CCUSD Night Market: Kids, Culture, and Courage.
Tomorrow night we’re bringing Pamana Kali back to the CCUSD AANHPI Night Market.
For the third year in a row the kids at Pamana Kali Culver City will be on stage presenting our martial art at the AANHPI Night Market in the Culver City Middle School cafeteria and student plaza. Last year I witnessed our quietest kids become different people. They courageously performed their martial art in front of a large audience comprised of friends, family, and community. At the Pamana Kali vendors table they explained Filipino martial arts to neighbors, answering questions and with pride and self-confidence.
Not every student in our club is of Filipino descent, and that’s one of my favorite things about this work. When a child trains with us, they learn a martial art, self defense, and mindful self-awareness. They also gain an appreciation and respect for the culture behind the art.
When a child steps onto a stage, they learn:
How to channel nervous energy into focused action
How to carry themselves as part of a team
How to honor and celebrate the traditions of other cultures while discovering their own.
These are skills that will serve them in many endevours throughout their lives.
Lunar New Year is celebrated across many Asian communities. Filipino families in the Philippines follow a Western calendar. Filipinos around the world often participate in Lunar New Year celebrations in solidarity with other asian cultures. In fact the Philippines itself has one of the oldest Chinatowns in the world! It’s a chance for all of us to gather around shared values like family, community, respect, and renewal.
Events like the Night Market show our students that they belong—no matter where they were born or what their ancestry. They get to contribute. They get to feel seen. They get to bring their best forward.
If you’re there, stop by and say hello. Let the kids tell you what they’re learning. And cheer for them when they step onto that stage.
Pamana Kali demo is scheduled for 6:20 PM. See you there!
