Our instructors began practicing kung fu decades ago. We began practicing and teaching because we loved it. We loved what we could learn to do with our bodies, and we loved how strong it made our minds. But at a certain point, we could no longer ignore certain universal problems with traditional martial arts: orientalism, hypocrisy, toxic power structures, greed, and a lack of consistent pressure testing. The White Lotus Academy was born out of a love of helping people push their bodies to new heights in the traditional ways, with the vision of doing so in an inclusive, encouraging environment that grows with the times.