At the 17th Golden State International Wushu Competition, five ladies from our free Tai Chi sessions proudly showed up. But the moment that truly lit up the day? Six of us, together, won first place in the Women’s Sword group event!

Yes—first place.

From free community classes to a championship title.

How far have we gone with free Tai Chi? Farther than we ever imagined.

Sometimes, when people hear “free Tai Chi,” they assume it means a teacher who doesn’t teach seriously, or students who don’t put in much effort.

But I’ve been lucky. Five ladies who come to our sessions are not just beautiful and graceful—they are brave, committed, and resilient.

They show up—week after week.
They practice with dedication and focus.
They ask thoughtful questions, seeking to deepen their understanding.
They are self-motivated, courageous, and unafraid to share their progress.
Now, they shine—confident and proud—on the competition floor.

Let me share just a glimpse of how brightly they shined:

🌟 Linda earned Bronze in Women’s 24-form Taijiquan and 32-form Taiji Jian.
🌟 Karen brought home Silver in Women’s Taijiquan, Taiji Jian and Taiji Fan.
🌟 Holly won Gold in Women’s 32-form Taiji Jian.
🌟 June earned double Golds in Women’s 32-form Taiji Jian and another straight sword event.
🌟 Yushen took Gold in Women’s 24-form Taijiquan.

I had the privilege of practicing alongside them, sharing laughter, sweat, and countless hours of growth. Together, we built deep friendships and trust. We weren’t afraid to offer honest feedback, to challenge each other’s movements, and to push for improvement—every step of the way. Through this, we grew stronger, more connected, and ever more inspired.

I don’t know how far we’ll go from here. But I know we’ve already come a long way—from a local park and library room, to the stage of an international competition.

To everyone walking this journey with me—thank you.
To the library, for giving us space to grow.
To my team, for believing in this dream:

Let’s keep walking, together.
Let’s see just how far ordinary people—like me, like us—can go.