Helen Gee Chin Scholarship Fundraiser
June 15, 2014 5:00PM
Every year Calvin Chin’s Martial Arts Academy holds an open house to showcase the skills that students have learned throughout the year. For the past 2 years this has also turned into a fundraiser to support the Helen Gee Chin Scholarship Foundation.
Helen Gee Chin was the wife of Sifu Chin who passed away from lung cancer in 2010. Helen was loved and respected by family, friends, and students. She was a strong and talented women, a type of protective mother lion to all of the children at the academy. Together she and Sifu Chin created an amazing community of learning and support. There are few places where senior citizens can learn along side children. Or where parents can take classes with their children, sharing knowledge and skills. Together they created a welcoming space for people of all ages to learn and challenge the physical and mental limits that they have set for themselves. Helen was dedicated to preserving the history and promoting the practice of traditional Chinese marital arts. She always stressed the importance of education. In her honor a scholarship was formed. It is offers college scholarships to encourage academic achievement and motivate individuals to become serious practitioners of Chinese martial arts.
Every year I am amazed at what these students have accomplished. It takes hard work, concentration, discipline, and hours upon hours of practice. What I also notice is that everyone is working hard with a smile on their face because they can feel themselves surpassing physical and mental limitations. Traditional martial arts isn’t about fighting that is portrayed in the movies. It’s about self-development. Mentally, it helps one to cultivate discipline, concentration, and relaxation. Physically is helps to strengthen the body and improve balance and coordination. In this case there is also a social aspect, to learn from teachers that are highly knowledgeable. They are not only masters of their art. They are also people of incredible integrity and compassion. Which is a true treasure these days.
I encourage you to come to the performance and see for yourself. I have a feeling that afterward you may be inspired to sign up for classes yourself!
For more information:
http://www.hgcscholarshipfoundation.org
http://calvinchin.com