Combined Sparring ~ June 21st 2025

Liam Quirk (left) spars Shifu Cheyenne LaChapelle (right)

Saturday June 21st, we had our monthly Combined Sparring class, where Maynard and Oxford students get together to test their fighting skills against each other.

It’s a fun and friendly event. Shifu Gary always does a great job taking fundamental Tai Chi and Kung Fu principles and translating them to fighting applications. We’ve seen huge strides in the skill levels of students who have regularly attended these classes.

Personally, this was a tough day for me. Shimu Greta is changing careers and we have not figured out our schedules quite yet, so I ended up unexpectedly with a nine-year-old who was none too pleased about pulled away from her summer vacation activities. I arrived at the class late and upset. Thankfully Shifu Gary was running the class in his calm and affable way, my students were having fun with their martial family, and I was able to get my brain and body back onto the same page via some friendly sparring with classmates, especially Laoshi JC and Shifu Cheyenne.

Kung Fu is a great way to turn a bad day around. I hope to see you at the next one in July! Pictures available on Facebook and SmugMug.

~ Shifu