The 2017 Cuong Nhu International Annual Training Camp (IATC) will take place Thursday May 25 – Monday May 29, 2017 on the University of North Carolina
campus in Chapel Hill, NC. Shiwa Dojo is proud to host this year’s event, and extends a warm invitation to all Cuong Nhu members to attend.

Welcome all Cuong Nhu members and family,

It is one of my favorite times of the year for all of us to be able to see each other in person and for exchanging stories and creating new memories. Let’s meet, greet, cheer, support, and help each other to reach a new height with our spirit and martial arts. The enjoyment of seeing all of you last year not only helped me through the hot Florida summer, but lasted the whole year.

There are several testing candidates with ages ranging from 16 to 60+. That shows a lot of diversity in our style. It is always an enlightening feeling to see a new group of senseis to help grow the future of the style. Most importantly, it rekindles our closeness for each other, as well as turning back time like when we first started. But what I am looking forward to the most is meeting the new members that will be attending this event for the first time. It is like adding more spirit to a soul.

So plan on it, work on it, make it, and love it on the weekend of May 25-29th in Chapel Hill, NC. Thank you to all heads of schools for your sacrifices and hard work throughout the year. Also, deep appreciation to all active senseis for helping to promote spiritual and physical growth to many. I hope all of you can attend and share tips and experiences to make us all better. Thank you all for living my dream.

Safe travels,
Quynh Ngo

EMBRACE TIME

Is it Fair to say all lives are Equal? YES! Not all facets of our lives are the same, but in the big picture it’s all equal. My dream of being a professional athlete did not pan out, since I am 6” shorter than the average athlete, weigh 40 lbs. less, and run 25% slower. So, maybe I am not EQUAL in those categories, but it’s fair play because I am strong in other aspects of life. My knowledge of technology and computers is, well, known to all, extremely weak. Instead of dwelling on my weakness, I choose to focus on my strengths. Those are being mechanically inclined and having problem solving skills. The recognition of equal versus fair early on in my life led me to a very fulfilling career of being a builder.

It is a mental state of mind as we go through life like a stream of water. We must understand what our weaknesses are, and allow our strengths, like water, to navigate downstream. Not all streams of water have the same direct path. Often many of us focus on the destination, want a quick solution, and forget about the joy in the process. Perfection is not reaching a goal. It is the continuous progress as you are developing and working towards a goal. We all have an equal chance to explore all our options. Don’t eye a tree and miss a forest.

In Cuong Nhu, we are all accepted as equals, have a fair chance to get our black belt, and open our own dojo with everyone’s support and encouragement. Even then, some students will move ahead slightly faster than others. It is our perception of what success truly is, which determines our own destiny. So, is it the “journey or the destination” which matters to you most? It has to be your perception (fair versus equal) that matters in the end. It is not just whether the cup is half full/empty, it is what the cup is made of and what is in the cup.

One enemy that we all have in common is TIME. It is beating us daily whether we are happy, sad, asleep, or awake. It is equal for all of us, so use time wisely and do things that you love. Take advantage of it and get more things done than time allows. Creating memories with your family and friends is the surest way to preserve time. Slow time down by living a positive lifestyle and mindset. To embrace time is to love it, respect it, and use it. To waste time is to say and do harmful things. To make time last is to leave a positive legacy to the new generations. It is priceless, so make it count.

Quynh Ngo
“Whatever It Takes”