Having known and worked with Vera Koo for many years, I am always intrigued by her unique point of view. These four posts highlight Vera’s stories influenced by her Chinese heritage and how they relate to her life today.
For those who don’t already know Vera, she is a first-generation Chinese American. She’s a wife, mother, grandmother, author and retired pistol competition shooter/champion who is now a shotgun competition shooter. Vera has published two books: The Most Unlikely Champion, a memoir (now available as an audiobook) and Wisdom and Things, a collection of lessons she learned throughout her life and as a champion female shooter.
Have you ever seen the opera “Madama Butterfly? In her article “Shooting and the ‘Ming’ Thing” Vera fondly recalls her experiences seeing “Madama Butterfly” six times and how it resonates in both classical Chinese culture and her shooting career. Read how Vera found her “ming.”
In classic Chinese culture, a woman has no ming – no fate. Her ming is determined by her man.
Vera’s journey from her early Chinese upbringing to her current beliefs is a true testament to her growth. As she eloquently puts it in her final sentence, “Today, we have the chance to become whomever and whatever we want to be, and on that path, to find our own ming.”
Sun Tzu, was a military strategist and general who served the state of Wu (one of the three ancient kingdoms of China) during the 5th century BCE. He is most known as the author of “The Art of War” which contains teachings that Vera wove into her competitions. Even though Vera wrote “Applying the Philosophy of Sun Tzu to My Life” 10 years ago, she still follows these philosophies in her current training.
Whether you believe his words to be irrefutable proverbs of wisdom or better found within a pressed cookie, for more than 2 millennia, Sun Tzu’s work has emphasized that detailed, precise planning will inspire success.
Vera explains how Chinese families view success and the routines she uses to succeed in competition.
Something I find most striking about Vera is her ability to forgive, an admirable trait that shines through in her article “Peace, Harmony and Forgiveness: ‘Shing Ping’ Matters.” Vera shares stories and teachings from her mother that helped drive her to be the woman that she is today.
There is a Chinese word that represents the mental state I try to achieve when I am shooting. The word sounds like “shing ping.” To have “shing ping” means to have harmony in your heart.
One can only hope to reach the same inner piece Vera describes in this article, especially considering some of the tragedies she’s been through.
How do you know you made the right choice in choosing your life partner? How do you know you are meant to be with the person you marry? “Yuanfen and 2 Pieces of Jade” is the 50-year love story of Vera and her husband Carlos, from how they first met to how they worked through hardships along the way.
In the Chinese culture, we believe in a concept called Yuanfen, which is when fate brings two people together.
It may come from Chinese culture, But I bet there isn’t a person out there who doesn’t hope to have Yuanfen with another person someday.
Here are more collections of Vera’s writings:
Find all Vera’s posts here.
Visit Vera’s website here.
Michelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, first entered the firearms industry in 2011 as co-owner, president and trainer at a national training company. She immediately began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter. Michelle is currently a columnist and Managing Editor of Women’s Outdoor News, as well as owner of Pervenio LLC. She also manages social media for Vera Koo and FASTER Saves Lives. Michelle encourages others to step out of the comforts of home and explore. View all posts by Michelle Cerino
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