Wah Lum Kung Fu of Knoxville

Congrats to Sifu Bob Rosen on their 41st anniversary of https://www.facebook.com/WahLumBoston Wah Lum Kung Fu Athletic Association, New England Headquarters

2026 East Tennessee Chinese New Year Festival https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/knoxville-chinese-culture/2026-festival

As a long time Wah Lum student & assistant kids class instructor, my affinity towards certain Wah Lum family members may be biased, mostly because I train at the school with my own daughters… but there’s definitely something special about the mother-daughter combo of SiJye Jami & SiMye Peyton’s kung fu journey through our strong martial system. There’s another level of accountability that naturally occurs when family members join the school and train together.

Peyton’s Wah Lum journey has been an exceptional one so far. 9 years old now, Peyton began training only 3 short years ago in 2023. In such a brief amount of time she has grown tremendously, both in spirit and physicality! However, her martial journey did not begin so easily. When she signed up for classes, both Jami and her husband were worried that Peyton would be left behind because she had struggled with other traditional kids sports, like softball and soccer. In softball she would be unengaged, often playing in the dirt or grass. In soccer, she would say her legs hurt, and often times, the coaches’ solutions were to just bench her. However, here at Wah Lum Kung Fu, Sifu and his team of instructors tend to approach coaching and training differently. With patient, yet firm and established, clear expectations for Peyton (and all her other kung fu brothers and sisters), she has learned that she can do hard things through hard work. Physically, her Kung Fu skills have improved along with her flexibility and coordination. She is no longer getting benched; quite the contrary, Peyton has progressed into becoming an active member of the kids lion team and is moving through the Wah Lum kung fu system at a respectable pace.

Mentally, Peyton is also learning to control her actions and her emotions. She has gained confidence when interacting with other kids and adults and loves performing Lion Dance –the larger the audience, the better! When she isn’t at school, she is studying her Wah Lum Kung Fu handbook and terminology, as well as our system’s incredible and storied history.

Outside of Wah Lum, SiJye Jami and her husband have noticed significant improvements in her ability to focus and to persevere when faced with something she feels she can't do. SiMye Peyton has learned that if you work hard and stick with something, you get better at it! Kung Fu, which translates to “Hard Work”, has become more than just an extracurricular activity --it has helped Peyton learn how to navigate life with much more confidence and zest!
We are so proud of the work and dedication Peyton and Jami put into Wah Lum! Wah Lum Power Never Sour! (From the perspective of SiHing Noah & insight of SiJye Jami)

🌿🐉 Do you know who decorated our Amphitheater with bamboo and dragons?

Yes! Wah Lum Kung Fu School in Knoxville has been creating this beautiful setup for us. It always brings good luck and excitement to the festival.

A big THANK YOU to Sifu Leroy and all his amazing students for their hard work and dedication! 🙏✨

30 years ago today we had our first class at our first actual School, one block behind our current location. Seven kicks was the form that day

Thank you to Professor John Hatfield from @bridgewatermartialarts_ for this gift of this amazing framed photograph from the 60s.

Ain't no family like the Wah Lum Family cuz the Wah Lum Family don't stop! What a blessing to have such a big family who share this love of Wah Lum Kung Fu and to be able to spend time working out, sightseeing, performing, eating and just good ol' hanging out together! 🙏🙏🙏 #wahlumfamily #wahlumstrong #wahlumtemple #wahlumboston #wahlummaldenquincy #wahlumknoxville #wahlumwellness #wahlumgermany #familyreunion #famjam

It wouldn't be a New England CNY if there wasn't ❄️❄️❄️ in the forecast, but it won't slow us down! See you Sunday for the all-day Chinatown Lion Dance Parade celebration!
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