In a last-ditch move worthy of any “Karate Kid” movie, Sipoo Shelene Hearring, 68, found herself in the ring with developers, battling for ownership of the land where her martial arts studio once stood.
The first victory? The property owners accepted her bid over three offers from developers. She had 15 days to raise $500,000 and keep the legacy she and her late husband Steve built with Two Dragons Martial Arts Studio in Altadena. With the Nov. 25 deadline looming, Hearring started a GoFundMe campaign. By Nov. 13, more than 830 people donated $67,883, with the total eventually going up to $104, 218.
It was heartening to see so many people, from former students out of state, to Altadena neighbors, pitch in. This was what Hearring had told the thousands of students that trained with her through the years: martial arts can teach you grit and discipline and service. Giving back to your community was a moral imperative. But would it be enough?
