are a member of the DC Chamber of Commerce. We provide demonstrations of our student's martial arts abilities within the community for honorariums and donations. Your contributions enable us to reach out and make a difference. Please consider supporting the Leadership Institute.