At the Wah Lum Temple, Chinese martial arts is not just about fighting—it’s about becoming a better human being.

This week on the podcast, Oscar and I dive into the philosophy behind how and why we train. At the heart of our teaching is a belief in respect, humility, kindness, and the pursuit of becoming 1% better every day.

As a child of immigrant parents who came to the U.S. seeking the American dream, I reflect on how martial arts can reflect the best of American values: opportunity, discipline, and the responsibility to build a better future for the next generation.

We also talk about tradition—why we light incense, why we bow, and how honoring our teachers and elders helps us understand where we come from and where we’re going. As instructors, we strive to pay it forward every day, and our greatest hope is that our students carry these values into their lives and communities.

Tune in to this episode as we explore what it means to lead, grow, and give through Chinese martial arts.

I’ve been enjoying these conversations and hope you have too.  If you have, please rate my podcast on your platform of choice and share it with others!  If you would like to support with a donation to help keep this podcast going and support the work I do, you can become a patron of the show by visiting my website or http://Patreon.com/sifumimichan. Thanks for the support! I appreciate it.

For comments or suggestions reach out on social media @sifumimichan.

Discussed in this episode:

shaolin vs wutang

wah lum temple

THE SIFU MIMI CHAN SHOW CREDITS Host: Mimi Chan Intro Music: Mike Relm

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The post 423. Bridging Traditional Martial Arts and American Values first appeared on Sifu Mimi Chan.