Yolanda Pi Stafford Black Sash Test & Kung Fu Ranking ~ August 2nd 2025

Saturday was a really special day. Not only did several students from Metrowest Kung Fu and New England Kung Fu receive their new sashes after passing the tests last month, but my student Yolanda “Pi” Stafford tested for her black sash.

I know a gentleman never asks and a lady never tells, but Pi will be 60 next year; you are not too old for Kung Fu and age is no excuse!

Pi, among other things, fought twelve black sashes including a Sifu, did 100 push-ups, performed eight empty hand forms and four weapons, and much more. She did so with excellent structure, precision, and power production.

Pi is an important part of the Metrowest Kung Fu community. She takes care of her classmates and is often a confidante to her classmates. She attends every tournament, including sweeping all her divisions at the Mid Summer Classic in Maine last month. As I was busy judging, I also placed Pi in charge of the Metrowest team, all competitors knew to find her if they needed help figuring out where to go or what to do.

She is supportive of her teacher and her school. She is a strong role model in the school, especially for people who feel their age, and for women and girls who can look up among the school's black sashes and see (another) strong woman in school leadership.

I could not be more grateful to have Pi as my student.

Speaking of gratitude, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to my Shifu Gary J. Lachapelle Jr. and my elder martial sister Shifu Cheyenne Lachapelle for supporting Pi in her training and development over the years, and making sure I am keeping Pi on the right path.

I want to offer a huge thank you to Shifu Karim-Ben Saunders of Full Circle Tai Chi and Qigong and Sijo Michael Joseph DiMaggio from The Center for sitting on the judge's panel. I want to thank the Maynard and Oxford students who supported Pi and the other students who received their sashes Saturday. Especially Sihing Clayton Burke who came with his teacher Sijo Mike all the way from Cape Cod. I also want to thank Simo Mary Beth Lachapelle for supporting my teacher and also for the group pictures she took using my camera, so that I could be in the photo.

This is the best job I have ever had. I get to spend all day studying the art I love surrounded by people who are strong, compassionate, intelligent, and supportive of people around them. Saturday really showed why we all do this.

To Brown Sash, Black Stripe, White Tip
Hrishi Arun
Scott Merriam

To Brown Sash, White Stripe, White Tip
T.J. Cooper
Derek Le

To Brown Sash, White Tip
Cormac Morgan

To Brown Sash
Brighid Morgan

To Blue Sash, Brown Stripe, White Tip
Sachi Amatya
Mike Martin
Randi Martin

To Blue Sash, Brown Stripe
Rishika Kalavagunta

To Blue Sash, White Tip
Jackson Maslow
Aarohan Shrestha

To Purple Sash, Blue Stripe, White Tip
Marty Kulma
Tavish Kulma
Elias Nejad

To Purple Sash, White Tip
Shane Bayard
Ezra Lillie

To Green Sash, Purple Stripe, White Tip
Megan Montiverdi
Rayhaan Kalvert

To Green Sash, White Tip
Nischal Gupta

To Green Sash
Fernando Dos Santos

To Yellow Sash, Green Stripe, White Tip
Sherry Banks
Allison Mondel

To Yellow Sash, Green Stripe
Olga Smirnov

To Yellow Sash, White Tip
Ryan Mahoney

To Yellow Sash
Liam Carlson
Sonya Dooling
Daniel Heron
Katie Martin
Stella Shechter
Harvey Thompson

To White Sash, Yellow Stripe, White Tip
Karen Sheppard

To White Sash, Yellow Stripe
Brielle Ojalehto
John Olsen

To White Sash
Aviv Dar
Auggie Haslinger
Jared Jurss
Llewelyn MacLean-Smith
Zachary Yeh

Photos are available on our Facebook and SmugMug pages. Congratulations to all!